Service Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Join the dedicated professionals at the South Texas VA Healthcare System (STVHCS), where you will have the unique opportunity to make a significant impact in the lives of our Veterans. We are currently seeking applications for the role of Service Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) within our premier VA Polytrauma facility, one of only five in the nation.

Opportunity Highlights:

• Leadership Role: Oversee one of the largest and most complex PM&R services in the VA system, leading VISN 17 as a VA Whole Health Flagship site.
• Comprehensive Care: Provide a full spectrum of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services, enhancing the quality of life for our Veterans.
• Research and Education: Engage in a robust mission of research and education, contributing to the advancement of practices within PM&R and enhancing career development for yourself and future clinicians.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy a Monday to Friday schedule from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, ensuring ample personal time and flexibility.
• Beautiful Location: Work in the vibrant city of San Antonio, TX, where you can immerse yourself in rich culture, history, and recreation opportunities.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Competitive Salary: Up to $335,000, depending on experience, plus Performance Pay up to $15,000.
• Incentives Available: Benefit from programs including the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), relocation assistance, and a sign-on incentive.
• Academic Affiliation: Faculty appointments available for those interested in teaching and mentorship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification: Must be Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
• Experience: Previous leadership experience and familiarity with federal healthcare systems, particularly the VA, are preferred but not mandatory.
• Clinical Flexibility: While clinical practice is required, the focus will be on administrative duties, with opportunities to tailor clinical time according to your interests and training.

The Role:

As the Service Chief, you will spend the majority of your time on administrative responsibilities, with clinical duties being negotiable based on your preferences. Your primary location will be the Audie Murphy Hospital’s main rehabilitation and polytrauma facility, where you'll collaborate with a team of over 184 dedicated professionals. Some travel to offsite locations may be required, along with occasional opportunities for teleworking.

Join Us!

This is not just a job; it’s a chance to lead a team focused on improving the lives of Veterans in a state-of-the-art facility. If you’re passionate about patient care, leadership, and veteran advocacy, we encourage you to apply!

How to Apply:

For more information and to submit your application, please Physician Recruiter Craig.Rickaway@VA.GOV, at the South Texas VA Healthcare System.

Take the next step in your career today and become part of a team that makes a real difference every day! We look forward to hearing from you.

Paid Time Off:

• 26 Days paid annual (vacation/personal) leave
• 13 Days paid sick leave each year with no limit on accumulation
• 11 Federal holidays with pay annually
• 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

South Texas Veterans Health Care System (STVHCS) is comprised of two inpatient campuses: the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital in San Antonio and the Kerrville VA Hospital in Kerrville, Texas. STVHCS serves one of the largest primary service areas in the nation and is part of the VA Heart of Texas Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 17), with offices located in Arlington, Texas. South Texas provides health care services for 80,000 unique Veterans. The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital (ALMMVH), named after the nation’s most decorated World War II hero, is a quaternary care facility, which is affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Comprehensive health care is provided through acute medical, surgical, mental health, physical medicine and rehabilitation, geriatric, and primary care services. Comprised of a Spinal Cord Injury Center, a Community Living Center, a Domiciliary, and a Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP). ALMMVH provides quaternary services including bone marrow transplantation, open-heart surgery, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography. As a Level II Research facility ALMMVH has projects that include aging, cardiac surgery, cancer, diabetes and HIV. The facility has one of three National Institutes of Health sponsored clinical research centers in the VA. In addition, the Geriatric Research, Education & Clinical Center (GRECC) is a “Center of Excellence.” The Kerrville VA Hospital (KVAH), located 65 miles northwest of San Antonio, provides primary care, some specialty care, geriatric evaluation and management, palliative care, and long-term care services with a Community Living Center. Outpatient clinics offer primary care and some specialty care while sharing resources with each other and their respective communities. When required, Veterans are referred to ALMMVH or KVAH for specialty care including medicine, surgery, neuropsychiatry, rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, and long-term care services.