Cost of Living Stipends for Economically-Disadvantaged Residents: Pilot Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital
Massachusetts General Hospital
Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital

Frequently Asked Questions: 

How can I know as an applicant whether I would receive the stipend if I match there?

If you meet the simple eligibility criteria you can count on getting the stipend:

1. You must provide documentation of having been approved by AAMC for their Fee Assistance Program as an AMCAS applicant OR received a "loan for disadvantaged students" during medical school OR a Pell Grant (during college).
2. You sign a brief statement confirming that you continue to experience significant financial need. We ask this because the eligibility criteria may not reflect current circumstances, and significant financial changes may have occurred via marriage, inheritance—or even winning the lottery. We leave this for you to judge because circumstances may be complex. For example, your spouse may earn a salary that is comparable to yours, or higher, but financial obligations beyond routine living expenses (e.g. large loan repayment, support of dependents, etc.) might more than offset this. Therefore, for purposes of this program, your continued economic disadvantage is self-determined and self-reported: we will not ask for any documentation of your current finances.

Will the first stipend be available in time to support moving expenses?

That is our intent, though specific dates are not yet available.

I see this program is described as a “pilot”—might it be cancelled before I receive the three annual stipends?

The commitment to provide $30K via three, annual $10K payments, is not subject to cancellation for recipients recruited in the 2019 match who are continuing in our residencies. This stipend program is considered a pilot in that we want to learn from early experience and be flexible about changing it to make improvements. While it is possible that the program may be discontinued at some point, that would happen by not offering this in future recruitment cycles—existing commitments will certainly be honored.

Is the stipend taxable?

Yes.

 Go to announcement.

This page was updated on 9/20/19.