The top reasons physicians choose a job… and you’ll find them all at VA!

When it comes to where physicians work and why, a recent survey delved into the top reasons why physicians choose a particular job, and the results may surprise you. What shouldn’t surprise you, though, is that VA offers all these things and more.

Work/life balance

In this survey, work/life balance was the top reason why physicians chose one employer over another. At VA, we know that this balance makes a positive impact on the care our team provides to Veterans.

We offer generous professional benefits, including 13 to 26 days of paid annual leave, 13 days of paid annual sick leave with no limit on accumulation, 11 paid federal holidays and 12 weeks of paid parental leave. In addition, we offer flexible schedules to accommodate the needs and lifestyles of our physicians. Through these and a wealth of other benefits, we help professionals like you make the most of life.

Work schedule

For any physician, time to spend with each individual patient is a must, but one that might be considered a luxury in other systems. However, our physicians find that choosing a VA career means being able to deliver the highest quality health care in a time frame that works for Veterans and providers.

At VA, taking your time with Veterans is a priority. Not only does it help ensure their safety, but it also makes them feel valued, which is essential to forming meaningful, trusting physician-patient relationships.

“I tell you what, it’s been a really positive experience for me,” Dr. Stephen Gau, an emergency medicine physician at the VA Loma Linda Healthcare System.

Location

One of our favorite VA career benefits is the opportunity to work anywhere you want. As a VA physician, you can work with Veterans at any of our facilities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and some U.S territories.

Whether you want the amenities of an urban environment—more parks, diverse schools, expanded small retail options and broader public transit systems, or the comforts of a rural community—outdoor recreation, less traffic and a slower pace—there’s a VA location for everyone.

Employer stability

Among the most stable careers out there belong to the health care industry, and at VA, our mission to care for Veterans never stops. That means physicians—as well as nurses, physician assistants and medical technicians—stay busy and in demand at our nearly 1,300 facilities.

If you’re a physician looking for a new challenge, there’s no better place to look than VA. We offer stable opportunities that are largely unaffected by the upheavals that can plague other professions, and with our mission to care for Veterans, you’ll know the work you’re doing matters.

Salary

At VA, you receive compensation based on your training, experience and the local labor market. All of that adds up to a competitive salary even before you factor in the possibility of additional annual performance awards, regular cost-of-living increases, salary reviews and longevity increases every two years.

Beyond direct compensation, VA offers robust insurance packages, and physicians can also take advantage of liability protections under federal tort laws. That protection eliminates the need for costly malpractice insurance.

Work at VA

We have a way to get you exactly where you want to go, both professionally and personally.

• LEARN what VA has to offer physicians.
• EXPLORE the benefits of a VA Career.
• FIND a VA physician recruiter.
• SEARCH for your opportunity at VACareers.VA.gov.