GME Salaries and Benefits

UT Resident/Fellow Salary Scale 2024-2025*
Chattanooga Campus

PGY Training Level	Annual Salary Effective July 1, 2024*
PGY-1	$ 57,953
PGY-2	$ 59,766
PGY-3	$ 61,958
PGY-4	$ 64,610
PGY-5	$ 67,223
PGY-6	$ 69,634
PGY-7	$ 72,296

*Includes annual salary and standard GME Disability and Life Insurance contributions.

Benefits

1. Onsite GME Advocate/Counselor:  A dedicated full-time counselor, Lucy White, LPC-MHSP, is available to provide individualized counseling and didactics for programs.  Her counseling services are are available onsite and provided at no charge to our Medical Students, UT PA Students, Residents, Fellows, Faculty, and UT administrative staff (valued at $100 per session based on the cost of private counseling).  She has flexible hours built into her schedule.
2. GME CIGNA Resident/Fellow Employee Assistance Program:  Services are provided at no charge for up to three sessions per issue through the EAP GME CIGNA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and include counseling, legal advisement, and financial counseling.  Seminars are also available from the EAP to all Residents and Fellows.
3. LifeBridge Physician Well-Being Initiative:  The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society provides access for all physicians practicing in the our area, as well as all our Faculty, Residents, Fellows, and Medical Students/UT PA Students for mental health services for up to six sessions at no charge (valued at $600 per year for each participant).
4. GME Insurance Benefits: The University provides excellent group insurance plans beginning the first day of residency or fellowship training, including:    
       Health, Prescription, Vision, and Dental Insurance (United Health Care Choice Plus managed by Holland Insurance Agency)
       Life insurance ($100,000 benefit) (Hartford)
       Long-term disability insurance (choose monthly benefit of $1500, $2500, $4000, or $5000) (Unum Insurance managed by the Hildreth 
       Agency)
5. Disability and Life Insurance Premiums:  Each trainee is provided $660 annually as part of their GME Salary to help cover the cost of your life and disability premiums.  The premiums are taxed as part of your income, meaning that if you need to utilize your disability benefits, your disability income would not be taxable.
6. Vacation and Other Leave (including Sick Leave and Family/Parental Leave): The University provides up to three weeks vacation per year.  Residents are not guaranteed holiday leave unless the service or area to which the resident is assigned is closed for the holiday. Paid annual sick leave (up to three weeks each year) is available as well as a parental leave (paid and unpaid) in accordance with UT GME Policies.  Also, in accordance with ACGME requirements, we provide an additional six-weeks of paid medical, caregiver, or family leave once during your residency or fellowship.  However, this additional six weeks must be taken within the same academic year.
7. Educational Conference Leave: Programs permit up to one week of paid educational conference leave each academic year. 
8. Conference Leave for those Presenting at National Meetings:  For Residents and Fellows presenting scholarly projects at national meetings, we provide limited funding to reimburse at least a portion of the conference and travel expenses.  These funds must be requested and approved by the trainee's Chair and Program Director.
9. Immunity from Professional Liability (i.e., Malpractice): As employees of the State of Tennessee, Residents and Fellows have immunity from professional liability (i.e., malpractice).  Residents and Fellows are protected against suits for malpractice via the Tennessee Claims Commission Act. The State is self-insured so there is no insurance carrier; however, coverage is similar to what would be stated in an insurance policy. 
10. Reimbursement for Professional Development Expenses: Each program has some annual funding that may be used at the discretion of the Chair and Program Director for reimbursement of professional development activities (e.g., regional or national conference, textbooks, electronic CME materials, USMLE Step 3/COMLEX 3 fees, etc.).  Actual amounts vary by program and level of training.  UT Reimbursement and Travel Policies must be followed and all travel must be approved in advance by the Department and Deans' Offices.  Travel receipts and reimbursements must be handled through the CONCUR System.
11. University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Aquatic and Recreation Center (ARC) fitness facility:  Discounted membership to the UTC ARC is available ($20 per month plus a one-time $20 fee).  Spouse memberships are also available at a discounted rate.

