Los Angeles General+ USC Medical Center – Committee of Interns and Residents

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Los Angeles General+ USC Medical Center

Action at LAG-USC on the hospital steps

By standing together as a union, Los Angeles General + USC housestaff have won:

✓ higher wages

✓ improved benefits

✓ better working conditions

Contract Highlights & Organizing

Benefits

Your negotiated benefits include: legal services, vision, supplemental benefits, Employee Assistance Program, disability, education, COBRA, and LA gap insurance.

Benefits Page ➔

Wages

$10,000 annual housing allowance

3 meals a day at home institution

$27/day for meals on rotation

View rate sheet

Education & Funding

$1,400 annual education stipend

$300,000 QI Research Fund

$125,000 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion fund

Grants & Scholarships

Quality Improvement (QI/PS) Grant: application form

Bio-Statistician Consultation: submission form

Diversity & Inclusion Scholarship: application form

Patient Care Trust Fund

Looking to Improve Patient Care? LAC+USC and Harbor-UCLA has one of the oldest and largest Patient Care Funds, with LA County contributing $1,210,000 and $980,000 respectively. Click here to apply or for more information.

Reimbursement

CIR Conference, Publishing, and Poster reimbursement form &
QI Conference reimbursement form

Welcome Bonus

$500 PGY 1 “welcome bonus” ($1,900 for annual education stipend in first year)

$3,900 annual Chief Stipend

Legal Services

CIR Legal Services (CIRLS) offers legal assistance with immigration, landlord/tenant matters, family matters, consumer issues, wills, medical licensure, post-residency contract review, and more.

Student Loan Consultation

Southern California residents are eligible to receive an educational loan consultation benefit at a deeply discounted price of $179.

Due Process

If you find yourself in a disciplinary process or facing a contract violation, you have the right to union representation.

Open Your Contract

Regional Vice Presidents

Zain Khalifeh

Medicine-Pediatrics, Los Angeles General

Shireen Saxena

Medicine-Pediatrics, Los Angeles General

Delegates

Johnny Lee, Diagnostic Radiology

Isabel Chin, Medicine-Pediatrics

Victoria Kaestner, Internal Medicine

Fizza Mahmood, Medicine-Pediatrics

Dahlia Kaki, Emergency Medicine

Kryssia Campos Selva, Obstetrics & Gynecology

Sayali Shelke, Medicine-Pediatrics

Joseph Radakovitz, Pathology

Mariam Ghattas, Medicine-Pediatrics

Joshua Robbins, Pediatrics

Mohamed Elbathani, Rheumatology

Savannah Zemeida, Emergency Medicine

Connect with your Organizer

Questions about your contract? Want to get involved? Please fill in the information below and we’ll be in touch:

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

Phone Number

Hospital *

Program

Message

InterestsSigning up colleaguesContract and grievance trainingEngaging in local, state and national politics to advocate for resident and patient rightsJoining the statewide Organizing Committee to work with residents organizing on other campuses around shared issuesQuestions about COPEOther

Please do not fill in this field.

CIR Updates

A special endorsement out of Minnesota—we’re proud

A special endorsement out of Minnesota—we’re proud to endorse our very own Dr. Justice Spriggs for state house!

As doctors, we know exactly what frontline workers see on the ground and the challenges our patients face every day. It’s this experience that Dr. Spriggs is able to bring to policy making to improve the well-being of our communities!

Voting is happening NOW until Election. Make a plan to vote!

There is one week left to vote in the Washington s

There is one week left to vote in the Washington state primaries and these are the candidates backed by CIR members! Many of these leaders have shown up for us as front line doctors and our patients. We’re ready to see these champions win and help build a healthy state.

The over 40,000 CIR doctors across the country are

The over 40,000 CIR doctors across the country are becoming a force for change. From passing one of our first legislations only three years ago, to now at least 13 this past latest legislative cycle thanks to the efforts of CIR members and our coalition partners. Though we have always advocated for ourselves and our patients in our hospitals and communities, we are increasingly wielding our platform as a union of doctors on a higher level to fight for a better world.

Yesterday, we joined our community to call on @gov

Yesterday, we joined our community to call on @govkathyhochul and our state leaders to pass the Invest in Our New York package.

