10 Best Cities for Physicians to Work In

Are you one of the many talented medical professionals looking for a physician-friendly city to call home? You don’t want much, really. It doesn’t have to be glamorous, unless you are into that kind of thing, and you don’t need a lot of razzle dazzle, either. What you do want is a place that emphasizes the specific factors that mean something to a doctor looking to relocate such as access to the newest medical technology, most hospitals per capita, and insured patient pool. It doesn’t matter how good of a doctor you are, either – demographics count such as mortality and morbidity rates and the prevalence of chronic disease in the area.

What about that quality of life issues like culture, climate and the ability to locate a really good mocha macchiato? Finding the right place is not easy, but there is help at your disposal. Consider these 10 of the best cities for a physician to work in.

1. Douglas, Wyoming – It’s a small town, but with a lot of potential and within commuting distance to several of the top critical access hospitals in the region. In town, you find the Memorial Hospital of Converse City and further down the road are Mountain View Regional Hospitals and Wyoming Medical Center, both of which are acute care hospitals.

Douglas may be small, but it offers an affluent patient pool, too, along with lots of stress relieving outdoor activities to keep you busy when you are not on call. Douglas has an acute care hospital for doctors who in work in trauma or orthopedics.

2. San Antonio, Texas – If you prefer the big city chaos, then San Antonio, TX is a nice alternative. San Antonio is known for its low cost of living, family-friendly environment and one or two famous sports teams. This city also provides you with a favorable malpractice atmosphere and some impressive tort reform. Pick San Antonio if you want to get ahead in pediatrics or internal medicine.

3. Indianapolis, Indiana – If San Antonio is a little southern for your taste, then you can find some of the same perks closers to the Great Lakes. Look at the job and research opportunities in Indianapolis, IN. Along with high compensation for your medical services, you can enjoy some bike riding, fishing, kayaking and canoeing – word has it they do a little bit of race car driving in this city, too. Indianapolis is a good venue for ER physicians or trauma surgeons.

4. Duluth, Minnesota – Duluth will do just fine if you love the idea of living near the Great Lakes but hate life in a big city. With a population of just 86,110, there is a lot to love about the mid-sized city on the shores of Lake Superior. Of course, in Duluth, you don’t really have to choose between rural and city life. The city of Duluth is part of a larger metropolitan area with a population of close to 300,000. This gives you access to a full range of medical resources and there are in need of good doctors there, so little competition. Duluth has opportunities for doctors working in a variety of specialties like orthopedics or internal medicine.

5. Boston, Massachusetts – To live and work in Boston, MA is associated with one thing – prestige. Physicians in Boston are affiliated with the top medical schools, hospitals and research facilities in the country. Of course, there is more to love here than Bingham and Women’s Hospital or Harvard Medical School. Boston is loaded with enough history and culture to keep you busy when you are not saving the world. Look closely at Boston is you specialize in women’s medicine or oncology.

6. Raleigh, North Carolina – If thriving metropolis is your idea of a perfect venue, then consider what Raleigh, NC has to offer physicians looking to make a change. For one thing, you gain access to medical partners like WakeMed, Rex Hospital and Duke Raleigh Hospital. Raleigh offers a reasonably low cost of living, too.

If the metro area of Raleigh feels like a little too much hustle and bustle for you, think about the tiny suburb of Apex, instead. You get all the same perks, but without the noise. Apex was named one of Money magazine’s “Best Places to Live.” Physicians who work in obstetrics or women’s medicine may find success in this city.

7. Birmingham, Alabama – Birmingham makes up the most populous city in Alabama, but it does it without losing the southern charm that makes this state worth considering. Known for its culture, art and music, Birmingham also offers a favorable malpractice environment, good schools and a low cost of living. Think Birmingham if you work in endocrinology or gastroenterology.

8. Boise, Idaho – It’s the best choice if you are looking for a slow-paced environment that is very affordable and more than a little obsessed with jazz. Each spring the city of Boise hosts the Gene Harris Jazz festival that brings in people from all over. Plus, Boise boasts a lower cost of living while still offering many big city amenities. And if you love the outdoors, you’ll love how close you’ll be to mountains, rivers, and trails. Boise is a practical choice if you specialize in orthopedics or trauma medicine.

9. Madison, Wisconsin – Physicians in Madison make about 14,000 dollars over the national average. If that is not reason enough for you, then the city provides a strong healthcare environment for its residents and plenty of culture including a massive fireworks display in June called “Shake the Lake.” Consider Madison if you work in family medicine or specialize in cardiology.

10. Omaha, Nebraska – It’s the good life, especially for physicians who want the best of all worlds: affordability, career opportunity and high earnings. Omaha is home to Fortune 500 companies and offers malpractice payouts per capital that fall below the national average. The city of Omaha has a nationally ranked children’s hospital if you specialize in pediatrics, too.

There are many factors to consider when looking to make a move. The good news is you don’t have to do it alone. If you’re ready for a change, PhysEmp is here to help you on your way to a new life.