Sutter Health - Bay Area logo
Sutter Health - Bay Area
Santa Cruz, California · Hybrid

Physician, Internal Medicine (Santa Cruz, CA)

Internal MedicineFull-Time

Listed compensation

$280k-$335k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Opportunity Information

  • Team-based care approach with NPs and PAs to support physicians
  • Virtual in-basket support team
  • Collaborative relationships with specialists across the organization

Robust Onboarding and Mentorship Program

Flexibility in schedule - 4 days a week for full time, part-time opportunities available, flexible patient visit duration

Remote Video Visits from Home Available

Abundant leadership and committee work opportunities, with active promotion of quality improvement projects

Physician-led inclusive organization, emphasizing collaboration, mentorship, clinician / staff well-being, and innovation

Qualifications

Board Certified or Board Eligible in Internal Medicine

Join Us and Enjoy

  • Starting salary $280,000 - $335,000 (based on experience)
  • $200,000 forgivable loan
  • Generous sign-on bonus
  • Residency stipend ($1,000/month for 12 months before start date)
  • Relocation allowance
  • Guaranteed salary for two years with incentive production bonus
  • Generous benefits package
  • Shareholder eligibility after two years
  • PSLF eligible
  • 401K, cash-balance retirement plan, HSA

Organization Details

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group

We are one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in the country, made up of over 2,100 physicians in 40+ specialties, in practices throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our organization is nationally recognized for our excellence with multiple awards for quality of care, innovation and leadership.

Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group is affiliated with Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a not-for-profit health care organization, providing operational and administrative support, including the latest technology, allowing physicians to focus on delivering exceptional patient care.

Community Information

Situated on the northern edge of the Monterey Bay about 70 miles south of San Francisco, Santa Cruz offers a moderate climate and the best of many worlds. For outdoor enthusiasts, Santa Cruz is a wonderful combination of beach, ocean and mountains.

Well known as a Mecca for surfers, Santa Cruz also offers magnificent redwoods for hiking and mountain-biking and the San Lorenzo River for fishing, canoeing and kayaking. Long stretches of tree-lined and coastal roads offer the perfect venues for road cyclists.

Fisherman and sailors will appreciate convenient access to the ocean from the Santa Cruz Harbor and the Municipal Wharf, which also features a variety of shops and restaurants.

Santa Cruz's downtown center, the Pacific Garden Mall, is home to the Museum of Art and History and features outstanding restaurants, unique shops, wine tasting rooms, sidewalk cafes, and an abundance of coffee shops.

Santa Cruz is also a cultural hub, featuring several live performance venues, the annual Open Studios tour, boutique art stores and the Tannery Arts Center.

Adding to the character of the community, the University of California is nestled in foothills above Santa Cruz, and the Santa Cruz Beach and Boardwalk was named Best Boardwalk in the country by USA Today.

Santa Cruz County is also an agriculture center, known for its production of strawberries, raspberries, artichokes and Brussels sprouts.

Equal Opportunity Statement

  • It is the policy of the Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG) to provide equal employment for all qualified individuals; to prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, creed, religion, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, national origin, age, medical condition, disability or status as a veteran or a disabled veteran. We promote the full realization of equal employment opportunities through a positive continuing program within our service area. Equal employment opportunities apply to every aspect of PAFMG's employment policies and practices.

Key Responsibilities

Provide internal medicine care in a collaborative, team-based setting supported by nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and virtual in-basket staff. Participate in quality improvement, leadership, and committee opportunities while working with specialists across the organization.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Virtual Patient VisitsSpecialist CollaborationClinical Innovation

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Physician, Internal Medicine (Santa Cruz, CA) at Sutter Health - Bay Area a 6.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Physician roles — ranked against 22,343 active Physician roles listings on WeekdayDoc. Contributing factors include remote work flexibility.

Internal Medicine — Physician Career Context

Of the 50 active Internal Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 6% are remote, 44% have no call, 64% require no weekends — this position is remote.

Internal Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 8.5% vs. the prior quarter (through Oct 2026).

Internal Medicine by the numbers
MeasureThis jobMarket
Work-life score6.0 / 10 · above average in physician rolesranked against 22,343 Physician roles listingslisting-based score, 0–10
Listed pay$280k–$335kInternal Medicine median $318k (middle half $293k–$340k)31 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost-of-living adjusted pay~$278k in purchasing powerCalifornia index 110.7 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Internal Medicine listings in California183 active1,345 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingremotepeers: 6% remote · 44% no call · 64% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentsign-on bonus · $200k loan repaymentCalifornia physician listings (all specialties): 30% state a sign-on bonus (median $100k) · 28% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026
Internal Medicine hiring demand#3 of 28 specialtiespostings stay open a median 38 daysWeekdayDoc Hiring Index, October 2026 · 579 postings, 472 closed
New Internal Medicine listings539 in the last 30 days345 the 30 days before (+56%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Internal Medicine pay trend+8.5% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index (22,343 Physician roles listings), BEA Regional Price Parities (2024), WeekdayDoc Hiring Index; as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top Internist Jobs

50 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

50 jobs · 40 employers
14
<$325k
10
$325k-350k
16
$350k-375k
7
$375k-400k
3
$400k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

48 jobs · 40 employers
401k / retirement match
81% this job
CME allowance
63%
Sign-on bonus
60% this job
Relocation assistance
48% this job
Loan repayment
31% this job

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Internal Medicine PhysicianContract

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$250k-$500k
#2

Family Medicine PhysicianContract

Skilled Wound Care · Los Angeles, California

$250k-$500k
#3

Outpatient Primary Care Physician (Internal Medicine / Family Medicine)

$350k-$400k
#4

Internal Medicine Physician - Optum CA - Torrance

$239k-$393k
+ 48 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.3this job 6.0
Better work-life than 50% of Internal Medicine listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,347 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Hybrid
  • Remote
Sutter Health - Bay Area logo

About Sutter Health - Bay Area

Hospitals and Health Care
Palo Alto, CA
501-1,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Starting salary $280,000-$335,000
$200,000 forgivable loan
Generous sign-on bonus
Residency stipend ($1,000/month for 12 months before start date)
Relocation allowance
Guaranteed salary for two years with incentive production bonus
Generous benefits package
Shareholder eligibility after two years