Addiction Psychiatrist & Researcher

About the Position

To help us achieve our goals, we seek candidates who are committed to providing care within a growing community and have a strong record of providing exemplary care and treatment that restores hope, and helps patients live healthier, fuller lives.  A clinical assignment will occur through our department’s collaboration with Integral Care. A leading Local Mental Health Authority in the State of Texas, Integral Care is Joint Commission accredited and prides itself on continually advancing services, primary care integration, and developing model programs to meet the needs of Travis County residents with severe and persistent mental illness. In addition, Integral Care is designated a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) through SAMHSA. 

Integral Care and Dell Medical School also offer an ACGME approved Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship program. It is expected that the successful candidate will serve as a key faculty member in the Fellowship as well as support the general adult residency program.  In this role, the physician will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing development of training programs and collaborations that allow for the pursuit of innovative clinical programming and research initiatives. Additional partnership with the VA, with opportunities for research activity are also available and encouraged.

Additionally, funding from the Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research will support research within alcohol studies and other substance use disorders. The Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research was created to revolutionize our understanding of substance use disorders, understanding that these disorders are treatable diseases of the brain. This realization has energized greater efforts to understand the biological causes of substance use disorders and discover new treatments. Established in 1999 as an organized research unit of the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin, the Center was made possible by a generous gift from M. June and J. Virgil Waggoner and matching university funds.

General Expectations:

• Provide high-quality clinical care and teaching within scope of license, training, credentialing, and current, quality standards of care within a community mental health setting.
• Work collaboratively with Dell Medical School, Integral Care leadership and the medical directors, physician providers and other clinical staff to develop excellence in service and clinical care, optimal outcomes, and efficient resource utilization.
• Train and mentor students, residents and fellows on new models of care and clinical practice.
• Opportunity to participate in many aspects of residency training program, including didactic presentations, resident recruitment and support.
• Opportunity to collaborate with other schools at The University of Texas at Austin and across The University of Texas system on multidisciplinary, innovative care models.

Clinical Practice Expectations

• Demonstrate thorough knowledge of addiction psychiatry: possesses the communication skills necessary to obtain information through the clinical interview and interpret response to treatment; understands the impact of various psychosocial systems on treatment; understands age specific psychopharmacology.
• Provide and appropriately documents in-person and/or telemedical psychiatric evaluations consistent with the standard of care and in accordance with any applicable guidelines and documentation requirements. Psychiatric diagnosis is supported by clinical findings.
• Provide ongoing in-person and/or telemedical clinical management services consistent with departmental/agency standard of care and in accordance with applicable guidelines.
• Demonstrate excellent collaboration skills, facilitating treatment team that includes multiple disciplines and trainees.
• Document all services in a professional manner, using approved medical records system and forms. All services are documented within 24 hours of service delivery. Document pertinent information between appointments, including phone calls, medication changes, referrals.
• Work harmoniously with Unit Manager(s), Associate Medical Director, and Chief Medical Officer to define and deliver quality clinical medical care for all clients.
• Comply with attendance, work schedule, on-call policies, center policies/procedures, professional/legal requirements, and billing standards. Maintain required training, licensure, and certificates.
• Clinical settings may include specialized substance abuse treatment programs, outpatient clinics, crisis services, and residential treatment.

Research Expectations:

• Dedicate substantial effort to the conduct of research in the areas of alcohol and substance use disorders.
• Collaborate with research faculty in the Department and with colleagues in other UT Austin departments with complementary expertise and background.
• Develop and foster an atmosphere of scientific and academic inquiry in conjunction with trainees within the multidisciplinary team.
• Engage in scholarly activities including teaching, presenting work at national and international meetings, and working with care providers and health care delivery networks to implement research in practice.

Qualifications

• Unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Texas, or the ability to obtain prior to appointment.
• Board certified in Addiction Psychiatry or Addiction Medicine, or board eligible with a commitment to obtain certification within two years.
• Eligible for credentialing and privileging by our clinics.
• Eligible for appointment as an assistant professor or higher in the Department of Psychiatry.
• Demonstrated leadership, clinical teaching, evaluation, and communication skills.
• Ability to influence/motivate others at all professional and administrative levels.
• Must be an innovative self-starter with a commitment to excellence.
• A track record of being able to lead, direct, and influence a team regardless of reporting lines, as well as be a team player.