Trainee Contracts

Contract Requirements

Mass General Brigham requires that a contract be issued to each resident and clinical fellow annually. Matriculants must sign their initial contract by July 1st (or August 1 for some fellowships), or upon arrival if they started the program earlier or were accepted into the program after the start of the academic year. Returning residents and clinical fellows should sign a renewal contract prior to the expiration of their current contract. At this time, you do not need to issue a contract to candidates who have just matched to your program, but will not matriculate until July 1, 2024 or later. If you issue an offer letter it should contain the following text and a copy of the USMLE Completion Requirements Policy: “This offer is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the hospital credentialing process and satisfaction of the enclosed USMLE Completion Requirements Policy, and other licensure policies that may be in effect at the time.”

Trainee Contract Templates

1. Contract template for Residents and ACGME-accredited fellows
   This template should be used to generate contracts for all residents, and for clinical fellows actively enrolled in an ACGME program—that is, the fellow’s program year is accredited by the ACGME, and s/he will be listed as "active" in the ACGME ADS system.
2. Contract Template for non-ACGME clinical fellows
   This template should be used to generate contracts for clinical fellows in training programs or training years that are not accredited by the ACGME.
3. Contract Attachments
   Each template specifies required policy and other attachments. The recently revised institutional resident supervision and work hours policies apply to trainees in all programs. You should also give each trainee a copy of your program-specific Supervision and Work Hours Policies. A list of the policies and benefit summaries to be attached to the contract are in the sections below.

Generating Individual Contracts

1. Throughout each template there are instructions about how to fill in the preceding blank area. The instructions appear as italicized, shaded text; delete these instructions before printing each contract.
2. Prepare an original and a copy of the contract with copies of all attachments, and send to the trainee to sign. The trainee should send back the original signed copy to retain in their program folder. This can be done electronically.

Trainee Salaries

1. The Mass General Brigham Resident Salary Scale for AY 23-24 applies to all residency programs; fellowship programs may choose to use it as a benchmark, apply it to their fellows, or develop their own salary levels. Fellowship programs are advised to write their own policy regarding their fellows' salaries and provide a copy to interviewees.
2. Additional guidelines for resident salaries and benefits:
   • Salaries for each PGY level should be the same across all residency programs/all departments; any proposed exceptions should be referred to the GME Office for consideration by the Education Committee.
   • Departments may provide variable academic funds to residents for reimbursement of educational materials/activities, such as books and travel.
   • Loans may be made to residents in the event of unusual circumstances, with oversight from the institutional or physicians’ organization.

Policies Attached to the Contract and Medical Staff Bylaws

Copies of the policies listed below must be attached to the contract. They, as well as copies of the medical staff bylaws referenced in the contract, can be found on the Policies web page.

• Adverse Action Process
• Intellectual Property Policy
• Moonlighting Policy
• Redress of Grievances
• Supervision Guidelines
• USMLE Completion Policy
• Vacation, Sick Time, and Leave Policy
• Work Hours Policy

Benefit Information Attached to the Contract

Copies of the basic benefits must also be attached to the contract

• Basic Benefits for Mass General Brigham Residents
• Basic Benefits for BWH Clinical Fellows
• Basic Benefits for MGH Clinical Fellows

This page was reviewed 3/8/23.