FAQ’s: Residency Facts and Benefits

License Requirements
All residents and fellows must obtain a California Physicians and Surgeons License as soon as possible after completing one year of postgraduate training. You must be fully licensed prior to beginning the 25th month of postgraduate training, regardless of the level of appointment or where your previous training has taken place. Continuation of the residency or fellowship is contingent upon obtaining this certificate.

Contact: The California Medical Board, 1426 Howe Avenue, Suite 54 Sacramento, CA 95825. Tel: 916 / 263-2344

Professional Liability Insurance
St. Mary’s house staff is included in the hospital's professional liability coverage. Residents are also covered for approved outside rotations, but not for “moonlighting.”

Health Insurance
The medical center provides competitive health, dental and vision insurance benefits to residents, their families and domestic partner. Benefits include health and dental coverage, life insurance, disability, accidental death and dismemberment, and extended sick leave. Please note that health coverage begins on the first of the month following 30 days of employment.

Contact: Human Resources at 415 750-5555 for a full description of benefits.

Vacation and Educational Leave
Interns must take three weeks of paid vacation time (15 working days). Residents at the PGY-2 through PGY-3 levels may take up to one week of paid educational leave in addition to three weeks of paid vacation time. American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) regulations does not permit more than a total of three months away from the actual training time during a consecutive, three-year training period. Time absent from the program includes vacation, sick time, personal leave, and maternity/paternity/family leave.

Maternity and Paternity Leave
Maternity leave is granted in accordance with St. Mary's leave policy, but only if appropriate arrangements are made with the program director for adjustment to the training schedule, according to new ABIM policies. Paternity leave, up to four weeks, may be obtained by combining two weeks of vacation and two weeks without pay. St. Mary’s Medical Center adheres to state and federal laws requiring time away from work for family leave.

Outside Employment
Medical center policy requires that residents not engage in any outside remunerative professional work without prior permission from the program chief, program director, or coordinator during their appointment. Many opportunities are available; however, moonlighting is generally discouraged until the PGY-3 year. Please note that per ACGME regulations and your contract you must have written approval of your moonlighting hours. St. Mary’s malpractice does not cover outside employment.

Uniforms
House staff will be provided white coats that will be laundered by the medical center at no charge.

Meals
All meals during working hours are provided in the doctors’ dining room. In addition, dinner on the evening of call, breakfast following night shift and the noon meals on the weekends are provided in the main cafeteria. Employee discounts are available for meals obtained in the main cafeteria during other times.

Housing and Parking
St. Mary's Medical Center does not provide living quarters for house staff. On-call sleeping quarters are provided. Parking is provided in a covered garage across the street from the hospital for a reduced fee of $45/month.

Sports Facilities
Sports facilities are available at the nearby University of San Francisco Koret Health and Recreation Center. The facility has an Olympic-sized swimming pool, weight room with state of the art exercise equipment, volleyball, basketball and racquetball courts. There is also an employee gym on campus at St. Mary’s Medical Center. Contact chief medical residents for rotating admission cards.

Relocation Expenses
St. Mary’s currently does not provide a moving allowance.

2008 - 2009 House Staff Salaries

We anticipate a 2 - 5% increase for 2009 - 2010.