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House Staff Council

Resources

Resident Information Packet 2025-2026

Welcome from your 2025-2026 House Staff Council! 

This packet has included various resources to improve awareness and access to current benefits and programs for the current house staff. If you have any questions about a resource, would like us to add a particular resource or in general have any concerns, please contact us at [email protected].

  • The council is made up of active residents elected to represent the house staff. 
  • The council functions as an intermediary between residents and Hopkins leadership and administration. 
  • We are a part of the major hospital committees including the faculty senate, quality improvement, patient safety, risk management, ethics and graduate medical education. 
  • Each year, the council advocates for changes in resident finances, benefits, and program-level changes based on an annual quality of life survey.

Financial Benefit Information

Emergency Fund

  • The Fund program offers financial assistance to The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) residents and clinical fellows who have experienced an emergency-related financial hardship due to the sudden loss of housing or the need to travel due to an immediate family memember's death or acute severe illness. 
  • Financial assistance from the Fund shall not exceed $1,000 per resident or clinical fellow per academic year.
  • There is no expectation of repayment, this is not a loan.
  • Please review the link below for what expenses qualify and more information about The Fund: 
  • To apply for reimbursement please use the following link: 

House Staff Out-of-Pocket Medical Expenses Supplemental Fund (The FUND) 

  • Established to help alleviate the financial burden of house staff with out-of-pocket expenses for themselves and covered family members. 
  • The Wellfleet out-of-pocket limit is (July 1-June 30):
    • $3,000 per individual 
    • $9,000 per family 
  • Please review the link below for what expenses qualify
  • The FUND will reimburse the house staff member up to (per plan year): 
    • $2,000 for an individual after the first $1,000 spent 
    • $6,000 for a family after the first $3,000 spent
  • To apply for reimbursement: 
    • Submit the plan’s Explanation of Benefits for all claims incurred during the plan year with proof you paid those expenses. 
    • For more information: Student Health & Wellbeing Primary Care at 410-955-3872
  • To submit for reimbursement: Email Olha Gudesblat at [email protected]
  • Vice President of Resident Health and Family Affairs: Barry Bryant, MD 
    • House Staff Council Contact
    • Please reach out with any observed opportunities for improvement in our overall coverage so we can advocate for the residents. 

Retirement plan enrollment: 403(b)

  • Visit retirement plan
  • Residents get 2% 403(b) contributions regardless of personal contributions
  • Make sure to open your account to contribute if you want and to manage your funds!

Resident Physical and Mental Health Benefits 

Please contact the House Staff Benefits Team at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding your coverage, enrollment or general benefits. 

Scheduling doctors' appointments as a resident can be quite difficult and lead to significant delays in care. If you need to schedule an appointment and are having trouble doing so through MyChart or the typical scheduling number, please utilize the contacts below.

Johns Hopkins Employee Assistance Program (JHEAP) 

JHH house staff and their household family members have free 24/7 access to confidential counseling and referral services for help with stress at work or at home Through JHEAP. They provide referrals to licensed clinicians in your area for a tele-video, tele-phonic or in-person appointment. The first five counseling sessions are free and won’t require use of your insurance. 

Phone: 888-978-1262

Visit JHEAP

RISE Restorative Space (Open 24/7)

A space to decompress and destress in the hospital. Within the space there are several different rooms. 

RISE Gathering Space (6-8 people) (Osler 675A) and Art Space (6 people): Lounge area to relax and art supplies to release your creativity. This is a drop in space but can be reserved for small groups. Please check availability by looking at the calendar.

  • Tune Room (1 person) (Osler 681): The tune bed uses medical grade vibrations to bring your body back to balance. Enjoy soothing sounds while you lay down and take time to for self-restoration.
  • Sensory Room (1 person) (Osler 685): Enjoy the comfort and benefits of a massage chair as you relax in a dimly lit room. Select relaxing images to display on the plasma screen or listen to nature sounds on the sound machine.
  • Art Room, Osler (6 people) (675B): Various creative art activities to choose from. Reservations NOT required unless you are coming with a small group, then they are suggested.
  • Consult Room, (6 people) (Osler 679): RISE support available upon request as usual. JHEAP can meet individuals on site every Tuesday. RISE: Page 410-283-2953, JHEAP: 888-978-1262

RISE Reservation

Disability Accommodations

To request workplace accommodations, please contact the Johns Hopkins University Office of Institutional Equity (use the faculty and staff accommodations forms/information)

Resident Mistreatment Resources

Graduate Medical Education Advisory Office

Contact: [email protected]

The Advisory Office is available for residents and clinical fellows to consult with regarding concerns related to their training. These might include, but are not limited to: 

  • Concerns related to the training program that trainees do not feel have been adequately addressed 
  • Issues that trainees do not feel comfortable raising with the faculty
  • Conflicts that have arisen amongst trainees 

Additional Resources

Resident Childcare and Family Benefits

Childcare, Eldercare, Pet Care Referral Assistance

JHEAP has 24/7 telephone access to a counselor who can offer resources and referrals for childcare, elder care, pet care, parenting issues --- even household help (ex. Finding a contractor). They assist with many other needs as well. Please view their site to learn more. 