Millions of people across the country lost their healthcare after Trump’s drastic rollbacks last year—which translated to a $12 billion tax cut for New York’s wealthiest. New York MUST step up to protect us. TAX THE RICH!

We must make the excessively wealthy pay their fair share so that people are not force to forgo medicine, skip appointments, or wait until a problem because a crisis. Invest in Our New York NOW!

🎉 100% UNITED. UVMMC residents have overwhelmingl

🎉 100% UNITED.

UVMMC residents have overwhelmingly ratified our new contract with 100% support.

This victory helps make Vermont a more competitive place for resident physicians to train, stay, and build their careers, strengthening our healthcare workforce for years to come.

Together, we won meaningful improvements! But our fight doesn’t end here.

We stand shoulder to shoulder with our SSU and VFNHP union siblings as they fight to protect jobs, defend patient care, and win the fair contracts they deserve. An injury to one is an injury to all.

We’ll celebrate this victory today, and tomorrow we’ll keep organizing until every frontline healthcare worker at UVMMC is treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.

CIR doctors are endorsing Rebecca Bennett to repre

CIR doctors are endorsing Rebecca Bennett to represent New Jersey congressional district 7!

After winning the primary in June, Rebecca is looking to over turn this Republican-held seat in November. We’re proud to back Rebecca as an advocate with a plan to actually benefit the well-being our communities—addressing Medicare cuts and health access, the costs of childcare, affordability, transparency and more.

New York is not an easy place to live for most of

New York is not an easy place to live for most of us—and that includes the city’s essential resident physicians, who struggle just to pay our rent and afford groceries, while caring for our neighbors every day. That’s why thousands of union resident physicians like CIR Secretary-Treasurer Dr. Melissa Marseille are fighting for the support we need to be well ourselves and to truly focus on patient care across the city.

Brooklyn Hospital residents are some of the lowest paid early career doctors in NYC, and we are demanding fair pay, better medical education and meals support, protections for immigrant physicians, and more. Fair contract now @official_tbhc! #supportnycdocs #cirlovesnyc #keepingbrooklynhealthy

UCSF needs to stop putting profits over patients.

UCSF needs to stop putting profits over patients.

Patients deserve safe, timely care, and that starts with safe staffing! We’re demanding the resources our emergency departments and hospitals need to care for our communities.

CIR doctors in MA have spoken and we’re proud to e

CIR doctors in MA have spoken and we’re proud to endorse a slew of candidates ready to fight for real policy that will tangibly improve our lives and that of our patients—including living wages, healthcare access, addressing out of control costs of living, and more.

Voting begins next month. Make sure you have a plan to cast your ballot!

New Mexico Resident physicians and fellows ratifie

New Mexico Resident physicians and fellows ratified a new contract early, with a 2.9% wage increase.

This is how we keep great doctors in New Mexico!
#Union #faircontract

A night for the BOOKS. At our first ever political

A night for the BOOKS. At our first ever political summit in NYC, resident physicians and fellows from the city’s private sector hospitals had such a special time discussing our issues and the city’s health with so many CIR elected champions. With more than 3000 CIR physicians in bargaining city-wide to protect our well-being and care, some amazing politicians committed to supporting us as we fight for immigrant doctor and patient protections, fair wages, better working conditions, and more! Thank you so much to all the electeds who joined us and who sent reps, and to our very generous hosts at @1199seiu. It felt so clear that NYC ❤️ CIR—and you know we ❤️our city back. #nyclovescir #supportnycdocs

We're standing up for our patients, our community,

We're standing up for our patients, our community, and health equity! ✊ On July 30, we are joining SEIU 1199, Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) nurses, healthcare workers, and community allies for an informational picket and rally to unite our demand for Fair Contracts that put @bostonmedicalcenter workers and our patients first.

Our demands are clear: dignity, respect, and working conditions that we all deserve!

Join us! RSVP at the link in bio!

BMC Unions Joint Picket for Fair Contracts
Thursday, July 30th, 2026
11:30am - 1pm

After more than a year of bargaining and collectiv

After more than a year of bargaining and collective action, 1UC Resident & Fellow Physicians have tentatively agreed to the first ever systemwide contract — an historic victory for our 6,500 members! 🎉 💪 🎉

Our tentative agreement includes 19.25% in compounded raises, enhanced fertility benefits, no new health insurance premiums, access to safe rides home, protected holidays, stronger lactation accommodations, safeguards for our immigrant patients, and much more!

