Are you a proven surgical leader with a passion for excellence and a commitment to serving our nation’s veterans? The VA Central California Health Care System (VACCHCS) in Fresno, CA, is seeking an innovative and dynamic Chief of Surgery to guide our talented surgical team. Enjoy both professional fulfillment and quality of life in the heart of California’s Central Valley.

Chief of Surgery Role Overview:

As Chief of Surgery, you will oversee and advance surgical services at VACCHCS, ensuring the highest standards of patient care, surgical education, and clinical outcomes. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, collaborate across departments, support faculty development, and drive quality improvement and innovation throughout the surgical division. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong leadership abilities in both clinical and administrative aspects of surgical care, ensuring the development and implementation of a comprehensive healthcare delivery system aligned with the VHA mission. Key responsibilities include identifying and addressing opportunities to improve patient care, maintaining collaborative partnerships with service chiefs, VACCHCS, and VISN leadership, and providing oversight to ensure all sections remain compliant with VHA policy.

The Chief of Surgery will maintain privileges and practice in their specialty field, participate in surgical call coverage, and ensure high-quality patient care is delivered efficiently and resourcefully. Additional duties involve fostering the professional growth of healthcare staff, participating in recruitment and selection in accordance with VA and academic standards, supporting educational programs, and leading monthly staff meetings. You will also implement systems to review and evaluate patient care activities, monitor performance measures, and maintain compliance with all regulatory standards. Strong communication skills, commitment to confidentiality, and a thorough understanding of aging, human development, and age-specific care needs are essential. The position also requires providing expert consultation, promoting a collaborative work environment, and performing additional duties as assigned.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide overall leadership and administrative direction for all surgical services, including general, specialty, and subspecialty areas.
• Supervise and mentor surgeons, residents, fellows, and allied health professionals.
• Ensure high-quality, safe, and patient-centered surgical care for veterans in inpatient and outpatient settings.
• Collaborate with other clinical leaders to develop, implement, and monitor best practices, policies, and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee recruitment, credentialing, training, and professional development of surgical staff.
• Lead quality improvement projects and ensure compliance with VA policies, regulations, and accreditation standards.
• Support and participate in clinical research and academic activities.
• Foster a collaborative and respectful workplace culture.

Why You Should Join Us:

1. Visionary Leadership: Make a transformative impact on veteran care and surgical practice as you guide a team of remarkable professionals.
2. Comprehensive Compensation & Benefits: Earn a competitive salary of $350,000 to $400,000 annually, including:
• Performance bonus and recruitment incentives
• Annual cost-of-living increases
• Federal health, dental, vision, and prescription insurance (coverage begins day one)
• Federal pension and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement options with employer matching
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligibility (up to $200,000 loan repayment over five years)
• 26 days annual leave, 13 sick days, 11 paid federal holidays, and CME leave each year
• Free malpractice coverage (with tail)
• Federal life insurance and comprehensive CME reimbursement
3. State-of-the-Art Surgical Environment: Practice in a modern, fully equipped facility with access to the latest surgical technologies and resources.
4. Academic Excellence: Collaborate with academic partners including UCSF Fresno; teach, mentor, and foster the development of trainees and staff.
5. Work-Life Balance: Flexible scheduling, strong administrative support, and a culture of well-being mean you can achieve excellence at work—and enjoy your life outside the OR.

Lifestyle and Location:

Fresno offers affordable living, a warm and welcoming community, and easy access to premier national parks like Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon. Savor a diverse dining scene, robust cultural offerings, and endless opportunities for outdoor adventure—all while making a difference for those who have served our country.

• Outstanding location: Enjoy beautiful weather & vibrant city amenities
• Family-friendly: Excellent schools and community events year-round
• Recreation: Hiking, biking, and outdoor activities in California’s heartland

Ready to Lead?

Email your CV to Gregory.Salmon@va.gov

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About VA Central California Health Care System

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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