Harvard will pay more to doctors who teach

Harvard Medical School is sweetening the pot for doctors who teach the next generation of physicians.

The Boston Globe reported that Harvard Medical School, Harvard University and Boston's three major teaching hospitals will double the fund for hospital instructors to $16 million a year starting July 1.

Under the plan, instructors would be paid $100 an hour, about what a primary care doctor makes, but less than what specialists and surgeons make, the Globe reported.

"It's the single biggest problem facing virtually every course director," said David Cardozo, a neurobiology professor who led task force studying the problem, told the Globe. "In order to get faculty to teach, you have to offer sufficient financial compensation. It's very significant that this change is happening."

Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's and Beth Israel Deaconess hospitals also agreed to the new plan, the Globe reported.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International