Physician (Regular Ft)- Director of The Headache Center of Excellence (HCoE)

The VA Maryland Health Care System (VAMHCS) seeks a board-certified or board-eligible neurologist with subspecialty expertise in Headache Medicine to serve as Director of the Headache Center of Excellence (HCoE). The Director will guide clinical operations, education, quality improvement, research engagement, and multidisciplinary team development across VAMHCS and VISN 5. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package. VHA Physician Total Rewards. Scope of Practice. Major duties include but are not limited to: Clinical Duties Provide expert evaluation and management of complex headache disorders. Deliver care through face-to-face encounters, telehealth, virtual modalities, and specialty consultations. Implement evidence-based headache protocols and emerging FDA-approved therapies. Program Leadership Direct all activities of the Headache Center of Excellence at VAMHCS. Coordinate with national HCoE leadership, VISN 5, DoD partners, and VACO program offices. Develop and maintain performance dashboards, quality metrics, and reporting mechanisms. Ensure compliance with HCoE requirements for designation and continuation of SP funding. Education and Training Provide mentorship to residents, fellows, nurse practitioners, and interdisciplinary staff. Lead continuing education on novel headache therapeutics and best practices. Administrative Responsibilities Oversee program staffing, scheduling, referral pathways, and operational growth. Collaborate with Neurology Service leadership on strategic planning, workforce needs, and budget priorities. Participate in committees relevant to pain management, telehealth expansion, quality improvement, and service operations. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VISN5HREDRPCoordinators@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance 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 Work Schedule: Monday • Friday 8:00am • 4:30pm To qualify for this position, you must meet the basic requirements as well as any additional requirements (if applicable) listed in the job announcement. Applicants pending the completion of training or license requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Currently employed physician(s) in VA who met the requirements for appointment under the previous qualification standard at the time of their initial appointment are deemed to have met the basic requirements of the occupation. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Degree of doctor of medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from one of the schools approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs for the year in which the course of study was completed. Current, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Residency Training: Physicians must have completed residency training, approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in an accredited core specialty training program leading to eligibility for board certification. (NOTE: VA physicians involved in academic training programs may be required to be board certified for faculty status.) Approved residencies are: (1) Those approved by the accrediting bodies for graduate medical education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or American Osteopathic Association (AOA), in the list published for the year the residency, or fellowship if applicable, was completed; OR (2) One year of post medical school training (internship, first year of residency, or transitional year residency) approved by ACGME or AOA followed by two years of post-training independent practice (performing under a full and unrestricted license) in the United States; OR (3) Non-US residency training programs followed by a minimum of three years of verified independent practice in the United States (performing under a full and unrestricted license) performing duties related to the position they are applying for (United States fellowships would be creditable towards this requirement), which the local Medical Staff Executive Committee deems to have provided the applicant with appropriate professional training and believes has exposed the Physician to an appropriate range of patient care experiences. Exceptions: Residents currently enrolled in ACGME/AOA accredited residency training programs and who would otherwise meet the basic requirements for appointment are eligible to be appointed as "Physician Resident Providers" (PRPs). PRPs must be fully licensed physicians (i.e., not a training license) and may only be appointed on an intermittent basis. PRPs are not considered independent practitioners and will not be privileged; rather, they are to have a "scope of practice" that allows them to perform certain restricted duties under supervision. Additionally, surgery residents in gap years may also be appointed as PRPs. In rare and unusual circumstances, the Facility Director can submit a memo to the VISN Director through the VISN Chief Medical Officer, who may approve requests for reasonable exceptions to the residency training requirement for Physicians whose composite record of experience, accomplishments, performance, and qualifications warrant such action. Proficiency in spoken and written English. Board Certification: Board certification in Neurology is required and must be accredited by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Preferred Experience: Demonstrated leadership in directing or developing headache programs or clinical divisions, ideally within an academic or federal healthcare system. Experience teaching and mentoring residents, fellows, medical students, and other healthcare professionals, with a strong commitment to education. Active involvement in clinical, translational, or outcomes-based research related to headache disorders, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications, grants, or conference presentations. Familiarity with and implementation of the latest therapeutic approaches for headache, including interventional procedures and interdisciplinary care models. Experience in quality improvement initiatives, program development, and implementation of evidence-based protocols Strong understanding of the unique healthcare needs of the veteran population and prior experience in VA or federal healthcare settings is preferred. Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams such as pain management, neurosurgery, mental health, primary care, rehabilitation, and pharmacy. Proficiency with electronic health record systems and data-driven approaches to care improvement. Familiarity with VA policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements is highly desirable. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. 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. 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. Degree of Doctor of Medicine or an equivalent degree resulting from a course of education in allopathic medicine or osteopathic medicine. The degree must have been obtained from an institution whose accreditation was in place for the year in which the course of study was completed. Approved schools are: Schools of medicine accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) for the year in which the degree was granted. Schools of osteopathic medicine approved by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) for the year in which the degree was granted. For foreign medical graduates not covered in (1) or (2) above, confirmation must be made that the medical school meets (or met) Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) eligibility requirement for year graduated. NOTE: The Under Secretary of Health or designee in the VHA Central Office may approve the appointment under authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405 of a physician graduate of a school of medicine not covered above if the candidate is to be assigned to a research, academic, or administrative position with no patient care responsibilities. The appointment will be made only in exceptional circumstances where the candidate's credentials clearly demonstrate high professional attainment or expertise in the specialty area.