Physician-Chief of Medicine

The incumbent will be based at the James J Peters VA Medical Center, a close affiliate to Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Successful candidates must hold a Doctor of Medicine degree, be board eligible or board certified.
The Chief of Medicine will have overall medical oversight of the in-patient units, quality of care, patient experience, SAIL metrics (readmission, infection control, and other SAIL metrics), and out-patient medical sub-specialties clinic. In addition, the candidate must have demonstrated knowledge in caring for the Veteran population, the ability to work with an interdisciplinary team, and demonstrate excellent customer service skills. This person will act as the primary liaison between the James J. Peters VA and the Department of Medicine of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and provide oversight and expand academic program.

Duties include, but are not limited to the following:

• The position requires excellent interpersonal skills, mentoring skills and diplomacy as well as a good understanding of the Department of Veterans Affairs operations, rules and regulations.
• Providing leadership and strategic vision for medicine inpatient activities and clinics.
• Collaborate with other service chiefs and program managers at VA, and the System Chair of Medicine department at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.
• Collaborates with executive leadership, managerial and clinical leaders in formulating local Medical Center Policy, resource planning for manpower, equipment and space.
• Support the academic mission and oversee training and research opportunities.
• Guide the development and implementation of programs such as medical practice, professional standards, personnel issues, quality, and performance improvement.
• Recommend clinical privileges for each member of the service.
• This position is responsible for recruiting and hiring clinicians and is also responsible for monitoring provider performance and medical outcomes.
• Engage in clinical service activities in his/her area of specialization.
• The Chief of Medicine sits on a number of important committees; both at the medical center and VISN levels, and attendance and participation are critical elements of this position.
• Participates in the development and implementation of Medical Center policy affecting patient care and services. This involves collaborating with colleagues in developing, implementing, and evaluating philosophy, objectives, policies, and standards essential for delivering optimal care to patients.
• Perform other duties as may be assigned by the Chief of Staff of the James J. Peters VA Medical Center.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards.

Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment): This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application. Learn more
Pay: Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 49-54 days of annual paid time offer per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 10 paid Federal holidays per year and possible 5 day paid absence for CME)
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory
CME: Possible $1,000 per year reimbursement
Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
Contract: No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday; 8:00am- 4:30pm

The James J. Peters VAMC is a tertiary care facility classified as a Clinical Referral Level 1 Facility. It is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care, and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics, and extended care. The James J. Peters VAMC is a part of VA Network 3, which includes facilities in Brooklyn, Castle Point, Manhattan, Montrose, Northport, St. Albans (Queens), New York and East Orange and Lyons, New Jersey.

Today the James J. Peters VAMC has 311 authorized hospital beds and 120 nursing home beds and operates several regional referral points including Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and VISN referrals for Medical/Surgical subspecialties. For example, the James J. Peters VAMC SCI Patient Care Center is the referral point for VISN’s 2, 3 and 4 as well as Department of Defense (DOD) new SCI patients. 

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 paid Federal holidays per year
• 5 Days paid absence to attend approved CME courses

Insurance:

• Health Insurance: VA employees have an outstanding number of health insurance plans from which to choose (premiums are partially paid by VA) Lifetime Healthcare Insurance options available
• Dental & Vision: Our insurance options also include exceptional vision and dental plans (premiums are partially paid by VA)
• VA employees have the option to use Flexible Spending Accounts, which allow you to use tax-free dollars to pay for medical, dental, and vision care expenses that are not reimbursed by your health insurance plan
• Term life insurance, family, and additional coverage options are available with the cost shared by the Federal Government
• Long-term care insurance is available as an option

Federal Retirement Plan:

• VA employees are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan composed of 1) Social Security benefits, 2) FERS-RAE basic benefits (pension), and 3) Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) which is a 401K-type plan
• How is the pension funded? VA employees automatically contribute 4.4% of their salary each pay period and the VA contributes 12.2% of the employee’s salary each pay period for a total annual contribution percentage equal to 16.6% of the employee’s salary
• Similar to the 401(k) savings plans widely available in the private sector, the TSP allows employees to tax defer a portion of their income each year, subject to the requirements of the Internal Revenue Service. For calendar year 2020, employees under the age of 50 may contribute up to $19,500, while those over age 50 are eligible to make catch-up contributions that allow them to defer up to $25,500.
• The Federal Government also provides an automatic basic contribution (1% of salary) and up to 4% of salary in matching contributions, depending on the amount of the employee contribution
• For retired military personnel, these benefits are in addition to full monthly retirement pay or pension
• In addition to FERS, VA provides health care insurance coverage for retired personnel
• Disability Retirement
• Employees are vested in a federal pension after only 5 years service