Bday gift for PD!!?

[feb14]

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So our chief asked all of us to pay for a bday gift for our PD! The gift planned is around $1000 ( more than $15/ resident) , do we have to participate? I also wonder if this is ok to start with, they keep sending us a reminder to pay!
Has any of you experienced this in their residency?

 

[Raryn]

Is it a big birthday? Like 60th or something?

If so, I think it might be reasonable for the residents to chip in together to get a modest gift celebrating it. $15/resident seems like more than I would anticipate though.

Of course, at this point it's probably unlikely to change, and you're better off not making waves lest all your coresidents talk to each other about how XYZ is so cheap. Just put in the $15 as a one-time expense.

 

[Oso]

Weird. That's an expensive ass gift. I guess I would just chip in though, don't wanna be the odd man/woman out (as mentioned above).

 

[GoSpursGo]

I agree, there isn't that big of a difference between $15/resident and $20/resident, or honestly even $50/resident.

If you are really uncomfortable with this, it's unlikely that your chief will be able to pin this on you, so you could likely pay in less. But honestly, if you're making $50-60k/yr, the drama that would ensue is probably not worth the $$$ that it would take to just pay up.

 

[pandh83]

This is so stupid.

you fork 15$ and guess who gets the credit of giving the gift and be in PD's best graces. The chief resident.

Be like your giving your own gift to the PD and you will opt out. Give your own gift because Group gifts is just laziness.

 

[feb14]

Thank you all for your replies.. it is not a big bday, but we’re paying anyways..i was just wondering how such thing is ok by acgme, wish there was a rule for such a.. licking behaviors

 

[mvenus929]

I think it's a bit weird. The third years every year would organize gift giving for the chiefs, PD, APD, and support staff around the holidays and would typically ask $15-20 per resident. But that was for like 10+ gifts each year. I have a hard time imagining all that money going to one person. But we were also a big program.

I agree with the above, though. Don't make waves.

 

[NotAProgDirector]

There's no ACGME rule about things like this. There might be a local HR policy, because of the (obvious) abuse issues.

It's really wrong, something of low value would be fine.

That said, I'd love some power tools. Make sure it includes a gift receipt, in case I already have one and need to exchange it.

 

[atomi]

While I agree this is annoying and inappropriate, you’d be a fool not to cough up $20 and make a stink about this.

 

[LucidSplash]

I dunno. I had a really close-knit residency and a great PD we all loved. While $1000 gift does seem excessive to me, $15/resident for a PD gift in my residency would have been fine with everyone. But if you don't want to contribute you shouldn't have to but for $15 it does seem silly to make a big deal out of it.

 

[RadOncDoc21]

Talk about kissing ass... I know we all still do it but geez.

 

[chocomorsel]

I hated my PD and she hated me. So I would politely say HELL NO!!!
I honestly don’t know anyone of us who liked that biatch. And we did not get her a gift that I am aware. But then again, I was the only one who missed graduation.

 

[Donald Juan]

I don't think this is that ridiculous depending on your PD, but I don't think you necessarily have to chip in. My PD donates about 5-10k a year to resident funding for conferences and educational endeavors, I would be happy to chip in $15 for their bday.

 

[Ironheme]

That said, I'd love some power tools. Make sure it includes a gift receipt, in case I already have one and need to exchange it.

Hahaha. If I ever run across you IRL I'll remember that based on all the good advice you've given throughout the years.

To OP, program dependent. Personally, I find it weird. Christmas yeah sure, but birthday for the boss..meh. I would fork over the $15 to not cause waves. I know a resident that gives the PD nice gifts a few times a year for no special occasion.

 

[FutureInternist]

Anonymous typed letter posted in residents’ lounge saying “Why are we buying PD a bday gift?” 😉

 

[ortnakas]

$1500 is going to buy one hell of a Christmas gift. Seems extravagant, but if your program is big and it breaks down to under $20/person, it's not the hill I would die on (especially if you're an intern).

 

[dpmd]

That is weird and I would be bitter as hell about being forced to do it. I liked my PD and I appreciate all he did for us but he doesn't need some thousand dollar gift (don't think we ever gave him a gift group or individually).

 

[feb14]

Thank you all for your replies!
I heard chief ended up tracking down those who did not chip in and forced them to ... I think our program is kinda weird, average size where chiefs are chosen by PD so they are trying to thank him/her that way.

 

[Apollyon]

That is in-sane. Track you down? Really? And a $1000 gift? What is it, a Mont Blanc pen? This sounds usurious.

 

[AdmiralChz]

Ridiculous. Even if you love your PD he or she is a board-certified physician making plenty of money (certainly substantially more than you as a resident anyway). I agree with the poster up towards the top - the chief resident will likely get all/most of the credit. Remember, often times getting elected chief is quite political and he or she might be trying to stay on as a fellow or a faculty member - what better way to butter up your letter writer!

You are better off using that money to buy something nice for your program coordinator or departmental asssitants and they usually make jack (much LESS than you as a resident as opposed to your PD) and have to deal with unending levels of BS, particularly in large programs.