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Academic VA is the way to go for QOL/benefits. VA has better benefits than most if not all academic institutions. The SCI docs have maybe 10 or so max patients/day to look after, and have residents taking first call/doing orders/notes/etc. and they have most weekends off and tons of vacation. They do have some more admin tasks (and should be teaching!), but they’re clearly working a very leisurely schedule.
All that and they’re making $200-250k, maybe more these days. Sure, you can make double that working private practice and seeing double the patients, (and having to take more call, not having a resident, etc.) but you’re working more than twice as hard and your benefits are poorer.
For the amount of work you actually do, I really don’t think you can beat the VA for income/benefits. The fact your patients are generally more appreciative of your services is a nice bonus too.
All that and they’re making $200-250k, maybe more these days. Sure, you can make double that working private practice and seeing double the patients, (and having to take more call, not having a resident, etc.) but you’re working more than twice as hard and your benefits are poorer.
For the amount of work you actually do, I really don’t think you can beat the VA for income/benefits. The fact your patients are generally more appreciative of your services is a nice bonus too.