Phone: 888-978-1262

Other Childcare Resources 

Hopkins Campus Pearls 

Food

In Johns Hopkins Hospital

  • Cortado: 6:15 AM-1:00 PM
  • Subway: 24/7
  • Skyline Cafe: 6:30 AM-1:00 PM
  • Starbucks (JHOC and Weinberg Bld): 6:30 AM-5:00 PM
  • Umami Sushi: 11:00 AM-3:45 PM 
  • Dots BBQ: 11:30 AM-6:30 PM 
  • A.J.’ Deli: 11:30 AM-6:45 PM 
  • Carnegie Cafe: 6:30 AM-10:30 AM and 11:00 AM-2:00 PM 
  • Baja Fresh: 10:00 AM-9:00 PM 
  • Noble Roman’s: 11:00 AM-2:00 AM
  • Flamers: 11:00 AM-7:00 PM

On Johns Hopkins Campus

  • Wenz Cafe (Armstrong Medical Education Building by JHOC): 6:30 AM- 5:00 PM 
  • Daily Grind (Miller Research Building and Bloomberg School of Public Health): 7:00 AM-5:00 PM 
  • Hampton House Cafe (Hampton House): 7:00 AM-3:30 PM 
  • Garden Plate (Bloomberg School of Public Health) 8:00 AM-4:00 PM 
  • Rosina Gourmet (School of Nursing): 7:00 AM-7:30 PM 

Places to Study

In JHH

  • Resident Lounge - Near Wolfe Street Entrance and the Halsted Wing
  • Women's Lounge - Near Wolfe Street Entrance and the Halsted Wing
  • Privacy Pods (coming soon!) - Will be in the Residency Lounge 

On JHH Campus

Important Phone Numbers

Number for EVS (Call Room Turnover): JHH Number 58300

Additional Benefits 

Discounts

Hopkins employees have access to specific discount programs 

LifeMart

Perks at Work 

  • National and local discounts, including gym memberships at some local gyms! 
  • Log in to CCA (company code JHEAP) and click Centers >Savings Center from the home screen.
  • New users first need to click on “Register for Free” to create a profile for the Savings Center and register using the company name Workplace Options US and the company code EAP.
  • More benefits that residents may be eligible for.

Free subscriptions

Free Training Courses 

Disability Insurance

Important information to know before you apply for disability insurance:

  • Do not apply with any carrier if you have any medical issues, taking medication or have any type of diagnosis before inquiring about GSI policy.
  • You cannot apply using the GSI if any insurance company rates, excludes, modifies or declines you, you will have to wait 5 years from application date to be eligible to use the GSI so if there is any medical history, use the GSI first.

Fully Underwritten Disability Policies:

Disability insurance underwriting is extensive. Underwriters will review your prescription history, driving record, avocations and will typically obtain and review your medical records. An issue in any one of these categories can pose a problem.

The insurance companies must group you together with similar risks, consider the risk that the condition(s) will impair your ability to practice your specialty, and consider the likelihood for future recurrence/relapse. They do not know who will have a problem in the future, only that someone or many will. This means that many conditions that you have recovered from can and probably will, particularly if within the last five years, be excluded from coverage or result in limited provisions or benefits.

Common Conditions that Result in Exclusions, Ratings, or Declines:

  • Build / BMI
  • Stress, Anxiety, or Depression
  • Chiropractic History
  • Pregnancy
  • Diabetes
  • Cancer History

Please complete the link to get quotes from the 5 major carriers that offer OWN Occupation Disability Insurance. Including a GSI own occupation disability quote through our program with Ameritas. They are the only group in the country that can offer a GSI policy to the residents and fellows at Johns Hopkins.

More information about the GSI disability insurance and their contact information.

In addition to the Ameritas GSI policy offered above, Guardian now offers a GSI policy to Johns Hopkins residents and fellows, more information can be found here: https://www.disabilityquotes.com/jhu-gsi

Johns Hopkins Graduate Medical Education Parenting Resources:

Supporting residents and clinical fellows who are or want to become parents.

