Compensation Benefits and Policy Information
The compensation policy for Cedars-Sinai graduate medical education students is comprehensive, covering an annual stipend, housing allowance, reimbursements, insurance, retirement savings, healthcare, training, education and many other generous benefits. Read details about each of these benefits and access our Resident and Fellow Physician-In-Training Agreements.
Contract and Appointment Policy Information
Effective January 1, 2023, physicians-in-training will receive annual base stipends as follows:
- GL1—$66,934
- GL2—$69,160
- GL3—$71,864
- GL4—$74,714
- GL5—$77,771
- GL6—$80,662
- GL7—$83,346
H1-B Visa Holder Stipends* (Taken from Table 4 of 2022 AAMC Survey of Resident/Fellow Stipends and Benefits Report – West Region)
- 1st Post-MD Year—$64,796
- 2nd Post-MD Year—$67,682
- 3rd Post-MD Year—$70,759
- 4th Post-MD Year—$74,784
- 5th Post-MD Year—$78,410
- 6th Post-MD Year—$82,408
- 7th Post-MD Year—$86,921
*H1-B Visa holders will receive the higher of the two rates
Housestaff employed by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center will receive a total of $12,000 each year to help offset housing costs. This amount will be paid as a monthly stipend of $1,000 (taxable income), to be included in the check for the first pay period-ending of each month, while in a GME training program.
Housestaff employed by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center receive meal cards to supplement meal costs which are funded bi-monthly during the academic year. This meal card can be used in the Ray Charles Cafeteria, Starbucks, North Tower Café, and Pavilion Café. Food services are provided on campus at all times.
Postgraduate Training License: All trainees who have not completed 12 months of ACGME/RCPSC accredited training (or 24 months of ACGME/RCPSC accredited training if an international medical school graduate) must obtain a postgraduate training license (PTL) within 180 days from the start date of training. These fees will be reimbursed after training at Cedars-Sinai begins.
Unlimited California License: All trainees who have completed 12 months of accredited training (or 24 months of ACGME/RCPSC accredited training if an international medical school graduate) must obtain an unlimited California Physician and Surgeon’s license within 90 days of their 12-month (or 24-month) accredited training completion. These fees will be reimbursed after training at Cedars-Sinai begins.
New housestaff who fall outside of the parameters listed above, and all new housestaff who are joining a non-ACGME-accredited training program, are required to have an unlimited California medical license as a condition of starting training, and license fees are not reimbursable. If your license expires during training, renewal fees are reimbursable.
For more information on medical licensing:
Allopathic physicians: https://www.mbc.ca.gov/About/Laws/California-Law/
Osteopathic physicians: https://www.ombc.ca.gov/
New housestaff who are required to obtain a DEA certificate as a condition of starting training are responsible for the fees associated with obtaining the certificate. If the DEA certificate is obtained during training, or current certification expires during training, the fees will be reimbursed.
Housestaff enrolled in Cedars-Sinai programs who must take USMLE Step 3 during their training at Cedars-Sinai will be reimbursed for the application fee paid to the Federation of State Medical Boards.
- Vacation and Holiday Time (VHT) Absence Plan: 224 hours/28 days of VHT provided at the beginning of each academic year. This plan allows housestaff to carry over unused VHT to the next academic year, up to a maximum of 336 hours/42 days, which can be used to supplement incidental sick leave* (if all sick leave hours have been used - see SICA below*). VHT remaining in your time “bank” will be paid to housestaff in their final check upon leaving training. Housestaff are required to take at least 160 hours (20 days) of VHT per academic year.
- Family Leave*: By request.
- Sick Leave (SICA): Forty hours (5 days) allotted upon date of hire, and then at the beginning of each calendar year, for absences due to medical needs (illness, medical appointments, preventive care) for yourself as well as for those of certain family members, or for reasons associated with being the victim of violence.
- Professional Leave: Provided under VHT benefits; additional benefits vary by training program.
*Pursuant to Cedars-Sinai Leave and Disability Management policies
Parking, uniform laundry service and lab coats are provided free of charge. Private sleeping/nap rooms are available.
The Cedars-Sinai GME Graduate Medical Education office offers reimbursement for round-trip transportation costs for residents/fellows who determine that they are too fatigued to drive home safely after an extended patient care shift. Reimbursable transportation services include app-based services such as Uber or Lyft, or conventional taxi. The reimbursement covers the cost from the medical center or any local affiliated training site to which the resident/fellow is assigned to the verifiable home address of the resident/fellow and a return trip for the resident/fellow to pick up his/her car at the training site at a later time.
Additional details and FAQs are available from the GME office (gme.web@cshs.org).
- Medical, Dental, Vision, and Pharmacy Benefits: Group health, dental, vision and pharmacy benefits are provided for house staff and eligible dependents. There are premium and copay costs for some options. Health insurance is effective the day the program is entered; dental insurance is effective six months from the date of entry.
- Flexible Spending Accounts: Housestaff can establish Healthcare and Dependent Care accounts that allow for spending untaxed income on eligible healthcare and dependent care expenses.
- Life: A $50,000 life insurance policy is provided by the Medical Center. Supplemental life and accidental death insurance may be purchased.
- Professional Liability: The Medical Center provides professional liability insurance coverage in such form and amounts as generally provided by the Medical Center with respect to events occurring during a Physician-in-Training's participation in the training program, including during rotations to other institutions. Coverage is not provided for "moonlighting".
- Disability: The Medical Center provides long-term disability (LTD) insurance. A contribution towards State Disability Insurance (SDI) is also provided.
- Workers' Compensation: The Medical Center provides Workers' Compensation Insurance, which pays medical and loss of income benefits for work-incurred illness or injuries.
All house staff are eligible after their first year of employment to receive matching contributions under the terms of the Cedars-Sinai Health System 403(b) Retirement Plan available through VOYA (https://cedars-sinai.beready2retire.com). Contributions may be made on a pre-tax basis.
- All house staff are required to have pre-hire health screening at Employee Health Services, as well as annual health screening. Medical care for work-incurred accidents and illnesses is also provided.
- Work and Life Matters provides a full range of counseling and referral services to physicians-in-training enrolled in training programs sponsored by Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. This also covers the trainee’s family.
- The Medical Center provides an educational program regarding physician impairment, including substance abuse.
- Training in Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support is provided by the Simulation Center.
- The Continuing Medical Education program offers many classes which you may attend without cost.
- The Medical Library provides Medline and Internet training free of charge.
- Educational funds in the amount of $2,000 annually for education opportunities and materials.
- Email and on-campus Internet access are provided.
- The Rideshare Program allows those who carpool or arrive via alternate means (e.g., walking, bus, bicycle) to earn gift certificates to restaurants, stores, and major attractions. A ride-share office is available on campus to assist you with alternate transportation arrangements.
- Interest-free loans up to $1,500 can be obtained through the GME Office. Payments are automatically deducted from payroll and loans must be repaid in full by the completion of training at CSMC.
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