The Debt and the Cash Flow of Residents: I. The Grim Present-Reply

In Reply.—  We thank Drs Berman, Bohlmann, Marshall, Stanford, and Corkery and Mr Loehr for their interest and insights regarding our article. The model was purposely kept as simple as possible (by varying indebtedness and cost-of-living data only) to enhance both its comprehension by the reader and its applicability to most young physicians. We believe it does portray a realistic financial picture of the economic realities facing most medical students and residents. The criticisms of the model offered by Mr Loehr carry some validity, but they do not change its conclusions.Though salary figures do vary somewhat by region (by $1000 to $2000 per year),¹ the higher salaries typically occur in geographic areas with a higher cost of living and would not significantly impact (by more than a few thousand dollars) the indebtedness predictions in our model. Additionally, although Guaranteed Student Loans are legally available up to $7500 per