The New Mexico VA Health Care System (NMVHCS) Medicine Service is recruiting for a Physician (Hospice and Palliative Care) Section Chief. The position carries a faculty appointment as Assistant Professor (Clinician Educator track) in the Division of Palliative Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, with potential for additional appointment in the Department of Internal Medicine based on qualifications and experience. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. 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 Duties: Provide inpatient and outpatient palliative care attending coverage, including routine rounds on CLC Hospice residents. Serve as consultant to providers throughout GEC and the broader medical center; request consultation from within or outside the facility as needed. Arrange and coordinate hospice care both within and outside the VA system. Administrative Leadership Provide overall clinical and administrative oversight of the HPC Section, ensuring adequacy, appropriateness, and quality of care delivered. Supervise physicians, advanced practice providers, and clinical support staff within the section, including: time and leave approval; certification of time and attendance; performance reviews; performance pay determinations; and disciplinary actions as needed. Collaborate with the HPC Program Coordinator to develop program-specific performance measures and report cards, complete action plans, and liaise with VISN and national HPC leadership. Quality & Performance Improvement Monitor and evaluate the quality of HPC medical services as part of the overall quality assessment and improvement program. Ensure compliance with Joint Commission (JC) and Long-Term Care Institute (LTCI) standards as they apply to HPC programs. Support ongoing survey readiness in the CLC Hospice, including VA internal surveys and Periodic Performance Reviews. Education & Academic Collaboration Participate in formal and informal educational didactics for HPC fellows, residents, students, and other trainees. Provide medical supervision for residents and fellows through academic affiliate partnerships. Mentor and orient new employees joining the Palliative Care Section. Policy & Compliance Maintain familiarity with VHA directives and local policies affecting HPC and GEC programs. Assist in establishing and maintaining policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure comprehensive and timely HPC services across the NM VA. Serve as a resource to senior management and clinical/administrative leaders on issues affecting veterans who use GEC services. Work Schedule: Full Time 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 identification 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 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.