fellowship salary

[jkin]

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I've noticed on some of the program websites that the Fellow salaries are very low. Some as low as 30000. Why is this? Is there more to the story?

 

[Mirror Form]

I've noticed on some of the program websites that the Fellow salaries are very low. Some as low as 30000. Why is this? Is there more to the story?

remember that fellows can moonlight

 

[Retinamark]

remember that fellows can moonlight

Some can, but most of the retina fellowships I interviewed at expressly forbid moonlighting.

Most retina fellowships pay 30-40 K.
One I interviewed at paid 25 K & U Alabama pay 40 in 1st year & 65 K in 2nd year (The attendings there are not only awesome surgeons, but really nice guys too & very generous).
Some in Canada apparently pay nothing.

If anyone wants to do a great fellowship at the Royal Victorian Eye & Ear in Melbourne, I think they get paid ~ 50 K, & the retina fellows get to keep all the money they earn from surgical assisting private cases, which can add another 20 - 40 K per year depending on how hard you want to work.

 

[Andrew_Doan]

I've noticed on some of the program websites that the Fellow salaries are very low. Some as low as 30000. Why is this? Is there more to the story?

Most of the ophthalmology fellowships are not ACGME approved fellowships and do not receive Medicare funding like residencies. Because of this, the fellows can be paid nothing or as much as the program judges to be appropriate.

If Medicare stops funding residencies (billion dollar budget), then we may see the same for resident salaries.

 

[mdkurt]

Most of the ophthalmology fellowships are not ACGME approved fellowships and do not receive Medicare funding like residencies. Because of this, the fellows can be paid nothing or as much as the program judges to be appropriate.

If Medicare stops funding residencies (billion dollar budget), then we may see the same for resident salaries.

I'd like to emphasize the NOTHING mentioned in Andrew's post. At the other end, some programs pay you as a PGY 5 (47-48k).

 

[jkin]

"I'd like to emphasize the NOTHING mentioned in Andrew's post."

Can you expand on this?

 

[Andrew_Doan]

"I'd like to emphasize the NOTHING mentioned in Andrew's post."

Can you expand on this?

Some fellows receive zero pay from his/her institution, i.e., they either bring their own funding or work for free.

 

[jkin]

What seems to be the most common?

1. No pay
2. Decreased pay
3. PGY 5 type pay

 

[Mirror Form]

What seems to be the most common?

1. No pay
2. Decreased pay
3. PGY 5 type pay

from what I've heard, #2 is far and away the most common. However, I haven't talked to all that many fellows.

 

[GlaucomaMD]

$30,000 is the most prevalent pay for fellows...

Pretty bad, but consider it a worthwhile investment with great return...

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Pay also varies from program to program. For instance, ocular pathology programs will pay the PGY-level equivalent, nothing, or 1/2 of the PGY-level equivalent. Because I'll be doing research next year along with ocular pathology, my income comes from a NIH training grant at Jules Stein.

 

[shivalrous]

Pay also varies from program to program. For instance, ocular pathology programs will pay the PGY-level equivalent, nothing, or 1/2 of the PGY-level equivalent. Because I'll be doing research next year along with ocular pathology, my income comes from a NIH training grant at Jules Stein.

Not educated at all on this subject, but you wouldn't get any financial perk as a resident being a medical scientist would you?

 

[Andrew_Doan]

Not educated at all on this subject, but you wouldn't get any financial perk as a resident being a medical scientist would you?

You could get grants for travel, computer, equipment, or research. Indirectly, you could get perks that are not considered to be "income".

 

[jkin]

"Indirectly, you could get perks that are not considered to be "income"."

Would you mind expanding on this one?

 

[Andrew_Doan]

"Indirectly, you could get perks that are not considered to be "income"."

Would you mind expanding on this one?

Computer = $2000 (Equivaltent to ~$2500 income before taxes)
Travel to ARVO.
Travel to Academy.
Travel to Hawaii Eye Meeting.
Software to help with research.
Books to help with research.
Digital photography system to help with research.
Handheld computer to help with research.
Sometimes a small stipend is given to the applicant.

All of the things above can be purchased with a research grant. After the research, the individual may keep the computer, books, software, Palm pilot, etc... These are the perks.