Other Benefits

• GME Orientation and Electronic Communication Stipend:  A total of $950 is paid to each Resident and Fellow as part of the first monthly paycheck for incoming Residents and Fellows new to our campus who complete all onboarding documentation and attend all required institutional and program orientation and certification training (i.e., the last half of June for most incoming Residents and Fellows).  This stipend includes $600 for GME GME Orientation and $350 for GME Electronic Communication. 
• Funding for call meals at Erlanger and evening and weekend snacks and drinks provided in call and work areas:  Swipe cards are pre-loaded with amounts that vary between programs depending on call frequency ($1,200 annually for non-surgical programs and $1,560 annually for surgical programs).  These funds are not added to your payroll benefits so they are not subject to federal income tax (an estimated tax savings of 25 - 30%, $240-$300 for non-surgical Residents/Fellows or $312-$390 for surgical Residents/Fellows, depending on your tax filing status).
• Call Quarters:   Erlanger provides call quarters for Residents and Fellows within the hospital with snacks and drinks during evening hours in the call quarter lounges.
• Initial certification and recertification courses:  BLS, ACLS, PALS, NRP, ALSO, and ATLS are provided for incoming Residents and Fellows in accordance with hospital policy and based on individual program requirements.  The certification is provided at no charge to Residents and Fellows.
• Covered parking in the hospital parking garage:  Parking is provided at no charge to our trainees (valued at $720 per year).
• White monogrammed lab coats or jackets:  These are provided at no charge to our trainees (valued up to $150 per year).
• Discounted software downloads through the University for personal computers and devices:   This benefit includes Microsoft Office, Office 365 Web Apps, Office 365 ProPlus, and SPSS (value depends on which software is used).
• Immunizations:  Immunizations available include Hepatitis B immunization and other required immunizations, annual TB skin testing, annual Flu vaccines, and COVID vaccines at no charge.
• Medical Library:  Library resources include those in Memphis and our own UT Medical Library in Chattanooga) with 24/7 access.
• 24-hour computer access:  These resources can be used for research and/or personal use in work areas, lounges, as well as the Medical Library.
• 24-hour access to clinical and educational resources:  These resources may be within Erlanger and access from anywhere outside the hospital via Physician VPN access, including electronic resources (e.g., Up-to-Date, and Visual DX).
• Access to all electronic databases:  Including those available via the UT Health Science Center Library (in Memphis) (use your UT Net ID login at no charge to our trainees).
• Resident/Fellow Quarterly Town Hall and GMEC Resident/Fellow Representatives:  Resident and Fellow Representatives from each Department are peer-selected and represent our Residents and Fellows at our monthly Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) meetings.  In addition, House Staff Association Leaders (selected by voting among the entire group of Residents and Fellows) are also part of our GMEC meetings.  The DIO offers quarterly Resident/Fellow Town Hall sessions throughout the academic year to discuss issues and problems submitted by the entire "house staff" and then openly discussed with UT Deans and GME leadership as well as Erlanger administration.
• Well-Being Initiatives and activities:  Structured activities are provided at both the institutional and program levels.
• Erlanger e-Kids (On-Site Child Care):  Erlanger e-Kids is an onsite, licensed child care facility located adjacent to the hospital.  It offers a discounted rate equivalent to the rate for Erlanger employees given space availability. E-Kids also offers extended child care hours beyond those offered by private day care facilities.
• Notary services:  Notary services (at no charge to our Students, Residents, Fellows, and Faculty) are available in most departments and the Dean's Office.
• Our GME Physician Health Support Policy #320 offers intervention and assistance to Residents and Fellows who admit impairment and comply with recommended treatment. Given compliance with treatment guidelines, every effort is made to allow a Resident or Fellow to continue and complete residency training and benefits.
• Erlanger Exercise Room:  Located within the Erlanger Mall (2nd floor above First Horizon Bank), Residents, Fellows, Medical/PA Students, and Faculty can use the exercise facility at no charge.  Free weights, treadmills, StairMasters, and rowing machines are available.
• Workers Compensation:  The University provides Workers Compensation for payment of work-related illness, accident, or exposure.
• Mail Boxes for all Residents and Fellows:  Erlanger provides a full service US Post Office on the 1st floor of the hospital with mail boxes.  Also, mail boxes are provided within several departments (e.g., Family Medicine, and Internal Medicine).  These services are provided at no charge to trainees.