Resident physicians at Howard University Hospital and community leaders are calling on hospital officials to come to the table to negotiate a first contract with the residents’ union in the wake of a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruling upholding the union election held earlier this year, in which a majority of the 263 Howard resident physicians voted in favor of representation by the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR). “We look forward to working together with the hospital in providing cost-efficient and effective patient care,” said Dr. Hakeem Ayinde, an internal medicine resident at Howard. “We want to establish a true partnership with the hospital as we walk through this restructuring process at Howard.” “Now that the hospital’s challenge has been dismissed, I urge Howard University Hospital administration to negotiate in good faith with resident physicians,” said DC Councilwoman Elissa Silverman.