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- Resident Retreats: HSS sponsors fall and summer resident-run retreats to support resident cohesiveness, team-building, and to welcome new residents to our program.
- Welcome events: To welcome our class of 2024, HSS sponsored a physically distanced day of small-group outdoor gatherings which included kayaking, hiking, a walking tour of downtown Boston with an artisan picnic, and berry picking.
- Social Events: HSS residents comprise a cohesive and supportive group who often spend time together outside of work. The Program Director typically sponsors a Summer Picnic and Winter Holiday party at her home. The VA frequently hosts employee appreciation events which residents attend. Harvard Medical School hosts a number of distinguished events specifically for graduate medical trainees.
- Birthdays: At our monthly all residents’ meeting, birthday shout-outs with cards and treats are presented to residents with birthdays in that month.
- HSS Club Team Sports: Over half our residents participate in team sports (flag football, soccer, etc.) throughout the year. HSS provides funding for the cost of the team sports facilities, allowing them to continue to exercise and socialize throughout the winter months.
- Annual Resident Wellness Day: HSS funds a resident-directed wellness day for all residents on a didactic Wednesday in February. Activities on wellness days in recent years have included healthy cooking instruction, group sports, Tai Chi, art activities, gym visits, and group mindfulness activities.
- Tickets: Residents are often able to get reduced cost tickets to various events using our VA and Harvard IDs. (i.e. $5 Red Sox tickets!)
Our residents have continued to find creative ways to socialize and have fun even during the COVID-19 pandemic. These have included online board game nights, socially distanced brunches, and outdoors/socially distant activities (a lot of hiking and biking). - On-Call Food: Prior to COVID-19, HSS residents developed an on-call food program that allows residents to choose their own food options to be stocked in the call-room refrigerator. Food was purchased by HSS and replenished on a weekly basis. In the era of COVID-19, we have transitioned our on-call food program into an on-call food stipend for residents to use for individual food delivery. Using these stipends, food reimbursements are paid for every resident on every call shift.
- Post-Call Rides: HSS will reimburse residents for a ride home and a ride back to their vehicle with a ride-sharing company (e.g. Lyft or Uber) if they are feeling drowsy after working on call (short-call or overnight call).
- Parking: parking in the North End neighborhood of Boston.
- Participation: HSS residents are encouraged to actively engage in all aspects of HSS, including quality improvement projects, action teams, recruitment, and advisory committees. Resident representatives from each post-graduate year participate in the Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) and Ombudsperson program. PEC focuses on reviewing, changing, generating, and enacting policies that affect the whole residency. The Ombudsperson program provides a forum for residents to raise concerns to program leadership in a neutral, anonymous setting. Residents have also been engaged in inter-residency activities, participating in activities, networking with other residents in the greater Boston Area. Many of our residents have also been involved in community social justice & advocacy work.
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All residents receive the VA employee benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and pre-tax flexible spending accounts for healthcare and/or dependent care costs (daycare, summer camp). All plans are eligible on the first date of employment, and the cost of coverage is largely employer-subsidized.
Current Salaries 2019-2020
Program Level |
Gross Salary |
PGY-1 |
$76,530 |
PGY-2 |
$79,230 |
PGY-3 |
$82,030 |
PGY-4 |
$85,030 |
* Chief Residents receive an additional $2,000.
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Each resident may receive up to $500 (travel and fees) to attend one national conference per year. Residents who are presenting a poster, oral presentation or receiving an award may receive up to $2000 (travel and fees) per year. Each resident receives several books purchased by the program each year. Residents have access to all Harvard and VA library resources, which include online subscriptions to most academic journals and many online textbooks.
In past years, additional funds have been used to pay for question-bank study tools, membership in national societies, costs of psychoanalytic fellowships, and supplemental books. HSS also fully subsidizes membership in the American Psychiatric Society and Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, paying membership dues including the cost of subscription to the American Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatric News, and the New England Journal of Medicine; this facilitates our residents in holding many leadership roles in national and local societies.
In past years, additional funds have been used to pay for question-bank study tools, membership in national societies, costs of psychoanalytic fellowships, and supplemental books. HSS also fully subsidizes membership in the American Psychiatric Society and Massachusetts Psychiatric Society, paying membership dues including the cost of subscription to the American Journal of Psychiatry, Psychiatric News, and the New England Journal of Medicine; this facilitates our residents in holding many leadership roles in national and local societies.
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Third- and fourth-year residents in good standing have access to various moonlighting opportunities once they receive their full license to practice. PGY-4 and PGY-3 residents may apply to moonlight internally at the VA where they have the opportunity to provide teaching and mentorship to their younger colleagues while gaining valuable experience in a supervisory role.
Annual Leave (Paid Vacation) |
20 days per contract year |
Sick Leave |
13 days per contract year |
Authorized Absence |
Up to 9 days any time during PGY-3 and PGY-4 year for job/fellowship interviews; residents may take 3 days for conference attendance, and may get additional days for each conference presentation or award |
Exam Leave |
2 days in PGY-1 and PGY-2; may get additional 2 days to repeat exams if needed |
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HSS is committed to supporting the growth and development of resident families. We believe it is essential for parents to have the opportunity to stay home with their new babies without the stress of work obligations, fear of lost wages, or worry about delayed program completion. To promote ample well-being, establishment of breast-feeding, parental and baby physical and mental health, and family bonding, residents are encouraged to take parental leave following the birth and/or adoption of a child.
Residents who have been employed by the VA for one year are entitled to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for births, adoptions, and foster care placements through the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), provided the resident returns to service for 3 months following the leave period. For residents who have not yet been employed by the VA for one year, HSS accommodates paid parental leave through a combination of annual leave, current and accrued sick leave, and advanced leave.
Residents who have been employed by the VA for one year are entitled to 12 weeks of paid parental leave for births, adoptions, and foster care placements through the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act (FEPLA), provided the resident returns to service for 3 months following the leave period. For residents who have not yet been employed by the VA for one year, HSS accommodates paid parental leave through a combination of annual leave, current and accrued sick leave, and advanced leave.
