Ascension Illinois/Saint Joseph (Chicago) Program

Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago's Transitional Year Residency focuses on providing first-year residents with a diverse clinical experience across various specialty areas. This residency is particularly designed to prepare residents for additional graduate training, making it suitable for those aiming to select a specific career specialty that mandates one year of basic clinical education or for those desiring a broad-based clinical experience before their specialty selection. Additionally, it accommodates individuals planning to serve as medical officers in the military.

The training in the Transitional Year consists of rotations where each lasts four weeks, except for the initial rotation, which lasts approximately five to six weeks. The comprehensive structure includes four months of internal medicine experience, which encompasses four to six weeks of critical care, two months of surgery, one month of emergency medicine, and one month of ambulatory medicine, complemented by four months of elective rotations in various fields including Neurology, Infectious Diseases, Pulmonary Medicine, and Hematology/Oncology, among others.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is evolving with constant input from residents, tailored to reflect individual interests while ensuring compliance with specialty board requirements. This flexible curriculum allows residents to gain considerable experience across multiple medical specialties.

Didactic experiences are integral to the program, featuring teaching conferences alongside daily attending rounds. Major monthly conferences, grand rounds, and morbidity and mortality discussions are conducted, promoting an interactive exchange of ideas among residents and faculty. The program contains various specialized sessions such as morning reports, resident grand rounds, and critical care conferences arranged in a supportive learning environment.

Training Environment and Support

Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago engages in creating a supportive educational atmosphere, fostering personal and professional growth among residents. Faculty members are dedicated to mentoring and assisting residents in achieving success within their training. The program promotes camaraderie through social events like welcome lunches, retreats, and celebratory events involving families.

Application Process and Competitiveness

The application process for the residency program is facilitated through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and requires submission via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Six new positions are available annually starting in June, with applications accepted and reviewed from mid-September until the end of October, necessitating all applicants to complete certain prerequisites.

For consideration, candidates must submit a comprehensive application including the ERAS common application, medical school transcripts, USMLE or COMLEX scores, a Dean's letter, three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, an ECFMG status report (if applicable), and a photo. All applicants are required to have completed USMLE Parts I and II to be eligible for interviews, which typically occur from early November to February.

Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago maintains an inclusive application policy, accepting both DO and MD candidates as well as International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who meet the established requirements. The transitional residency program sponsors J1 and H1B visas for eligible candidates.

Salary and Benefits

The program offers competitive stipends and comprehensive benefits. For the postgraduate year 1, residents earn an annual stipend of $60,623, progressing to $73,300 by postgraduate year 6. The benefits package includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, along with liability insurance and personal leave time including vacation and educational leave.

Additional perks include Continuing Medical Education (CME) stipends, fitness center memberships, childcare options, and other amenities such as a 24-hour library with online resources.