Resident Life

While the demands of residency can be intense at times, residents are always pleasantly surprised to discover that life does not need to stop during their training. There is ample opportunity to balance work and play. Throughout the year there are numerous social activities for house staff, as well as their spouses, family and friends. These include attending New York Yankees games, Knicks games, karaoke and bowling nights and the Annual House Staff Follies. In addition, there is an annual mixed tape competition for music lovers and "Switch" Parties almost every block

Housestaff Council: The Department of Medicine Housestaff Council is a peer elected body composed of house officers that serve as advocates for the residents. The council meets on a monthly basis to discuss resident related issues regarding work environment, education and morale. The Housestaff Council collaborates with the Program Directions, the Administration and Chief Residents on numerous projects throughout the year. In addition, the Housestaff Council assists and organizes social events including happy hours, the intern party bus and orientation events for incoming residents. The Department of Medicine Housestaff Council sends representatives to the inter-departmental housestaff council to discuss hospital-wide concerns.

Housing:  Mount Sinai owns several apartment buildings in the vicinity of the Medical Center, which are used for pro¬fessional housing. Household size is a factor in determining housing assignments. Accommodations include furnished bedrooms in shared suites in the Residence Hall, as well as studios and one and two-bedroom apartments. All are located in proximity to the Medical Center.

Incoming Residents are eligible to apply for Mount Sinai housing. Housing offers are based on a Lottery System in which applications are divided into three (3) categories: Incoming Families, Incoming Couples and Incoming Singles. Each application will receive a randomly assigned number. Housing offers will begin with application #1 and will proceed down the list. In an effort to accommodate housing preferences, each appli¬cant must indicate their Top Ten (10) housing choices. Each applicant will receive a housing offer based on their randomly assigned lottery number and top ten choices.

Living in New York City:  As one of the most influential and iconic cities in the world, New York offers nearly anything that you can possibly imagine. Whether you are interested in the post-modern collections at the Museum of Modern Art, the newest Broadway hit, the lastest fashion trend or the independent film industry, NYC boasts an array of culture every night. And for the inner foodie or indie rocker, the city bursts with a new crop of restaurants and musical acts on nearly a weekly basis. Each neighborhood offers a different flavor and feel and if you grow tired of Manhattan, the outer boroughs can provide a year’s worth of activities. Mount Sinai’s Recreation Office provides discounts and other special offers to residents.

Benefits: Mount Sinai provides health coverage for house officers through Mount Sinai - United Healthcare Plus, and we make available choices of alternative health coverage through several other HMOs. Cost sharing is available if you desire family coverage.
Additional benefits offered at Mount Sinai include:

• Basic dental coverage, a prescription drug plan, and a vision plan at no cost to the house officer Enhanced dental plans and family coverage available with a cost-sharing deductible
• Short- and long-term disability, workers' compensation, life insurance, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for our house officers
• Dependent care and tax sheltered an¬nuity plans
• Residents are covered by Mount Sinai for malpractice at no cost to them.

Vacations: In recognition of the heavy clinical demands on residents, vacations are considered an essential component of the schedule. Residents receive four weeks of vacation. While every effort is made to provide vacations that accommodate individual needs and preferences, time for vacation is scheduled based on the clinical needs of the department.

Travel Stipends: The department also supports resident travel to clinical and research meetings for the presentation of papers and research results carried out in conjunction with faculty. In addition, the department pays for each chief resident to attend either the Annual or Midwinter AAOMS Meeting. Stipend includes domestic coach air travel, meeting registration and per diem for expenses.