Substance Use Disorder Psychiatrist (SUD)

Quick Facts

• Core member of an interdisciplinary substance use treatment team
• Provides psychiatric care and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions
• Duties include psychiatric evaluations, MAT medication management (including buprenorphine), integrated dual-diagnosis care, CPRS documentation, and suicide risk/safety planning

Description

You will serve as a core member of the SUD interdisciplinary treatment team, delivering evidence-based, recovery-oriented psychiatric care and medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Responsibilities include comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, initiation and management of MAT pharmacology, and integrated treatment planning and follow-up with the team. You will also complete required documentation in CPRS and provide clinical supervision/mentorship to trainees as needed.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive psychiatric evaluations for substance use disorders, including co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions
• Initiate and manage pharmacologic treatments, including buprenorphine and other MAT options, per VA policy and clinical guidelines
• Provide integrated care for dual diagnoses (mood, anxiety, trauma-related, and psychotic disorders)
• Coordinate individualized treatment planning and monitor progress with the interdisciplinary SUD team
• Provide group or individual psychiatric follow-up as clinically indicated
• Complete all documentation requirements in CPRS per VA standards
• Provide consultation to other providers and teams on substance use and co-occurring disorder diagnosis and management
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, case reviews, and clinical huddles
• Perform risk assessments, safety planning, and care coordination to support suicide prevention practices
• Comply with VA policies, federal regulations, and Joint Commission standards
• Provide clinical supervision, education, mentorship, and consultation to residents, trainees, and other clinical staff

Requirements

• U.S. citizenship (non-citizens only when VA cannot recruit qualified citizens per VA policy)
• Doctor of medicine (MD) or osteopathic equivalent degree from an approved school
• Current, full, unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in a U.S. state/territory/commonwealth or DC
• Completion of VA-approved residency training leading to eligibility for board certification (per VA pathways)
• Proficiency in written and spoken English
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Complete onboarding and pre-employment requirements
• Pass pre-employment physical evaluation/examination
• Participate in the VA seasonal influenza vaccination program
• Complete all application requirements and required documents
• Selective Service registration required for males born after 12/31/1959
• If selected: subject to pre-employment urinalysis testing for illegal drug use

Benefits

• Competitive salary, annual performance bonus, and regular salary increases
• Paid time off: 50–55 days per year (annual leave, sick leave, federal holidays; plus possible CME-related paid absence)
• Traditional federal pension (with vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% contributions by VA
• Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care insurance options
• Possible $1,000/year CME reimbursement (for full-time employees with board certification)
• Free malpractice liability protection with tail coverage
• No physician employment contract and no significant restriction on moonlighting

Additional Notes

• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) may be available for eligible candidates; requires VA program approval and an EDRP application within four months of appointment.