Leading with Purpose: Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center

In the landscape of modern healthcare, few opportunities allow senior clinical professionals to combine strategic organizational leadership, robust research and clinical guidance, and dedicated patient care. The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center is seeking an accomplished and visionary medical expert to fill the critical vacancy of Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief in Jackson, Mississippi.

This position is designed for an experienced infectious disease specialist who wants to step away from the administrative constraints of private practice and dive into a highly rewarding clinical leadership role. Representing the pinnacle of professional security and mission-driven clinical practice, this Title 38 role features an annual salary range of $220,000 to $330,000, robust federal benefits, and zero restrictive employment covenants.

About the Agency: G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center & Life in Jackson

The Veterans Health Administration Mission

The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) operates the nation's largest integrated healthcare system. Driven by President Abraham Lincoln's promise "To care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors," the VHA delivers comprehensive whole health care with compassion and state-of-the-art facilities.

The Jackson, Mississippi Campus

The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center is a Joint Commission-accredited facility located in Jackson, Mississippi. Serving Veterans across the state of Mississippi and portions of Eastern Louisiana, the medical center offers comprehensive primary care, specialized inpatient services, and modern diagnostic capabilities. The institution is recognized for its commitment to clinical teaching, academic partnerships, and research in diverse medical disciplines.

Discover Jackson, Mississippi

Known as the "City with Soul," Jackson is steep in Southern culture, historical significance, and artistic diversity. Home to a vibrant community of painters, musicians, actors, and culinary specialists, Jackson offers a high quality of life with a highly affordable cost of living.

Cultural Vibe: Enjoy live music spanning blues, gospel, jazz, and R&B all throughout town.
Outdoor Living: Experience changing seasons that allow for year-round outdoor recreation, spring celebrations, and laid-back summer festivals.
Community Atmosphere: Jackson provides warm hospitality, safe residential neighborhoods, and excellent local schools.

Job Responsibilities & Clinical Leadership

As the Infectious Disease Section Chief, you will provide critical medical direction, operational oversight, and high-level clinical services for all infectious disease programs at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center. This is a highly collaborative role demanding expert clinical instincts and strong interdisciplinary coordination.

Key Clinical and Leadership Responsibilities:

Comprehensive Clinical Care: Provide direct inpatient and outpatient consultation for complex, high-acuity infectious conditions, including multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), sepsis, HIV, tuberculosis, chronic osteomyelitis, device-related infections, and complications in immunocompromised patients.
Interdisciplinary Support: Conduct vital inpatient consultations across critical hospital areas, including the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Hospital Medicine, General and Specialty Surgery, Hematology/Oncology, Dialysis, and the Emergency Department.
Program Leadership: Serve as the clinical lead for the Infection Prevention and Control Program. Guide institutional policies surrounding outbreak investigation, surveillance methodologies, and evidence-based clinical interventions.
Antimicrobial Stewardship: Direct the medical center's stewardship initiatives to ensure safe, cost-effective, and appropriate prescribing practices across all clinical departments.
Staff Mentorship: Direct and supervise clinical staff, research coordinators, and rotating medical residents or fellows, fostering a culture of continuous learning and high-performance medicine.

Comprehensive Requirements & Qualifications

Basic Educational and Citizenship Requirements

To meet the basic requirements of this role, candidates must demonstrate the following credentials:

Citizenship: Applicants must be U.S. citizens. Non-citizens can only be appointed when it is impossible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with agency guidelines.
Education: A Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree from an accredited school of medicine approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Licensure: Hold at least one active, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia.

Professional Training and Residency

Candidates must have completed a residency training program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) leading to board eligibility or certification. Alternative qualifying pathways, such as verified independent practice or recognized international programs, will be evaluated by the Medical Staff Executive Committee on an individual basis.

Preferred Attributes

Board certification in Infectious Diseases is highly preferred.
Demonstrated history of leading hospital-wide clinical committees.
Deep familiarity with federal clinical regulations and safety standards.

