Hospice & Palliative Medicine Physician
VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System – Reno, Nevada
Department of Veterans Affairs | Veterans Health Administration
The VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System (VASNHCS) in Reno, NV is seeking a compassionate and mission‑driven Hospice & Palliative Medicine Physician to join our expanding Geriatrics & Extended Care (GEC) Service. This full-time position supports inpatient, outpatient, and interdisciplinary palliative care services dedicated to improving quality of life for Veterans with serious illness.
Position Overview
The HPM physician will provide expert palliative care consultation across multiple care settings—including acute inpatient, community living center, outpatient clinics, and home-based programs—working within a collaborative interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, and therapists. This role supports our Whole Health and Veteran-centered care mission and may include opportunities for teaching, quality improvement, and research.
Reno VA Palliative Care
- Palliative Care Teams established throughout VA system since 2003
- Active HPM fellowship – Academic partnership with local university affiliate, UNR School of Medicine
- HPM Fellows
- Int med residents
- Fam Med residents
- Psych residents
- Medical Students and PA Students
- Interdisciplinary care teams:
- Medicine, nursing, social work, mental health, chaplaincy, Pharmacists, dieticians, rec therapy
- Inpatient Consults, Outpatient Consults(clinic), Nursing Home Consults, Inpatient Hospice Unit
- Unique benefits
- Concurrent care for advanced life-limiting conditions -> allows patients with incurable disease to receive disease-directed therapy (e.g., immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation, blood transfusions, etc. AND home hospice services)
- Nursing Home Hospice
Teaching
Academic Afternoon
Every Thursday with Formal Fellowship Didactics
Research
Reno has a growing R&D program with scientists leading national research portfolios evaluating access to and quality of palliative care. Scientific teams can utilize the program’s data analytic core and professional development pathways to grow budding research or participate in national research that is shaping key palliative care research and clinical priorities. The program also collaborates closely with the healthcare system’s Supportive Oncology Clinic to offer Veterans opportunities to cutting-edge pilot symptom management programs and clinical trials. If you are interested in research, the R&D program will work with you and the Geriatrics and Extended Care Service to design a protected time model that will support your research growth.
Qualifications
• U.S. Citizenship
• MD or DO from an accredited program
• Board Certified/Eligible in Internal Medicine or Family Medicine
• Hospice & Palliative Medicine board certification or eligibility required
• Eligible for full and unrestricted medical license
Benefits
• Competitive salary with annual performance bonus
• Recruitment/Relocation Incentive may be available
• Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) eligible – student loan repayment
• Up to 55 days of paid time off each year (annual, sick, federal holidays, CME)
• Traditional federal pension with 5‑year vesting and federal 401(k) with matching
• Malpractice insurance with tail coverage provided at no cost
• Work-life balance with predictable schedule and no billing/insurance burdens
Why Reno, Nevada?
Reno offers a unique blend of city life and outdoor adventure. With proximity to Lake Tahoe, the Sierra Nevada mountains, and year‑round recreation, it is an ideal location for professionals seeking excellent quality of life. Nevada also features no state income tax.
Kelly A. DeBoer, kelly.deboer@va.gov
Supervisor, Physician/Provider Recruitment
VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System
