Friday, March 20 marks Residency Match Day, the exciting day when medical students learn their residency placements. Nearly 75,000 residents rotate through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) each year gaining supervised hands-on experience while caring for our nation’s heroes. Many of those residents choose to join VA fulltime, like radiation oncologist, Dr. Ruchika Gutt.
“I did rotations at the Baltimore VA and then at the DC VA during my intern year,” says Dr. Gutt. “I applied to VA again after the private practice where I was working downsized. I had three other job offers, but chose to join the DC VA. I knew that I liked the hospital, and it’s really a privilege to be able to give back to the Veterans.”
For those who turn their VA training into a career, VA supports the success of its employees and their careers through generous benefits, educational incentives, and a mission that matters.
Keep reading to learn more about the unique benefits of a VA career.
Benefits that fit your lifestyle
VA understands that life happens, and sometimes it happens between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or on another coast. We proudly offer consistent, flexible schedules, generous personal and sick leave, and competitive compensation.
One license that can take you anywhere
VA physicians have one active license that allows them to practice at any of our more than 1,300 facilities across all 50 states, the District of Columbia and even some U.S territories. This flexibility means that if you join our team and need to move states, your career can move with you. And whether at an urban, suburban, or rural location, the great benefits remain the same.
Education incentives that can reduce debt
For those who are eligible, VA actively helps to reduce the weight of student loans through multiple loan reimbursement and repayment options. The Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP) provides up to $40,000 a year—or $200,000 over a 5-year period—in loan repayment to cover tuition, living expenses, and other fees like books and supplies. Explore your finance options here.
Innovation that can revolutionize health care
VA has long been a leader in research and innovation, from the first decisive trials of effective treatments for tuberculosis in the 1940s, to the health technology of today. VA physicians are leveraging cutting-edge tools to make health care more personalized, accessible, and effective. Innovations like telehealth, remote monitoring, and mobile health apps have opened the door for Veterans to get quality care when and where they need it.
A mission that can change lives
Ask any VA physician what they love most about their job, and the answer is always, “The Veterans.”
“I go home and I’m like, ‘I saw a World War II Vet today’,” said Dr. Toni Garvin. “You can’t get that anywhere else.”
- Learn more about the benefits of a VA career.
- Find your balance.
- Discover our mission of service.
- Join the next generation of VA physicians.