Parental Leave Policy

Johns Hopkins residents and clinical fellows are eligible for at least eight weeks of paid leave as part of the New Child Accommodations Policy. Additionally, trainees who miss work for parental leave or sick leave do not make up calls missed during that period. Policies vary based on individual training programs and board certification requirements.

Support for Chest/Breastfeeding

Johns Hopkins has multiple lactation rooms on our medical campuses that are available for residents and clinical fellows. Additionally, the GME Office has a Wearable Breast Pump Loaner Program where trainees who are pumping breastmilk can borrow a wearable pump for up to one year, subject to availability. Contact [email protected] for details. To order a breast pump through Wellfleet at no cost to you, see flier.

Child Care Voucher Benefit

Child Care Vouchers are available for residents and clinical fellows who use licensed or in-home childcare for dependents under the age of 6. Vouchers are between $1,000-$5,000 per family based on family adjusted gross income. As of January 1st, 2026, the cutoff income for a family with one child is $128,600. More information is available on the Human Resources website.

Childcare Centers with Priority for Johns Hopkins Families

Several childcare centers offer admission and waitlist priority to Johns Hopkins families, including Bright Horizons, The Weinberg Early Childhood Center, the Weinberg YMCA Y Preschool Center, and the Homewood Early Learning Center. Priority for specific centers is based on the employee’s primary campus. Scholarships range from $8,750-$17,250 per enrolled child at an affiliated childcare center based on family income with a cutoff of $128,600-$148,600 depending on family size. These scholarships can be used in conjunction with vouchers. Due to demand, waitlist times may be extensive. More information is available on the Human Resources website.

Childcare Resources for School-Age Kids

See the Human Resources website for information on finding childcare, educational resources, and discounted summer camp resources.

Backup Care and Enhanced Family Supports

Through a JHU partnership, My Bright Horizons provides 10 days of backup care at subsidized rates when your regular care is unavailable (at a care facility or at your residence). Backup care can be used for emergencies, on the weekends, in-between care providers, etc. In addition to affordable backup care for children and adults, My Bright Horizons offers assistance with finding early education programs and enhanced services such as tutoring, pet care, household help, and exclusive discounts. Parents can learn more here.

Cooperative Child Care

An informal Facebook group has been created to facilitate sharing of caregiving resources (e.g., nanny sharing) among Hopkins families. This group is not endorsed or managed by Johns Hopkins. There is also an employee parent networking group called The Hopkins Village that supports parents as they return to work. They meet on the first Thursday of each month. Email [email protected] for scheduling information.

Nanny Child Care

In Baltimore, resident trainees can hire nannies through platforms like Care.com or local networks, with guidance available on legal pay and contracts. Families who pay a nanny above the annual threshold must handle “nanny taxes” (Social Security, Medicare, unemployment) but may also qualify for savings through the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit or Dependent Care FSAs. More details are available in the Maryland Nanny Tax Guide.

Health Care and Sick Leave

Trainees are provided with a minimum of 15 days of paid sick leave to use for themselves or to care for a family member under the School of Medicine healthcare and sick leave policy. Additionally, residents and clinical fellows are permitted to attend health care appointments for themselves or their children during regular business hours.

Fertility Benefit

The Wellfleet learner plan covers in-network fertility treatments for residents and enrolled spouses/domestic partners. This includes unlimited IVF attempts, genetic testing and screening, cryopreservation/thawing up to twelve months during infertility treatment, sourcing of eggs or sperm, and embryo creation. The lifetime maximum is $100,000. More information is available here.

Housestaff Supplemental Fund
Individual out-of-pocket healthcare costs >$1k or family costs >$3k per academic year are reimbursable (to a $2k or $6k cap, respectively) via the Housestaff Supplemental Fund. Keep an eye on your expenses and make use of this resource if you have high health care costs and are a resident enrolled in Wellfleet. Contact Olha Gudesblat at [email protected] to use this service.

Johns Hopkins Medical Auxiliary (JHMA)

The Johns Hopkins Medical Auxiliary is a social network for the significant others of medical students, residents and clinical fellows at Johns Hopkins. It provides support to physician families and sponsors many activities throughout the year for trainees’ significant others and children. Once a membership form is filled out, you will be part of the email list for events. For further information please reach out to [email protected].

The Johns Hopkins Graduate Medical Education Office

Want to get involved with the House Staff Council?

You can:

  • Run for a position on House Staff Council (election opens each May) 
  • Request to be one of your program’s representatives
    • We meet with the program representatives monthly to discuss changes in the hospital, current concerns, upcoming events

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