Look out if you're thinking about Johns Hopkins

[flounce]

Hopkins resident salary is on the low end relative to cost of living compared to other peer programs. This has been, until now, counterbalanced by generous health benefits - no premiums for resident or family and 100% 1st dollar coverage, except for prescriptions. HOWEVER...we're told this is likely changing July 1st, and residents will now have co-pays in the neighborhood of 20%, without an offsetting pay increase. This effectively amounts to a pay cut for residents, and a rather dramatic one for those with families or chronic medial conditions. So, before you consider heading there for residency, know that they're making dramatic cuts in long-standing benefits. Who knows what's next? Something to think about when you'll be spending 3-7 years somewhere.

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[njbmd]

Residency issue and moved to residency forum.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hopkins resident salary is on the low end relative to cost of living compared to other peer programs. This has been, until now, counterbalanced by generous health benefits - no premiums for resident or family and 100% 1st dollar coverage, except for prescriptions. HOWEVER...we're told this is likely changing July 1st, and residents will now have co-pays in the neighborhood of 20%, without an offsetting pay increase. This effectively amounts to a pay cut for residents, and a rather dramatic one for those with families or chronic medial conditions. So, before you consider heading there for residency, know that they're making dramatic cuts in long-standing benefits. Who knows what's next? Something to think about when you'll be spending 3-7 years somewhere.

A quick Google search on the web and glancing at Frieda-online suggests that the Hopkins affiliated hospitals are paying "PGY-1 $45,973, PGY-2 $48,186, PGY-3 $50,204, PGY-4 $52,412". I don't know what you think other peer programs are paying, but outside of big cities like Manhattan, $45-48k is what residents tend to start at.

 

[Smurfette]

I don't think most people go to Hopkins for the benefits, or that poor benefits would deter them.

 

[Moonglow]

We also never see the sun here in lovely East Baltimore..., we don't have time for friends and family, and we have no real life outside the wards - this reality is embraced because residents know that they are receiving the best medical training available (Osler Medical Service).

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/hmn/w10/annals.cfm

 

[flounce]

A quick Google search on the web and glancing at Frieda-online suggests that the Hopkins affiliated hospitals are paying "PGY-1 $45,973, PGY-2 $48,186, PGY-3 $50,204, PGY-4 $52,412". I don't know what you think other peer programs are paying, but outside of big cities like Manhattan, $45-48k is what residents tend to start at.

Let's see:
University of Colorado:
PGY-2 $49,030
PGY-4 $54,307

Using a readily available cost of living calculator , the cost of living in Baltimore is almost 20% higher than that in Denver.

Or how about Oklahoma
PGY-2 $47,310
PGY-4 $50,465

Cost of living difference between Baltimore and OKC - 37%.

Or MGH in Boston
PGY-2 $55300
PGY-4 $58300

That's more than the 6% COL difference between Boston and Baltimore.

Thanks for your insightful commentary though Law2Doc. Maybe you should consider adding Law2Doc2business to your list of degrees before providing any additional fiscal pearls.

 

[flounce]

I don't think most people go to Hopkins for the benefits, or that poor benefits would deter them.

Ahh, but maybe they would if they were aware of ongoing changes. What if MGH, UCSF, etc. offer better benefits? More institutions than one offer outstanding medical training.

 

[Law2Doc]

Let's see:
University of Colorado:
PGY-2 $49,030
PGY-4 $54,307

Using a readily available cost of living calculator , the cost of living in Baltimore is almost 20% higher than that in Denver.

Or how about Oklahoma
PGY-2 $47,310
PGY-4 $50,465

Cost of living difference between Baltimore and OKC - 37%.

Or MGH in Boston
PGY-2 $55300
PGY-4 $58300

That's more than the 6% COL difference between Boston and Baltimore....

Dude, you can cherry pick residencies that pay more all you want, I didn't say there were none that paid more. But you have to acknowledge that most residencies out there are paying starting residency salaries in the $45k-$48k range. Period. It's pretty much the same across the country -- that's simply what residencies start at, give or take a grand or two for cost of living. If you get $55k someplace that's pretty unique really. And sure, the crazy high cost of living cities like NYC, Boston, DC, SF likely pay more than someplace like Baltimore. (And having lived in some high cost of living cities, I have to say that the COL differentials are very different than you are ascribing, sorry - that calculator lumps in suburbs that change the analysis and don't really belong, but that isn't really my point). But to whine that Hopkins starts at $46k when most of the folks on this board at other places also started pretty much in that range isn't a winning argument.

What is a winning argument is to simply stick with the loss of benefits. But once you start saying "we are already paid less than our peers", when you actually aren't IMHO, you lose credibility.

 

[dragonfly99]

It sounds like JHU couldn't afford to give out those expensive benefits any more. I agree w/the above poster who says it probably won't deter many people from going there. However, it may make a difference for some of the residents who already have a couple kids and a nonworking spouse, b/c that loss of income (or rather, loss of a valuable benefit) could be kind of a big deal.