Since 1934, Kern Medical has been training residents and
health care professionals in our community.
Academics
Kern Medical Infectious Disease Fellowship —
Salary & Benefits
Applies to resident physicians/fellows covered by the Kern County Hospital Authority & CIR/SEIU Local 1957 Memorandum of Understanding. Effective dates and amounts noted below.
Compensation
Annual Salaries
Salaries are paid biweekly. Advancement occurs upon successful completion of each PGY year.
| Classification | Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| PGY‑4 | $84,023.28 |
| PGY‑5 | $89,327.78 |
STIPENDS & REIMBURSEMENTS
Allowances
- Meal allowance: $200 per biweekly pay period (appears as a separate line item).
- Educational fund: $1,100 per academic year; permissible uses include books/e‑books, board prep & fees (remainder after license fund), software, conference registration/online courses, equipment with pre‑approval, professional memberships, and a one‑time laptop reimbursement up to $500 over the course of residency.
- Uniforms: Lab coats provided (3 categorical / 1 preliminary); $150 annual uniform reimbursement (non‑rollover).
- DEA: Fee‑exempt registration for in‑program activities; separate DEA required for moonlighting.
PAID TIME OFF
Vacation, Holidays & Wellness
- Vacation: PGY4: 20 days/year (typically in 2‑week blocks). PGY5: 22 days/year. Max accrual 60 days; June vacation by exception.
- Holidays: 8 observed: New Year’s Day; MLK Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Thanksgiving; Day After Thanksgiving; Christmas Eve; Christmas Day. If worked, alternate day off granted.
- Wellness Days: 3 prescheduled days/year (separate from holidays). Same‑day usage counts against sick bank.
- Sick Leave: Accrues at 2.46 hrs/biweekly (max 40 days). Family sick leave up to 10 days/year from sick bank.
INSURANCE & FINANCIAL BENEFITS
Health & Other Benefits
- Health, Dental, Vision, Rx: Same as eligible Authority employees; employee share is 20% of biweekly premium (80% employer‑paid). Eligibility after 1 month of continuous service.
- Disability: $12/month employer contribution to House Staff Benefits Fund (HSBF) for ST/LT disability.
- Retirement: Voluntary 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan.
- Flexible Spending: Optional dependent care & health FSA.
EDUCATION & TRAVEL
Conferences, Courses & Rotations
- Required Certifications: BLS, ACLS, FCCS provided. Recertifications coordinated by GME at no cost.
- Education Travel: One subspecialty conference during residency; up to three additional trips if first author presenter; one extra permitted for national recognition. U.S. meetings only; standard coverage (airfare, lodging, per diem) with $1,500 cap for education conference travel; receipts required.
- Outside Rotations: Shared UCLA apartments (RR‑UCLA, Cedars‑Sinai) provided; per diem/mileage if not supplied by host.
OTHER KEY POLICIES
Work Hours, Call Rooms, Meals & Safety
- Call Rooms & IT: Dedicated rooms with computers/phones
- Meals: Meal allowance as above; cafeteria variety targets vegetarian/kosher/ethnic options.
- Wellbeing & Support: Resident Wellbeing Committee; Employee Assistance Program (EAP) access; annual institutional commitment to GME & DEI.