From Sacramento to San Diego, from Riverside to Fresno: united we fought for a #FairContract and united we WON! Who are we? 1UC! ✊

#FairContract
#1UC
#Victory

@doctorscouncil_seiu
@seiudoctorsunited

@brownuniversityhealth and @brownu are among Rhode

@brownuniversityhealth and @brownu are among Rhode Island's most powerful employers. It's time they put our communities, workers, and patients first.

Healthcare workers, resident physicians, hospital support staff, and grad student laborers keep these institutions running. Join us as we march together to demand fair contracts, accountability, and investment in the people who make Brown's success possible. Our communities can't wait. Let’s build a healthier, more equitable Rhode Island!

📅 July 23
⏰ 6 PM
📍 Rhode Island Hospital (corner of Culver & Dudley), followed by a march to the pedestrian bridge
✔️ RSVP: bit.ly/BrownRallyJuly23 or see link in bio

We continue to receive political and community sup

We continue to receive political and community support for our 1UC #faircontract fight because this is not just about resident physicians, but it’s about making sure that millions of Californians across the state are receiving the care they need and deserve!

UC should support the workers who care for our communities!

@senadamschiff @cd4losangeles @ocsupsarmiento thank you for standing with us ✊🏼

The largely immigrant doctors caring for largely i

The largely immigrant doctors caring for largely immigrant communities at Jamaica and Flushing Hospitals just want basic support that helps us pay the rent. But Medisys management is making it hard for us to even progress in bargaining—so we delivered our supermajority petition demanding the process we deserve. We need BARGAINING DATES, responses to our thoughtful proposals, and we need to be able to actually attend our sessions. The faster we progress the sooner we can show up to work more rested and focused for the people of Queens. They deserve the world. 🌎 👑 🌎👑

After a 1 day work stoppage and 4 additional days

After a 1 day work stoppage and 4 additional days locked out by MGB, @massnurses are back at work. But this contract fight isn’t over. CIR residents joined the picket line last Friday and we will continue fighting alongside our nursing colleagues every step of the way until they get the fair contract they deserve!

Wyckoff cannot function without CIR resident physi

Wyckoff cannot function without CIR resident physicians, and we need pay and benefits that will support us and protect care as the cost of living continues to climb. That’s why we delivered a supermajority petition last week calling on Margaret Cornelius, Joseph Foti, Dr. George Martin, Dr. Gustavo Del Toro and the rest of management to agree to a fair contract with CIR. Our needs are urgent, we keep showing up for our community, and it’s time for us to see serious movement from management on salary, medical education, and more. 🍎🍎🍎🩺🩺🩺🖊️🖊️🖊️

Another endorsement coming from NJ! CIR members ar

Another endorsement coming from NJ! CIR members are excited to back Dr. Hamawy to represent NJ-12!

Join us July 23 as we demand Rhode Island’s larges

Join us July 23 as we demand Rhode Island’s largest private employer, @brownuniversityhealth @brownu be accountable to our community, workers, & patients ✊🏽 RSVP link in bio.

From @nxtgenteamsters251 who keep the Hospital running, to the CIR-SEIU early career resident physicians who work 80+ hours a week and been negotiating a first contract for a year, to the @gradlabororg laborers at the University offered 0% raises, we deserve dignified work, wages, and benefits. We are done being squeezed by corporations that put profits over people!

This event is cosponsored by CIR-SEIU, SEIU 1199NE, RIFT/AFT Local 6516, Teamsters Local 251, Graduate Labor Organization, Reclaim RI, RI DSA, and PSL RI.

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Our Union

The Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU, a local of Service Employees International Union (SEIU), represents more than 40,000 interns, residents, and fellows in California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Washington, D.C.

Read More ➜
Constitution, By-Laws, and SEIU Code of Ethics

Contact Us

National Office:
10-27 46th Avenue, Suite 300-2
Long Island City, NY 11101

Regional Offices ➜

Benefits Office:
Phone: (212) 356-8180
Email: benefits@cirseiu.org

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© 2026 Committee of Interns and Residents/SEIU Healthcare | Privacy Policy

CIR is fighting the $100,000 H-1B fee in court

Within two weeks of the H-1B Presidential Proclamation taking effect, CIR and several coalition partners sued the federal government in California district court to invalidate the Proclamation. CIR members’ stories were included in the filed complaint (see it HERE). After the lawsuit was filed, USCIS published new guidelines that limited who is subject to the $100,000 fee, a signal that our lawsuit is making a difference. CIR will continue its lawsuit until the Proclamation is fully blocked. Return to this page for updates.

