VALHALLA — Westchester Medical Center has reached an agreement with hundreds of resident physicians and fellows, securing improved pay and benefits for them after months of negotiations.
The five-year contract, which took effect July 1, includes a 22% wage increase over five years, reimbursement for parking during off-site rotations, an additional paid holiday and complimentary rides home after long shifts.
The contract is seen as critical support for resident physicians amid challenges facing Westchester Medical Center, from federal Medicaid cuts to capital investments in a new patient tower.
In a statement from the Committee of Interns and Residents, a national union representing more than 37,000 resident physicians and fellows, the agreement was described as a support for both worker well-being and the hospital’s ability to attract talent.
“This new contract is a huge victory,” said Daniel Bassily, a third-year urology resident, in the union’s statement. “The truth is, we were really struggling just to pay our rent and for things like childcare–with some of us even taking on second jobs to pay the bills.”
The hospital also called the agreement a landmark deal.
“This agreement isn’t just a contract—it’s a bold investment in the future of medicine and a testament to what’s possible when mission-driven professionals come together with purpose,” the hospital said in a statement. “It delivers the stability our institution needs and sends a clear message: when we support our people, we unlock the full potential of patient care.”
Resident physicians and fellows are typically recent medical school graduates undergoing education or medical training. During residency, a resident doctor provides direct patient care, including diagnosing, managing, and treating health conditions and injuries.
The wage increases will bring resident physicians and fellows’ salaries in line with the regional median. During the seven-month negotiation, resident physicians and fellows took more action than they have in years, rallying outside the hospital and making rounds of calls to the leadership.
Despite serving some of the most critically ill patients at the only Level 1 trauma center in the Hudson Valley, resident physicians at Westchester Medical Center said they had been earning about 7% below the $76,519 average for peers in the New York City metro area and Connecticut, according to CIR.
Westchester Medical Center Health Network serves about one-third of the Medicaid patients in the Hudson Valley. It has about 7,000 employees and 1,700 beds across seven hospitals in six counties.
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Helu Wang covers economic growth and real estate for The Journal News/lohud and USA Today Network. Reach her at hwang@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester Medical Center reaches deal with resident doctors for better pay, benefits
Reporting by Helu Wang, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
