Cost of Living Stipend for Economically-Disadvantaged Residents

Brigham and Women’s Hospital
McLean Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Newton Wellesley Hospital
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

We understand that living in Boston is expensive… our hospitals want to provide financial assistance to residents with significant financial challenges who might not otherwise be able to train here.

We are delighted to announce the continuation of our program:

Cash stipends (in addition to standard PGY-level salary) will be provided to physicians-in-training who match to our residency programs in 2023 and meet any of the following criteria:

• were approved for the AAMC’s “Fee Assistance Program (FAP)” as an AMCAS applicant [ https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/eligibility/ ]
• received a "Loan for Disadvantaged Students" (LDS) in medical school. This is defined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (please refer to the LDS section). We are aware that, unfortunately, LDS is not offered by all schools.
• received a Pell grant

and affirm that they have significant ongoing financial need.

The total stipend amount of $30,000 will be distributed in 3 installments of $10,000 at the beginning of each academic year for the first 3 years of the residency program. See details below.

Stipend Details:

• Applies to physicians that match in 2023 to enter residency programs that are at least three years in duration, sponsored by any of the hospitals noted above and programs listed below. (See examples below illustrating eligibility.)
• After matching to one of our residency programs, eligible incoming residents will be prompted to provide documentation of at least one of the following. If you are uncertain about whether you utilized any of these programs, you are strongly encouraged to obtain the documentation now so that you will know in advance that you qualify for the stipend.
  
  • For FAP: The AAMC's email indicating approval of their Fee Assistance Program (FAP). (We recognize this will be 4+ years old.) Applicants can obtain a copy of this documentation by emailing FAP@AAMC.org.
  • For LDS: financial aid award statements or letter(s) provided by your medical school verifying your receipt of a "loan for disadvantaged students," with the amounts received. (Most financial aid statements should include all medical school financial aid awarded.) If you did not retain a copy, you can request this from your school.
  • For Pell: Documentation can be obtained if you log into NSLDS.ed.gov using your FSA ID login to view and save a copy of your loan and grant history. The FSAID Login can be created by clicking here: https://nslds.ed.gov/npas/index.htm
• A statement affirming that you continue to experience need will also be provided for you to submit.
  ·

Please note:

1. Stipends will be provided by the institution without involvement of individual residency programs or departments.
2. Stipends are considered taxable income.

 A "Frequently Asked Questions" page is available.

For additional questions, please contact Jean Tammaro in the Mass General Brigham GME Office via email.

*https://students-residents.aamc.org/applying-medical-school/article/eligibility/

Examples

1. A student matches to a ≥3-year residency program sponsored by Spaulding Rehab, Newton Wellesley, Mass Eye and Ear, McLean, BWH or MGH in 2023 and is due to start in June/July 2023. Upon receipt of the documentation outlined above, the first stipend is sent in spring 2023. Efforts will be made to send it in time to assist with moving expenses.

2. Two students, married to each other, were individually included in the FAP program as ERAS applicants and have now matched at MGH in Pediatrics and at Spaulding for PM&R. Both students will receive the stipend, as their marriage doesn’t negate their individual eligibility. (This would be the case even if they were in the same residency at the same participating hospital.)

3. A student matches in 2023 to MEEI’s Ophthalmology residency and to BWH’s preliminary surgery track. They are eligible for the stipend through the Ophthalmology residency, but can receive the first of three stipends as she begins the prelim year (in 2023).

4. A student matches to the Mass General Brigham Neurology program in 2023 to start in 2024, and will be coming to Boston for a Medicine internship at another hospital (not involved in this program) in June 2023. The student will be eligible to receive the stipend as a Neurology resident, with distributions in July of 2023, 2024, and 2025 – but not during the prelim year at a different institution.

5. A student matching in March 2023 for one year of preliminary Internal Medicine training at the MGH (prior to Anesthesia residency out of state) is not eligible because the one-year preliminary program does not meet the duration requirements of a residency of three years or longer. (Similarly, a student matched in 2023 to a preliminary surgery track at BWH or MGH, without simultaneously matching to a MGH, BWH, MEE or Spaulding residency program, is not eligible for the stipend.)

6. An individual matches to the BWH Pathology program after initially beginning residency in another specialty at another institution. They can utilize the stipend since they have matched to an eligible residency program and received a Pell grant in college; the prior training does not disqualify them.

7. A student who received a Loan for Disadvantaged Students in medical school, has since married a financially successful hedge fund manager. As an incoming intern they determine that they cannot attest to ongoing financial need and thus does not utilize the stipend.

Residency Programs includes (names as listed in national matching program listings):

Anesthesiology
BWH Anesthesiology Residency Program
MGH Anesthesia Residency Program

Dermatology
Harvard Combined Dermatology Residency Training Program
Harvard Combined Medicine-Dermatology Residency Training Program

Emergency Medicine
Harvard Affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency Program  (MGH & BWH)

Internal Medicine
BWH Internal Medicine Residency Program
MGH Internal Medicine Residency Program

Medicine-Pediatrics
Harvard BWH/BCH Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program
Harvard/MGH Medicine-Pediatrics Residency Program

Neurology
BWH&MGH Harvard Neurology Residency Program
MGH Child Neurology Residency Program

Neurosurgery
MGH Neurosurgery Resident Training Program
BWH/BCH/HMS Neurosurgery Residency Training Program

OB/GYN
BWH/MGH Integrated Residency Program in Obstetrics & Gynecology

Ophthalmology
MEE Ophthalmology Residency Training Program

Orthopedics
Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program

Otolaryngology
MEE Residency Program in Otolaryngology

Pathology
BWH Department of Pathology Residency Program
MGH Pathology Residency Program

Pediatrics
Mass General Hospital for Children Pediatric Residency Program

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Residency

Plastic Surgery
Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Program (Integrated)

Psychiatry
BWH/HMS Psychiatry Residency Training Program
MGH/McLean Adult Psychiatry Residency Program
MGH/McLean Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Program

Radiation Oncology
Harvard Radiation Oncology Program

Radiology
BWH Diagnostic Radiology Residency 
BWH Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program
MGH Diagnostic Radiology Residency Program
MGH Integrated Interventional Radiology Residency Program

Surgery
BWH General Surgery Residency Program
BWH Thoracic Surgery I-6 Residency Program
MGH General Surgery Residency Program
MGH Integrated Vascular Surgery Residency Program

Transitional Year
Newton Wellesley Hospital Transitional Year Residency Program

Urology
BWH Urology Residency Program
Harvard Urologic Surgery Residency Program

This page reviewed 3/23/23.