Administrative Policies & Fringe Benefits

Current Policies

Current fringe benefits that are provided to residents of the Department of Pediatrics are detailed in your contract.

In addition, the Department of Pediatrics currently:

  1. Pays your dues annually for residents to become Junior Fellows in the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  2. Pays for your fee annually for admission to the American Board of Pediatrics In-Training examination.

For more information, visit the College of Medicine website

The Housestaff Group Insurance Plan is provided to residents by the University of Florida. As you begin your residency with the Department of Pediatrics, you will receive a booklet that summarizes the benefits and limitations provided under this group policy for Employee Basic Life, Accidental Death and Dismemberment, Employee Major Medical, and Dependent Major Medical Insurance. Please refer to this booklet for all information and any questions you may have regarding your insurance coverage. Information can also be found on the Fringe Benefit website


Disability Insurance

The Department provides a comprehensive disability insurance policy for each resident. Coverage includes compensation for an occupational injury that results in HIV infection. The approximate monthly compensation is $1500. Prior to completion of the program, you will have an opportunity to convert this group policy to an individual policy that provides compensation of up to $4500 per month (approximately $7000 per month for catastrophic illness or injury). Residents are strongly advised to make this conversion as soon as their financial status permits. For details contact the Fringe Benefit Office at (352) 273-9900.


Malpractice Insurance

Malpractice insurance is provided for residents by the J. Hillis Miller Health Center Self-Insurance Trust Fund. This protection is operative only as long as the resident is working under the auspices of the University of Florida College of Medicine in an activity formally approved by the Department. For more information call (352) 265-8028.


Resident and Fellow Loan Deferment Requests

The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the Council of Deans have established the policy that no loan deferment on National Direct Student Loans and Guaranteed Student Loans for any resident or fellow past PGY II will be certified. Loan deferment requests for other types of loans will be processed on an individual basis by the Housestaff Affairs Office.


Meal Tickets

Each resident will be issued meal tickets for each night of in-house call, valued at $1 each, at the beginning of the academic year. These tickets are expected to last for the entire year. Please budget your expenditures accordingly.


Resident Academic Fund

Each resident (PL1-3) is allotted $850 over the three year residency period. You may spend up to $150 in the first year, and $300 in the second, and $400 in the third year. There is no carryover, so you should spend your allotment each year. Funds may be used for dues, subscriptions, books, and meetings. Meeting expenditures require the approval of the Training Director.

Each subspecialty resident would receive academic funds to be based on their division.


Resident Recruitment

All pediatric residents will be chosen through the NRMP except at the direction of the Department Chairman. A resident recruitment committee shall serve as an oversight committee of the recruitment procedures. The committee shall include the Training Program Director, current Chief Resident, upcoming Chief Resident, and selected faculty and housestaff. They will jointly determine days to interview, number of applicants, applicant scheduling, etc.


Resident Selection

The Department of Pediatrics follows the institutional guidelines for interviewing and selecting residents.

At the end of the interview process, the recruitment committee will consider all potential applicants and reach a consensus regarding the order of their ranking. The Department Chairman shall have the final decision if consensus cannot be reached. The ranking will be submitted to the NRMP.


Living Quarters

There are no departmental provisions for living quarters other than On Call quarters at Shands. Residents who do rotations at outside institutions must provide for their own living quarters and expenses.


Quality Assurance

The quarterly morbidity and mortality conferences will include a report from the QA/QI Committee from its resident member. Residents will be encouraged to bring QA/QI issues to the committee and to participate in the process.


Pediatric Education Office

The Education Office staff are located in UF and Shands Room #HD513 and are able to assist you with information needs that you have including, meal tickets, schedules and schedule requests, compensation, leave slips, audiovisual equipment for conferences, and education allowance reimbursements.


Shands Hospital Office of Housestaff Affairs

The Office of Housestaff Affairs offers support and a voice for housestaff and serves as a clearinghouse for information. Ongoing services include Monthly Newsletter, The Housestaff Lounge (stocked with beverages and snacks, available computers, sofas and tables, and TV). The lounge is a good place to have a moment of time-out. Also available is the Housestaff Gym which is equipped with shower facilities created by the Medical Alumni Association.