Entering the Work Force: Strategies for Negotiating the Terms of Your First Job

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PT

Location: 404B

Moderator(s)

AJ

Andrew K. Johnson, MD

Physician
Chesapeake Specialty Care
Annapolis, Maryland, United States

Panelist(s)

GB

Gene G. Brown, III, MD

Physician & CEO
Charleston ENT & Allergy
CHARLESTON, SC, United States
Gene C. Liu, MD, MMM

Private Practice
Cedars-Sinai
Los Angeles, CA, United States
David E. Melon, MD

President
Carolina Ear, Nose and Throat - Sinus and Allergy Center
Hickory, NC, United States
Yolanda L. Troublefield, MD, JD, FACS

Clinical Instructor
Brown University School of Medicine
South Dartmouth, Massachusetts, United States

Disclosure(s):

Gene C. Liu, MD, MMM:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

David E. Melon, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

This session will provide graduating residents with practical tools and perspectives to navigate the contract negotiation process with their first employer. Attendees will learn to evaluate key contract components beyond salary, identify factors that enhance career satisfaction, and apply negotiation strategies tailored to private practice, academic, and hospital-employed settings. Participants will leave feeling better equipped to advocate for themselves and secure a position that aligns with their professional and personal goals.

Learning Objectives:

Identify key components of a first employment contract beyond salary that influence job satisfaction and long-term success.
Implement effective strategies to negotiate non-salary benefits and ensure alignment between personal and professional goals.
Compare and contrast the differing negotiable aspects of contracts in private practice, academic, and hospital-employed settings.