Location & Practice Overview

The position is based at the Tucson VA Medical Center campus, the main facility of the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, within an outpatient primary care service that operates alongside mental health programs.

Facility Tucson VA Medical Center main campus
Practice Setting Outpatient clinic co-located with mental health services
Service Line Mental Health Primary Care section
Care Model Patient Aligned Care Team (PACT) structure

Responsibilities

  • Act as Section Chief and Clinic Director with administrative and clinical oversight of the Mental Health Primary Care section.
  • Supervise seven interdisciplinary staff members, handling evaluations, productivity tracking, and leave management.
  • Provide direct outpatient primary care within the interdisciplinary team.
  • Offer consultation to primary care and behavioral health colleagues throughout the organization.
  • Contribute to program development, teaching, and mentorship activities.

Daily work balances clinic leadership duties with hands-on patient care and collaborative input across service lines.

Qualifications & Requirements

Applicants must hold appropriate medical credentials and show leadership experience suited to team-based Veteran care.

Board Status
Board-certified or board-eligible in Family Medicine or Internal Medicine
License
Active, unrestricted medical license in any U.S. state
Leadership
Demonstrated experience as a physician leader
Preferred Experience
Background in mental health care or integrated models preferred

Compensation & Benefits

Pay is set through the VA formal process that factors in education and experience. Eligible incentives and standard federal benefits apply.

  • Base compensation of $265,000–$290,000 per year, with federal pay increases and eligible recruitment incentives
  • Education Debt Reduction Program (student loan repayment) available; recruitment/relocation incentive approved
  • 50–55 days of annual paid time off (26 vacation, 13 sick, 11 federal holidays, up to 5 CME days)
  • Pension with 5-year vesting plus 401(k) match up to 5 percent; comprehensive health, vision, dental, life, and long-term care insurance
  • $1,000 yearly CME reimbursement, malpractice insurance with tail coverage, no physician employment contract

Schedule & Work Environment

Hours Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Status Full-time, permanent
Location Onsite at the Tucson main campus
Call No regular call schedule listed
Moonlighting No significant restrictions stated

Patient Population & Clinical Setting

The panel consists of adult Veterans who carry diagnoses of serious mental illness, experience homelessness, or both, and who often present with concurrent medical conditions.

Primary Group Veterans living with serious mental illness
Secondary Group Veterans experiencing homelessness
Complexity Frequent co-occurring medical and psychiatric needs
Care Context Outpatient encounters inside an integrated team environment

Clinical Focus & Key Services

Clinical work centers on delivering primary medical care that accounts for the psychiatric and social realities of the patient panel.

Core Service Outpatient primary care for medically complex Veterans
Integration Approach Medical management coordinated with co-located mental health support
Team-Based Care Collaborative treatment planning across disciplines

Role Highlights

The position pairs ongoing outpatient practice with formal section leadership inside a specialized Veteran-focused clinic.

  • Lead the Mental Health Primary Care section while continuing to see patients
  • Direct four specialized PACT teams that serve Veterans with serious mental illness or homelessness
  • Supervise a seven-member interdisciplinary team in a co-located setting
  • Combine clinic leadership, direct care, consultation, teaching, and program development

About Southern Arizona VA Health Care System

Southern Arizona VA Health Care System has provided care to Veterans since 1928. It operates the Tucson VA Medical Center together with community-based outpatient clinics across southern Arizona and functions as a teaching hospital affiliated with the University of Arizona Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, and Pharmacy.

Organization Veterans Health Administration facility
Service Reach Veterans across southern Arizona and adjacent communities
Academic Role Major teaching affiliate of the University of Arizona
Facilities Main medical center plus multiple outpatient clinics

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the Section Chief still carry a clinical panel?
Yes. The role includes ongoing outpatient primary care in addition to supervisory and administrative duties.
How does the Clinical Nurse Manager fit into the structure?
The Section Chief works closely with the Mental Health Primary Care Clinical Nurse Manager on section operations.
Is mental health training mandatory?
It is preferred. Core requirements focus on Family or Internal Medicine board status and demonstrated leadership.
Can physicians continue outside clinical work?
The posting notes no significant restrictions on moonlighting and no physician employment contract.
What loan repayment options exist?
The Education Debt Reduction Program is available; award details are determined through the VA process for qualifying candidates.

Section Chief of Mental Health - Primary Care Provider in Tucson, AZ

A Family or Internal Medicine physician with leadership experience can step into a Section Chief role that keeps one foot in the exam room and the other in clinic administration at the Tucson VA Medical Center. The post sits inside the Mental Health Primary Care section, where primary medical services are delivered to Veterans who live with serious mental illness, homelessness, or both. The physician directs a compact interdisciplinary group, maintains an outpatient panel, and consults across primary care and behavioral health lines. Weekday daytime hours support a predictable schedule. Compensation falls in the mid-to-high $200,000s and is paired with federal leave, retirement benefits, loan-repayment eligibility, and malpractice coverage. The surrounding health system has cared for southern Arizona Veterans for nearly a century and maintains strong academic ties to the University of Arizona. Candidates who value integrated, team-based practice with a defined leadership component will find a clear professional fit.

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