Salary

Resident stipends are paid in monthly installments less applicable withholding taxes (see GME Resident Handbook for details). The stipend levels below were set for the 2008-09 academic year. Levels are adjusted annually.
                

Professional Liability Insurance. Malpractice liability with tail coverage (beyond residency) for incidents occurring while performing training duties and responsibilities.  

Health/Dental Insurance. Health (including hospitalization) and dental insurance for residents and their dependents at nominal cost.
    
Life/Disability Insurance. See GME Resident Handbook.

Annual leave of three weeks with pay shall be given per twelve (12) months of employment, excluding holidays, meetings, and conferences unless specifically limited as required for specialty board certification.  Vacations may only be taken if the Resident has maintained satisfactory progress in the program and is not under academic probation.  During Psychiatry rotations, a vacation week is 5 working days (Monday through Friday) with the attached weekends negotiable with your colleagues and the Chief Resident or other upper level resident/fellow on that service. Call can usually be arranged so that a resident has nine straight vacation days. You must include non-working dates in any call request to the Chief Resident. The resident must obtain written permission from his/her service attending in advance of their leave.  At least 4 weeks notice is required in case schedules need to be rearranged. There may be instances where due to scheduling conflicts, the resident cannot take leave at the requested time.  It is the resident's responsibility to arrange appropriate medical coverage of their duties. This may be arranged either with other residents or attending.  

Sick Leave of three (3) weeks, as defined by twenty-one (21) days, (including Saturdays and Sundays) with pay shall be given per twelve months of employment.  Three or more consecutive sick days must be verified by a letter from the primary treating physician before the resident is permitted to return to the program.  Under certain circumstances, additional sick leave (e.g., Family Medical Leave Act) without pay may be granted with the written approval of the Program Director, who will send a copy of this approval to the Graduate Medical Education Office.  The Resident may be required to "make up" any time missed in accordance with the Residency Program and Board Eligibility requirements. You must notify your attending, chief resident, and program coordinator by phone of any sick leave.  You will submit your sick leave paperwork to the program coordinator upon your return from your illness. One week of the three may be taken for family member illness or paternity leave. In extraordinary circumstances or serious illness, the department may allow residents to combine sick leave from the next year.

Bereavement Leave of three (3) days with pay shall be given per death of an immediate family member (i.e., parents, siblings, grandparents, children or spouse).  The Resident may be required to "make up" the time missed in accordance with the Residency Program and Board Eligibility requirements.

Maternity/Paternity Leave - You may use your 3 weeks of vacation and 3 weeks of sick leave for a total of 6 weeks for maternity leave.  The department asks that you notify the appropriate attendings and co-workers 3 months in advance to be eligible for extended leave.  Under emergency circumstances (prematurity, sudden adoption, etc.) every effort will be made to grant maximum leave.  One week of sick leave may be taken for paternity leave.

Leave Without Pay - Leave without pay is available for maternity leave under protection of the Family Medical Leave Act.  No training or on-call credit will be given during any leave without pay and if wishing to continue in this program this time must be made up.

Educational/Professional Leave - Educational Leave for off-site activities and Professional Leave (for job interviews, invited presentations, travel for MUSC business) requires advance approval.  Y-1's have 2 days to use to take the USMLE Step 3 exam.  Y-2's have one week, Y-3's have two weeks, and Y-4's have three weeks.  Call duties must be made up for this time period.  Any requests for travel funds or other expenses related to professional or educational leave must be noted on the leave request and approved prior to the leave dates in order to permit reimbursement. Reimbursement for expenses is not usually possible without prior approval. Allow six to eight weeks for advance registration payments.

Call Meal Allowance.  MUSC provides residents with an allowance for meals at the MUSC cafeteria or for purchases of snack items at the MUSC gift shop during night, weekend and holiday calls.

Lab Coats.  MUSC provides two white lab coats initially, and one white coat per year of training.

Business Cards.  Orders will be placed and paid by the psychiatry department.

All First Time Licenses & Certifications.  The psychiatry department reimburses residents for all first time license and certification fees. This includes the $160 Limited License fee, $600 Permanent License fee, $310 Controlled Substances Registration Certificate United States Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), which is renewable every three years, and GME office pays the $100 Certificate of Registration from South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC) which is renewable every year. Renewal of these fees will be paid by the resident (also see Incentive Program below).

Book/Travel Fund.   PGY1-2 residents in the general residency program will have $100 per month deposited in their Professional Expense Fund for providing Designated Examiner services at the IOP. PGY1-3 residents in the combined Medicine/Psychiatry program will receive $50/month, and PGY3 residents in the combined Psychiatry/Neurology program will receive $100/month.  Monies can be used for  dues, registration fees, books/journals, meeting travel, reimbursement for psychotherapy, or other professional expenses.  Monies in the book fund are for approved educational expenses and travel.  Submit purchase requests for over $100 to Liz Puca to submit for payment. Books and educational supplies under $100 can be reimbursed.  Unusual requests will need special approval.

Stipend Enhancement.  Inasmuch as the department appreciates the expense associated with beginning a residency, a one-time contribution of $1000 will be available to interns at the beginning of the year that can be used to defray living/moving expenses or offset educational expenses.

Incentive Fund.  Only available to resident who have required attendance at Grand Rounds and Seminars. The Resident Incentive Reward program pays for USMLE Step III, SC Limited license renewals, SC Permanent license renewals, and DEA renewals. (The Department will reimburse residents for their initial SC Limited license, initial SC permanent license, and initial DEA license without using an incentive program. The GME office pays for DHEC licenses pending completion of GME office requirements.)