Physician Recruitment Process and Compensation Overview
A Package Built for Stability and Growth
Your compensation structure at St. Joseph’s Medical Center reflects the program’s commitment to attracting top neurologists while allowing for long-term career growth. The model is designed to provide security in the early years, followed by a transition to productivity incentives that reward your effort and clinical impact. Unlike systems where financial pressure can overshadow patient care, this plan emphasizes sustainability, fairness, and balance.
Base Salary & Productivity Model
- General neurologists receive a $350,000 guaranteed base salary for the first two years.
- Fellowship-trained vascular/stroke neurologists are offered $400,000 guaranteed.
- After the two-year guarantee, compensation transitions to a hybrid model: 80% base salary and 20% wRVU productivity bonus. (Future adjustments may move toward a 60/40 split.)
- Productivity thresholds are tied to 50% of MGMA Western region benchmarks, making them highly attainable. Physicians who exceed productivity expectations may transition off the guarantee earlier, with salary adjusted upward to reflect above-median performance.
Lifestyle Impact
This structure provides a safety net while you ramp up your practice, with the potential to significantly increase earnings as you establish a subspecialty niche and capture the high referral demand across Northern California. The combination of guaranteed salary and achievable productivity benchmarks ensures financial stability without undue stress.
Comprehensive Benefits
- Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance – TUMG pays 100% of your premium and 80% of dependent coverage.
- Retirement Plan – 401(k) with 3.5% match, increasing to 6% over time.
- Paid Time Off – Generous leave package that includes:
- 152 hours (4 weeks) of vacation time
- 23 personal hours
- 56 hours of sick leave
- 14 Jewish holidays plus 1 floating holiday
- Additional credit or PTO provided for inpatient weekend service
- CME Support – 5 days and $2,500 annual allowance.
- Disability & Life Insurance – Long-term disability fully covered, short-term disability provided, plus $50k life and AD&D coverage.
- Professional Expenses – Membership reimbursement up to $800/year, plus full coverage for California medical license, DEA, and credentialing fees.
- Malpractice – Paid malpractice insurance with full tail coverage.
- Additional Perks – Relocation assistance, potential student loan repayment, and a standard Letter of Intent/contract process ensuring fairness across faculty hires.
Conclusion
With a competitive guaranteed salary, achievable productivity incentives, and a robust benefits package — including four full weeks of PTO, sick leave, personal hours, and observed holidays — you can practice with confidence and balance. The financial framework reflects the program’s philosophy: stability in the early years, meaningful rewards for productivity, and comprehensive benefits that protect your health, family, and long-term future.