Salary, Incentives, and Compensation Comparison

VA medicine offers structural and financial benefits that differ significantly from private sector arrangements. The pay-setting process utilizes a formal panel to review each candidate's experience, training, and achievements to determine an appropriate place within the $220,000 to $330,000 salary band.

Comparison Table: VA Medical Center vs. Typical Private Practice

Feature	G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VAMC	Typical Private Practice
Annual Base Salary	$220,000 - $330,000 with regular raises	Varies heavily, often tied to billing metrics
Employment Contract	No clinical contract, no non-compete clauses	Rigid employment contracts, non-competes
Malpractice Coverage	Free liability protection with full tail coverage	High annual premiums and tail coverage fees
Paid Time Off	50 - 55 total days of leave per year	Usually 15 - 25 total days
Retirement Plan	Traditional pension + up to 5% TSP match	401(k) with limited match, no pension
CME Reimbursement	Up to $1,000 per year (for full-time board-certified)	Highly variable, often limited
Moonlighting	Permitted with minimal administrative oversight	Frequently restricted or entirely prohibited

Premium Federal Benefits Package

Working with the Department of Veterans Affairs provides unmatched economic security and lifestyle stability. Key benefits include:

Generous Paid Leave: Receive 26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 federal holidays, and up to 5 days of authorized absence for continuing medical education (CME) annually.
Retirement Security: Vest in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) pension after only five years of service. In addition, the TSP (the federal 401k equivalent) provides up to 5% matching contributions.
Comprehensive Health Plans: Select from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which provides multiple premier options for medical, dental, vision, life, and long-term care coverage.
Incentives: Highly qualified selectees may be approved for sign-on incentives (Recruitment or Relocation Incentives).

Application Process & Strategic Tips

Step-by-Step Guide to Applying

Visit USAJobs: Access the vacancy page and click the 'Apply Online' button to sign in or create an account.
Prepare the Standard Template: Do not skip this critical step! The VA requires a standardized clinical resume template. Download the one-page form from the official VA Careers page.
Upload the Template: Upload this unmodified form into the field restricted to 'Resume.'
Upload Your Full C.V.: Upload your comprehensive curriculum vitae or complete, unlimited resume into the 'Other' documents folder.
Complete the Assessment: Answer all required occupational questions to reflect your clinical experience.
Submit: Submit your package before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on August 31, 2026.

Pro Resume Tips for Success

Be Explicit: Clearly explain your leadership over specialized teams, antimicrobial protocols, and infection-control committees.
Include All Hours: Federal hiring panels require you to specify the dates (Month/Year) and average hours worked per week for every medical position on your C.V.
Explain Voluntarism: Highlight any relevant volunteer activities. VHA values community service and gives appropriate professional credit during the pay-setting evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What is an "Open Continuous Announcement"?

A: This means applications are accepted and reviewed regularly during the recruitment period. Referrals are made as vacancies occur. The posting may close earlier than August 31, 2026, if the vacancy is successfully filled.

Q: Is there a requirement to work weekends or holidays?

A: The standard schedule is Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Occasional administrative or clinical duties outside these hours may be coordinated on an as-needed basis to ensure patient safety.

Q: Are vaccination programs mandatory for VA employees?

A: Yes, seasonal influenza vaccination (or a formally approved medical or religious exemption) is a mandatory condition of employment for all VHA health care personnel.

Q: Are there relocation benefits for this position?

A: A relocation or recruitment incentive may be authorized for highly qualified candidates who are selected for this leadership role.

The role of Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief at the G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center offers a rare blend of stable professional environment, high compensation, and profound clinical mission. If you are a board-certified or board-eligible specialist in infectious disease who is ready to lead a dedicated team in service of American Veterans, apply today and join a world-class healthcare team in Jackson, Mississippi.

Why This Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief Job Matters

Elevate your medical leadership career by shaping the future of infectious disease care for our nation's heroes in a contract-free, high-compensation federal role.

Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief Job Overview

The G.V. (Sonny) Montgomery Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi is seeking a visionary clinical leader to serve as the Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief. This exceptional opportunity offers a highly competitive salary range of $220,000 to $330,000, robust federal benefits, a generous pension plan, and absolute clinical autonomy without the burden of restrictive employment contracts or non-compete clauses. By directing critical infectious disease initiatives and clinical programs, the selected leader will directly influence the quality of care delivered to Veterans across Mississippi and parts of Louisiana.

Requirements for Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief

United States Citizenship (Non-citizens may only be considered if no qualified U.S. citizens are available).
Active, current, full, and unrestricted license to practice medicine or surgery in any U.S. State, Territory, Commonwealth, or the District of Columbia.
Degree of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) from an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school.
Completion of an accredited residency training program approved by the ACGME or AOA leading to board eligibility or certification.
Full proficiency in spoken and written English.
Successful completion of a pre-employment physical examination and drug screening.
Participation in the annual seasonal influenza vaccination program as mandated for VA healthcare personnel.

Preferred Qualifications for Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief

Board-certified or board-eligible in Infectious Diseases.
Proven clinical expertise in managing complex infectious conditions (e.g., multidrug-resistant organisms, HIV, hepatitis).
Strong interdisciplinary leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Familiarity with VA clinical regulations, Joint Commission accreditation standards, and evidence-based infection control practices.

Federal Benefits & Perks

✓Competitive annual salary range of $220,000 to $330,000 with regular increases and performance bonus opportunities.
✓Sign-on bonus (Recruitment or Relocation Incentive) may be authorized for highly qualified applicants.
✓50 to 55 days of total paid time off annually (including 26 annual leave days, 13 sick leave days, 11 federal holidays, and up to 5 days for CME).
✓Traditional Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) pension with vesting after just 5 years of service.
✓Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with up to 5% agency matching contributions.
✓Comprehensive Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Dental, Vision, Life, and Long-Term Care Insurance options (portable into retirement).
✓Full liability protection and malpractice coverage with tail insurance included at no cost.
✓Absence of restrictive employment contracts or non-competes, allowing freedom to practice and explore moonlighting options.

💡 How to Apply Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief Job & Insider Tips

Application Steps for Physician - Infectious Disease Section Chief Job

Access the official vacancy announcement on USAJobs or through the designated application portal.
Create or log in to your existing USAJobs account to begin the application flow.
Download the mandatory standard Clinical Resume Document from the official VA Careers site.
Upload the unmodified, completed standard Clinical Resume Document into the restricted 'Resume' document field.
Upload your detailed Curriculum Vitae (C.V.) or full professional resume without page limits into the 'Other' document field.
Complete the online occupational questionnaire and submit your comprehensive application package by August 31, 2026.

💡 General Tips

Strictly follow the specific dual-resume instruction: upload the required template to the 'Resume' section and your actual comprehensive C.V. to the 'Other' section to avoid automatic disqualification.
Detail your leadership experience, highlighting any involvement with antimicrobial stewardship programs, hospital epidemiologic committees, or clinical department oversight.
If claiming Veterans' Preference, ensure you submit clear, legible copies of your DD-214 or equivalent active duty documentation.
Ensure your C.V. clearly lists dates (month and year) and average hours worked per week for all previous clinical positions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a sign-on bonus available for this role?

Yes, highly qualified candidates may be eligible to receive a Recruitment or Relocation Incentive.

Are there restrictive non-compete clauses in the employment contract?

No, VA physicians do not sign employment contracts with restrictive covenants, nor are there non-compete clauses or limitations on moonlighting, provided it does not conflict with scheduled VA duties.

What are the core hours for this position?

The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, promoting a sustainable work-life balance.

Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to apply?

U.S. citizenship is required; however, non-citizens may be considered for appointment if a thorough recruitment search fails to yield qualified U.S. citizens.