Deputy Chief of Surgical Service

The Deputy Chief, Surgical Service is a surgical or sub-specialty professional involved in the care of our patients, providing comprehensive, efficient, compassionate, high-quality healthcare to all Veterans, functioning as a member of the Surgical Service team providing clinical care to the patients at NMVAHCS.

• Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus):
  Authorized
• Education Debt Reduction Program (Student Loan Repayment):
  Not Authorized. Learn more
• Pay:
  Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, regular salary increases
• Paid Time Off: 50-55 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 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 (must be full-time with board certification)
• Malpractice:
  Free liability protection with tail coverage provided
• Contract:
  
  No Physician Employment Contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

The Deputy Chief of Surgery will support the Chief of Surgery in performing clinical and administrative management of the Department of Surgery. The incumbent will have strong leadership abilities in both clinical and administrative aspects of surgical care. The Deputy Chief of Surgery will equally share the administrative duties with the Service Chief as well as assist in duties that include but are not limited to the development and implementation of a comprehensive healthcare delivery system in coordination with the VHA Mission;

maintaining a collaborative partnership with all other service chiefs and leadership at NMVAHCS; oversight of the various sections within the service and ensuring compliance with VHA policy; maintaining privileges and practice in his/her specialty field; ensuring high quality patient care is delivered in a resource‑efficient manner; promoting the development of healthcare professionals within the service; participating in the selection of qualified professional staff and ensuring recruitment and hiring meets VA and academic affiliation requirements;

being knowledgeable in the functioning of residency and allied health educational programs within the service; participating and assisting with monthly staff meetings; ensuring that appropriate systems are in place to review, analyze, and evaluate patient care activities; monitoring and tracking performance measures under Surgical Services scope of practice; and monitoring and ensuring each section’s staff are in compliance with VA, Joint Commission, and all other pertinent regulations and policies as appropriate.

The Deputy Chief, Surgical Service will be available to provide consultation and facilitate disposition of surgical care for our patients. The Deputy Chief will demonstrate the ability to appropriately and courteously relate to internal and external customers, maintain the confidentiality of patient/employee information, and function and work in a safe manner. The Deputy Chief will also possess knowledge of changes associated with aging, principles of human growth and development, as well as the ability to assess and interpret patient data and identify age‑specific needs, incorporating such factors into patient care activities.

Surgical Department strives to maintain a safe working environment, in which we identify and address issues and concerns as they relate to discrimination, biases and safety problems within the Surgery Section.

This position carries the possibility of a joint faculty appointment at the University of New Mexico. Applicants must have the appropriate credentials for a faculty appointment at the Assistant Professor level or higher at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center.