Some faculty appointments are available for VA dentists at affiliated dental schools. Advantages No financial investment is required. VA staff dentists are encouraged to engage in basic and clinical research and to use the wealth of clinical resourses available to them. The VA provides opportunities to attend postgraduate courses given by university dental schools as well as continuing education courses in clinical, technical, and administrative areas offered through VA facilities. Disadvantages Responsibilities differ from private practice.
Autonomy is lost.
One must comply with the rules and regulations of the VA medical center regarding personnel employment and job duties. Eligibility regulations dictate the patient population that receives dental treatment. Advancement and geographic relocation within the VA are restricted by the relatively few vacant positions annually. Completion of a hospital based residency in general dentistry or have equivalent experience as an active dentist member of a hospital medical staff or have completed a dental specialty residency training program. A dentist applying on the basis of hospital experience may be asked to document that experience.