Physician - Pain Medicine

Serve Veterans nationwide as part of the Pain Management and Opioid Safety Center of Excellence (PMOS-COE) team; this key on-site, telehealth Physician will work at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles VAMC location, advancing care, education, and research in a collaborative multidisciplinary environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Conduct telehealth consultations for Veterans nationwide with complex pain and co-occurring substance/opioid use disorders.
• Perform comprehensive clinical assessments and individualized treatment plans for chronic musculoskeletal, neuropathic, headache, cancer-related, post-surgical pain, and pain in the context of OUD.
• Initiate and manage pharmacologic/non-pharmacologic pain treatments and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
• Provide same-day access and bridge clinic services, including short-term follow-up and coordination of care with local teams.
• Deliver clinical support and gap coverage for VA sites without on-site pain specialists.
• Employ SBIRT, motivational interviewing, and inter-professional collaboration to optimize outcomes.
• Lead and support clinical protocol development and education initiatives including CME, grand rounds, and national webinars.
• Mentor and teach trainees; engage in research and quality improvement aligned with national pain/opioid safety programs.

Why VA & PMOS-COE:

• Nationwide Impact: Provide expert care to Veterans across the country through innovative telehealth platforms, improving access for underserved populations.
• Collaborative Culture: Work within a multidisciplinary team of dedicated pain and addiction specialists, pharmacists, educators, and researchers.
• Professional Development: Access ongoing teaching, research, and quality improvement opportunities, with mentorship and support for early-career faculty.
• Work-Life Balance: Enjoy the flexibility of a predominantly remote position, with federal holidays, comprehensive benefits, and stable employment.
• Mission-Driven Environment: Contribute to a nationally recognized center of excellence focused on advancing pain management, opioid safety, and compassionate Veteran care.

Work Schedule: Full-time / On-site

Qualifications:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen
• Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree in allopathic or osteopathic medicine
• Current, full, and unrestricted license
• Completion of residency in an accredited core specialty
• Fellowship trained or post-residency clinical experience in Pain and/or Addiction Medicine
• Board Certified in Addiction Medicine, Pain Medicine, or related subspecialty

Preferred:

• Fellowship training or post-residency clinical experience in Pain Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Anesthesiology (pain), Neurology, Rheumatology, Palliative Care, or a related field with significant focus on pain management, addiction medicine, or both.
• Clinical experience managing complex pain conditions (including musculoskeletal, neuropathic, headache, cancer-related, and post-surgical pain), SUD/OUD, or co-occurring pain and addiction presentations.
• Familiarity with the intersection of pain and addictive disorders, including awareness of how each condition influences the assessment and treatment of the other.
• Experience with opioid safety practices including risk stratification, prescription drug monitoring, and naloxone co-prescribing.
• Experience prescribing or managing MOUD (e.g., buprenorphine, naltrexone) or opioid analgesic therapies, or both.

Benefits and Features: 

• Salary Range: $285,000-$350,000
• PTO: 50-55 days of PTO annually (26/13 days of annual/sick leave, 11 holidays,)
• Malpractice: Free liability protection with tail coverage provided.
• Dental, Medical, Life Insurance, Pension, TSP (401K) with 5% match, Survivor Benefits 
• Up to $1,000 or more annually and up to 5 days paid absence for CME
• Service without strings: No employment contracts or restrictive covenants
• Opportunity for UCLA Geffen School of Medicine Faculty appointment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

This posting represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions.