Ascension Illinois/Resurrection Program

Ascension Resurrection hosts a university-affiliated Family Medicine Residency Program located in a suburban-like neighborhood on the northwest side of Chicago. The program has garnered a national reputation, featuring recognition as a Leapfrog Top Teaching Hospital and consistently ranking among the best nationwide for clinical excellence.

The mission of the program is to train the next generation of skilled family medicine physicians who are well-equipped to provide comprehensive care to families from diverse backgrounds. Residents are prepared to serve their communities through compassionate care aimed at the poor, vulnerable, and underserved populations. Furthermore, the program has a history of over 30 years, training excellent family physicians who can thrive in various medical settings.

Overview of the Residency Program

The program is structured around tight-knit teams that facilitate a supportive educational milieu. Each resident is assigned a team comprising residents from all postgraduate levels and a faculty mentor who guides their progress. This setup strengthens camaraderie among residents and ensures consistent coverage during absences like vacations. The vibrant and collaborative atmosphere enables residents to pursue their specific interests through tailored clinical and academic opportunities.

With a progressive and comprehensive curriculum, the program's graduates have consistently found success in various spheres of family medicine, including sports medicine fellowships, hospitalist positions, rural medical settings, direct primary care practices, and outpatient care. The inclusion of newly added components such as lifestyle medicine and point-of-care ultrasound is intended to enhance patient outcomes and enrich residents' clinical skills.

Training Sites and Rotations

Residents engage in leading an inpatient medicine team that includes interns from a competitive transitional year residency and medical students from several associated institutions. The program collaborates closely with Ascension Resurrection’s emergency medicine residency and ultrasound fellowship, thus presenting unique training opportunities in critical care settings.

The curriculum is designed to offer a range of experiences over three years:

• First Year: Focus is placed on inpatient medicine, with rotations encompassing general internal medicine, ICU, pediatrics, and various surgical and outpatient specialties.
• Second Year: Emphasizes subspecialty medicine and continued growth in outpatient care, with rotations in infectious disease, outpatient psychiatry, and more.
• Third Year: Concentrates on outpatient specialties and primary care, while also allowing opportunities for elective experiences tailored to individual interests.

Research and Learning Opportunities

Residents are expected to engage in various research initiatives, with formal didactic sessions scheduled regularly. The program places importance on lifelong learning and encourages residents to participate in a wide array of educational conferences, workshops, and community health initiatives that further enhance their knowledge and skills.

Visa Information and Competitiveness

The program actively provides visa support for eligible residents, offering sponsorship primarily for J-1 visas. The unique characteristics and structure of the program render it an attractive option for international medical graduates (IMGs), creating a welcoming atmosphere for diverse educational backgrounds.

With respect to competitiveness, Ascension Resurrection's Family Medicine Residency receives numerous applications each year. Candidates are assessed on multiple criteria, including letters of recommendation, personal statements, medical school performance, and demonstrated interest in family medicine.

Application Requirements

Applicants must utilize the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) for submission. Essential application components include:

• Three letters of recommendation, ideally with at least one from a practicing family physician.
• A personal statement outlining motivations for pursuing family medicine and specifics sought in a residency program.

The program does not impose restrictions on age, race, or gender during its evaluation process, reinforcing a commitment to equity and diversity among residents. Interviews are scheduled from late October through January, with various formats offered.

Salary and Benefits

Residents enjoy competitive annual salaries, reviewed yearly for alignment with cost-of-living adjustments. The stipend system typically begins at $62,442 for the first year and escalates through subsequent years. The program also provides comprehensive insurance options, ample vacation and educational leave, parental leave, and stipends for continuing medical education and certification training. Additional amenities such as free parking, meal allowances, and lab coats contribute to the overall residency experience.