Overworked Resident Physicians Express Frustration with System Leadership
In contract negotiations with Westchester Medical Center (WMC) since January, about 90 physicians at the Hudson Valley’s only level-1 trauma center came out on Tuesday, May 13th, to voice their frustrations with hospital leadership. Unionized with the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR/SEIU), leaders among the about 480 WMC residents say that their level of work and financial stress is unsustainable, and that this threatens the system’s ability to keep attracting the best doctors.
“Patients want their doctors focused on their care, not burdened with these other concerns,” said Dr. Garrett Smith. “We did not become physicians to talk about contracts, but for us to be the best residents we can be, we can’t ignore this situation anymore.”
In a “unity break” action around 12pm on Tuesday, the young physicians noted the ever-climbing cost of living in Westchester, their reliance in some cases on subsidized housing, and their difficulty affording basics like groceries and child care. They say WMC leadership has failed to propose wage increases that even meet inflation, while rejecting proposals for housing stipends and adequate travel reimbursement for physicians who rotate to other sites in the course of their training. Low pay has led some physicians to take on second jobs.
“Enough is enough! About 90 of us were out in front of Westchester Medical Center (WMC) today because we are done putting up with disrespect from leadership at the bargaining table, as our salaries lag behind inflation and our peers in the region. We know what we need to be the best physicians we can be for the Hudson Valley, to care for our families, to stay well ourselves. We need a fair contract, and we won’t stop fighting! Thanks so much to everyone who supported us today, including all our fellow workers, New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), IATSE Local 52, Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW, and elected supporters: Christine Fils-Aimé, Westchester County Legislators Judah Holstein, Emiljana Ulaj, Jewel Williams Johnson, David Tubiolo, James Nolan, and NYS Senator Shelley B. Mayer,” The Committee of Interns & Residents (CIR/SEIU), the nation’s largest and oldest housestaff labor union, posted on their Instagram page.
WMC residents continue to appeal to new CEO Dr. David Lubarsky, who previously led the medical center at the University of California-Davis, to do the right thing and agree to wages on par with the physicians’ peers at other hospitals in the area. Their next bargaining session with WMC is Thursday, May 15.
“From our perspective, this should be an easy call for management: If similar hospitals in the area can offer competitive contracts for their residents, then so can WMC,” said Dr. Smith. “We aren’t asking for their executive-level salaries, we’re just asking for the support we need to provide the best care we can for our community.”
The doctors were joined at their rally by WMC-NYSNA chapter president Merima Lynch and a number of elected officials, including County Legislators Judah Holstein, Emiljana Ulaj, Jewel Williams Johnson, David J. Tubiolo, and James M. Nolan, and Christine Fils-Aimé, the director of constituent services and community affairs for State Senator Shelley Mayer.
“We have had a number of productive meetings with our medical residents, most recently on May 5, and remain actively engaged in negotiations with another bargaining session scheduled for this week. We look forward to continuing these conversations and reaching an agreement on a new contract that reflects the respect we have for our residents and the invaluable role they play in patient care,” the Westchester Medical Center Health Network said in a statement sent to Black Westchester.
The Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR) is the largest housestaff union in the United States. A local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), representing over 40,000 resident physicians and fellows. Our members are dedicated to improving residency training and education, advancing patient care, and expanding healthcare access for our communities.
***Story updated Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 10:21 PM, to include statement from the Westchester Medical Center Health Network. ***
