Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services

The James J. Peters Bronx VA Medical Center is seeking a Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services to oversee the substance use disorder (SUD) / Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) program. The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services is responsible for the clinical leadership and medical oversight of facility programs providing treatment for Veterans with substance use disorders. The incumbent ensures delivery of evidence-based addiction treatment services consistent with VA policy, national clinical practice guidelines, and applicable federal and state regulatory standards.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services provides direct psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of Veterans with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. Clinical responsibilities include assessment of complex psychiatric and medical presentations, development of comprehensive treatment plans, and provision of pharmacologic and psychosocial treatment interventions.The incumbent provides medical oversight of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), including the prescribing and management of medications such as buprenorphine, methadone (in OTP settings), and naltrexone, ensuring adherence to federal regulatory requirements and VA clinical guidance. The Medical Director monitors treatment outcomes, medication safety, and clinical quality indicators.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services provides clinical supervision and consultation to an interdisciplinary team that may include physicians, psychologists, nurses, pharmacists, and addiction counselors. Responsibilities include case consultation, treatment planning guidance, and ensuring adherence to evidence-based addiction treatment practices. Administrative responsibilities include development and implementation of program policies and procedures, monitoring program performance, ensuring regulatory and accreditation compliance, and participating in quality improvement initiatives.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services collaborates with facility leadership and other clinical services to ensure integrated care for Veterans with complex behavioral health and medical needs. The incumbent participates in educational activities including supervision and teaching of trainees such as psychiatry residents, psychology trainees, and other learners as applicable.

The Medical Director of Substance Abuse Services of Psychiatry participates in facility and service-level committees and contributes to program planning, clinical policy development, and initiatives aimed at improving the quality and accessibility of addiction treatment services.

The incumbent may participate in routine service responsibilities within the Psychiatry or Mental Health Service Line, including general clinical coverage and participation in on-call schedules as assigned.

The VA Medical Center in the Bronx is the oldest VA facility in New York City, celebrating over 75 years service to veterans. The Medical Center is situated on a historic site in the borough of the Bronx. Located on the highest point in New York City, it served as a strategic vantage point during the Revolutionary War. In 1847 Frederick Bailey bought several acres of land where the hospital now stands. After his death In 1889, Bailey's heirs sold the estate to the Sisters of Charity of the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. The Sisters of Charity constructed and operated an orphanage on the site until 1920. The Boy's Chapel, built in the 1800's, remains on the campus and is used daily.

The James J. Peters VAMC is a tertiary care facility classified as a Clinical Referral Level 1 Facility. It is a teaching hospital, providing a full range of patient care services, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. Comprehensive health care is provided through primary care, tertiary care, and long-term care in areas of medicine, surgery, psychiatry, physical medicine and rehabilitation, neurology, oncology, dentistry, geriatrics, and extended care. The James J. Peters VAMC is a part of VA Network 3, which includes facilities in Brooklyn, Castle Point, Manhattan, Montrose, Northport, St. Albans (Queens), New York and East Orange and Lyons, New Jersey.

Today the James J. Peters VAMC has 311 authorized hospital beds and 120 nursing home beds and operates several regional referral points including Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and VISN referrals for Medical/Surgical subspecialties. For example, the James J. Peters VAMC SCI Patient Care Center is the referral point for VISN’s 2, 3 and 4 as well as Department of Defense (DOD) new SCI patients. 

Additionally, the James J. Peters VAMC serves as home to the VISN 3 Network Telephone Care Program. This Program is staffed by Registered Nurses and available during WHEN (Weekends, Holidays, Evenings and Nights) hours. They provide telephone helpline service for veteran patients from 27 VA medical centers in VISN’s 2, 3, 4, &5 and is emergency backup for VISN 6 and 8. This regional call center Program is accredited by URAC.