Not yet a member of CIR/SEIU? Join today!

Find your UC hospital on the map on this page to view your organizer information and member sign-up form.

Click to order your insurance card:

(800) 541-7846 – Group # G-417732

(877) 923-2847 – Client code: 2200

Visit Executive Committee page for a larger view

Understanding S.P.I.T.

What are the benefits of forming a union?

When we come together as housestaff, we have a unified voice for safe working conditions and better patient outcomes. This pandemic has demonstrated that having workplace representation is urgent and necessary. Thousands of residents across the country have organized union chapters and have won historic improvements for housestaff and patients through collective bargaining agreements.

What’s legal? What’s not?

The laws vary from state to state as well as the type of employer you are paid by – private or public.Generally, however, most laws give employees the right to act together to try and improve their working conditions, with or without a union.It is illegal for employees to be fired, suspended, or otherwise penalized for taking part in protected group activity.

Generally, it is illegal for employers to S.P.I.T.:

(Document any activity that may look like this)

Surveil

Administration and department leadership may not conduct unlawful surveillance of employees’ union activity. Identifying, tracking and surveillance of employee discussions about the union or union meetings is illegal.

Examples:

Supervisors cannot inquire about what goes on at union meetings, ask which employees attend the meeting, or even give the impression of such surveillance.

Promise

Administration and department leadership must not directly or indirectly promise any benefits or reward employees for refusing to sign a union card, or for voting against your union. They may not promise a wage increase or give preferential treatment in exchange for refraining from union activity. Encouraging employees to withdraw or repudiate union authorization cards is also unlawful. They may not solicit grievances about working conditions while expressly or impliedly promising corrections if residents do not form a union.

Examples:

“I can get you a job here or give you a good recommendation letter if you don’t get involved.”

Reminder: There is nothing holding management accountable to any promises they make and they do not have to follow through.

Interrogate

Administration and department leadership should not interrogate, or ask, any employee whether or not he or she favors the union, has signed a union card, or has gone to a union meeting.

You can always say you’re not comfortable answering their questions. Remember to ask whether they’ve talked to others, whether they know if they’re allowed to ask, and if they have concerns about residents forming a union and what they are.

Questions they may ask:

Have you heard of a union being formed? Are you involved? Have you been asked to sign a card? Do any of your colleagues have interest in forming a union? Who have you heard union talk from? Do you think you’ll join?

Threaten

Administration and program leadership must not threaten employees with harm or reprisals (economic or otherwise) if they decide to get involved with the union or sign a union card.

Examples:

Administration may not threaten to take away residency spots or current department benefits if the residents decide to form or join a union.

What can we do to protect ourselves?

Despite being generally protected, it is always a good idea to be extra careful:

Remember to be discrete and never seek advice or reveal to management/administration that you are considering unionizing
Refrain from using hospital property – both physical (printers, computers, phones) – and intellectual (email, paging/messaging systems) – in communicating regarding union matters
Be mindful of where and when you discuss unionization with your colleagues – being overheard talking about unions in the hospital “on company time” can be considered “solicitation,” so exercise caution and discretion
As long as you are using personal means of communication such as personal phones, emails, and only talking to other interns, residents, or fellows, the hospital cannot discipline you

Reminder: Forming a union is 100% our legal right and our vote is anonymous.

Click to order your insurance card:

(877) 923-2847 – Client code: 3614

Click to order your insurance card:

(800) 541-7846 – Group # G-417732

(877) 923-2847 – Client code: 2200

Click to order your insurance card:

(800) 553-9603 – Group # 720070

(800) 541-7846 – Group # G-417733

(877) 923-2847 – Client code: 2189

(866) 865-4070 – Group # K4DA

Click to order your insurance card:

(800) 541-7846 – Group # G-417732

(877) 923-2847 – Client code: 2200

(866) 865-4070 – Group # JRGA