2024 FSA Podium and Poster Abstracts
P058: ECONOMIC LANDSCAPES: MAPPING ANESTHESIA RESIDENT WAGES FOR A FAIR FUTURE
Joseph Novoa, BS1; Heli Patel, MBA2; Saket Pandit, MS2; Kiranjit Kaur, BS2; Skylar R Harmon, BA2; Anastasia Shifchik, BS2; Michelle L Demory, PhD2; 1Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus, Suwanee, GA, USA; 2Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Background: The distribution of anesthesia resident salaries profoundly impacts the quality of life, yet the geographical variation in salary allocation still needs to be explored. This study aims to determine and compare the relative value of anesthesia resident salaries when adjusted for regional cost of living.
Methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional analysis, resident salary data was collected from the Fellowship and Residency Electronic Interactive Database Access System (FREIDA) database for accredited allopathic anesthesia residency programs, while living wage (LW) was calculated using the MIT Cost of Living Calculator. Nine geographical divisions were determined according to AAMC guidelines. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and t-tests were utilized to determine statistical differences in LW and salaries.
Results: Out of the 165 anesthesia residency programs, there were 97 university-based programs, community-based/university-affiliated (43), and community-based (25). Middle Atlantic (34), East North Central (28), and South Atlantic (26) emerged as regions with the highest program concentration. LW is significantly less than the average resident salaries across years 2 through 4 (p < 0.001). Additionally, no geographical variation in the LW and salaries was observed across years 2 through 4 (p < 0.001). Furthermore, region-by-region analysis showed that regional LW is consistently less than salaries across all nine regions under investigation (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: In conclusion, our study highlights the unexplored comparison between living wage and anesthesia resident salary, considering different geographical locations. Accordingly, while this study finds that anesthesia resident salaries are greater than LW in all areas, it does not consider additional financial burdens unique to physician residents, such as student loans, board exams, relocation, and emergency expenses. These findings emphasize the pressing need for comprehensive compensation models that address the multifaceted financial realities of anesthesia residents.
Graph 1: LW vs Stipend
