Other Benefits & Perks

A comprehensive list of Benefits and Housing Resources can be found here:  Graduate Medical Education - Benefits | The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix.

Some highlights include:  

• Free Health Insurance (Medical/Dental) for you & your dependents  (Vision low cost)

  • • Employment Benefits through Banner Health

• Reimbursement for Step 3 exam fees (USMLE or COMLEX) for PGY-1 residents 

• Annual Educational Funds provided

  • • $200 per year (PGY-1 & PGY-2)

    • $750 in year of residency graduation (PGY-3)

• $1,100 credit for meals at BUMCP

  • • Option to utilize a portion of your meal funds to supplement professional/educational expenses

• Stipend to use for meals on campus at the VAMC during months assigned to rotate there

• Free parking at all hospitals

• Paid ACP membership

• Individual MKSAP digital subscription

• Free and confidential GME therapist

• Paid board review support for all graduating residents

• Up to $1500 in travel per year to present posters/research at regional and national meetings

• ICU Simulation training course that includes an IV access certification course

• Free medical Spanish (Canopy) course access

• Certification as a Spanish Medical Interpreter

Other Important Employment Information & Policies

Vaccination Requirements: 

Banner University Medical Group (BUMG) has vaccination requirements for all employees, including resident and fellow trainees.   These include, but are not limited to, annual Influenza immunization and Measles, Mumps, & Rubella (MMR) and Tuberculosis (TB) immunity. 

Religious or medical exemptions to such requirements may be requested through the Banner Health Human Resources Department.

Since training in our program includes core clinical rotations that take place at the Phoenix Veteran's Administration Medical Center (VAMC), a separate exemption process must be requested through the VAMC in accordance with federal policies.  It should be noted that to date, no physician working at our VA hospital has received an exemption from the VA COVID vaccination requirement.

University of Arizona and Banner Health policies regarding the use of marijuana: 

These policies mirror those in many states where the recreational use of marijuana is now legal, but still not permitted for physicians.  

Arizona voters approved the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act in 2010 and the Smart & Safe Arizona Act in 2020.  These laws permit individuals to posses and use limited quantities of marijuana for recreational and/or medical purposes.  

However, Banner Health bans the use of marijuana for any reason by any employee in a safety-sensitive role.  Physicians and other healthcare personnel are considered to work in a safety-sensitive role.  Additionally, because of their obligations under the federal Controlled Substances Act, the University of Arizona and the Phoenix VAMC prohibit marijuana in accordance with federal law.  Its use is screened for during pre-employment testing. 

Parental / Caregiver / Medical Leave Policy: 

Our Internal Medicine Residency Program offers a minimum of 6 weeks of time away from training for the purposes of parental, caregiver, and medical leave at least once during your training.  This can be taken without exhausting all other allowed time away.