The VA Central California Health Care System (VACCHS) in Fresno is seeking a Section Chief for Emergency Medicine, a leadership role overseeing day-to-day clinical operations of the ED, staffing, and academic/research engagement with a UCSF affiliation. The position includes a sign-on bonus, loan repayment up to $200,000, and a comprehensive federal benefits package.
$430,000 SalaryDr market context available for comparison
$200,000 loan repayment support
Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm
11 weeks PTO or vacation disclosed
Academic medical center (VA) · VA Medical Center · Emergency department (urgent and emergency care); inpatient admissions context noted (~4,000/year)
AI-structured from the official posting·View original
Posted pay vs real comps
$413k$430k/$433k
Physician-reported range Reported median
Physician-reported range shown; the employer did not post pay for this role.
Compensation
Type
SalaryDr Market Context
Market context
$412,500 – $432,500
Structure
salary
Signing bonus
$0
Loan repayment
$200,000
PTO
11 weeks
$413k$430k/$433k
Physician-reported range Reported median
This is SalaryDr Market Context computed from 16 verified physician submissions (state cohort). It is not the employer's posted pay. The employer did not disclose pay.
above U.S. avg (100) · BEA Regional Price Parities
Schools
-0.4
grade levels vs U.S. avg · NAEP 2024
16 SalaryDr Emergency Medicine reports in California show a $430,000 median.
8 active Emergency Medicine roles in California, including 2 in Fresno, California; 0 include reviewed transparent pay.
Physicians in this comparison cohort report 3.9/5 average job satisfaction.
Questions to ask the employer
How is the $200,000 loan repayment structured — forgiven over time, contingent on service years, or paid up front?
What is the call schedule, and is call compensated separately or built into the base?
Generated from this posting's disclosed facts and the SalaryDr comparison — bring them to the first recruiter call.
Work Design
Schedule
Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm
Patient volume
~40,000 Veterans served annually across medical center and community-based outpatient clinics; ~4,000 admissions per year at the medical center
Inpatient / outpatient
Emergency department (urgent and emergency care); inpatient admissions context noted (~4,000/year)
Coverage model
~10 staff physicians and 3 advanced practice providers in the EM section
Admin burden
High — Section Chief role with oversight of clinical operations, scheduling, hiring, community EMS collaboration, and national VHA EM chief collaboration
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific eligibility requirements per VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Program Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) & eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after review of the EDRP application. Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply.
**This is an OPEN CONTINUOUS ANNOUNCEMENT and will remain open until September 25th, 2026. The initial cut-off date for referral of eligible applications will be May 18th, 2026 with subsequent cut-off dates every 2 weeks. Eligible applications received after that date will be accepted on an ongoing basis and qualified candidates will be considered as vacancies become available.** VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Authorized EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact V21CCOEEDRP@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm 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 VA Central California Health Care System (VACCHS) in Fresno is seeking applications for the position of Chief, Emergency Medicine (EM) Section at the VACCHS Medical Center. VACCHS serves approximately 40,000 Veterans through the VACCHS Medical Center and various community-based outpatient clinics. The VACCHS Medical Center is an academic medical center with around 4,000 admissions per year, offering a full complement of specialty care services, including cardiology and gastroenterology, oncology care, and surgical subspecialties. The EM section exists within the VACCHS Primary Care Service and maintains an academic affiliation with the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). The VACCHS Emergency Medicine section comprises approximately 10 staff physicians and 3 advanced practice providers who deliver urgent and emergency clinical care for the VACCHS. EM faculty are also engaged in research and education for internal medicine residents. In addition to serving a major leadership role within the VACCHS, the EM Division Chief interfaces with other emergency medicine leaders within the Fresno community and collaborates with the VHA national EM chiefs. The ideal candidate will be supported by a strong record of clinical excellence, leadership, teaching, and/or published scholarship. Major duties include, but are not limited to: Oversee day-to-day clinical operations of the VACCHS Emergency Department. Manage scheduling and hiring for the EM section to ensure appropriate clinical staffing. Engage with other clinical section, service, and nursing leaders to ensure provision of appropriate and high-quality emergency care. Partner with other VACCHS departments to ensure the availability, quality, and effective use of diagnostic, therapeutic, and mental health services. Collaborate with local partners within the Fresno County EMS system as the representative of the VACCHS Emergency Medicine section. Maintain faculty appointment with the UCSF Department of Medicine. Promote the EM section and VACCHS Medical Service mission to serve as a leader in medical education. Provide mentorship and professional support to members of the EM section. Other duties as assigned.
U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.
Your application, resume, C.V., and/or other supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: A formal pay-setting process will be used to determine your salary. The salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.
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