1. What is the call schedule?

PGY 1s, there is no overnight call during their internship year. PGY 2s and PGY 3s are usually on call once or twice a month. PGY 2s and PGY 3s participate in a night float system.

2. Do the new resident work hours rules really protect residents from being overworked?

Yes. We take these regulations seriously, and make every effort to promote resident health and well being. Our night-float system allows our PGY 2 and PGY 3 residents to take call less frequently, and keeps residents from working more than 80 hours per week.

3. How many electives will I have?

Core rotations are completed during the first and second years. The third Year residents choose 8 weeks of Pediatric Selectives, 8 weeks of Adult Medicine Selectives, and 6 weeks of Electives .

4. Are outside electives allowed?

Yes. Residents may request to fulfill an elective at another institution if it satisfies an educational need. Our residents have recently performed outside rotations in Tennessee, Colorado, Brazil, India,Australia, Italy and Greece.

5. Does the program offer any support for educational expenses?

Yes, Christ Medical Center allots $500 per year for professional or educational expenses. This fund may be used to reimburse costs for approved conferences, travel, books, computer programs and electronic devices. Additional funds may be available when certain criteria are met.

6. What is the patient population?

Christ Medical Center is a tertiary referral center, as well as a provider of care to the surrounding community, with a wide spectrum of patients and diseases. Patients come from all ethnic backgrounds and income levels, presenting a wide range of common to complex health conditions.

7. Are all patients "teaching patients?"

Because of the medical center's large patient volume, residents do not provide coverage for all of the patients. Instead, patients are selected for coverage by the house staff according to their educational value.

8. How much training is in the ambulatory setting?

Interns spend one-half day per week in the continuity clinic at the Family Medicine Center. PGY 2s and PGY 3s spend two to three half-days per week and three to four half days per week respectively in clinic. Additionally, many of the core and elective rotations include an outpatient experience.

9. Will I have an opportunity to do scholarly activity or research?

Residents participate in scholarly activity through required Grand Rounds and Journal Club presentations, as well as through a Community Health rotation project. Residents may also pursue research experience through individual projects or ongoing faculty research at Christ Medical Center. Research is supported by Christ Medical Center's parent company, Advocate Health Care.

10. What do the graduates of the program do?

Recent graduates work in private practice and academic medicine, and have pursued fellowships such as academic medicine, sports medicine or geriatrics. Although graduates of our program work in all areas of the country, many practice medicine in the Chicagoland area.

11. Does the program provide assistance in job placement?

Yes. Christ Medical Center is in a superb position to assist residents with career planning. Many former residents of our program are on the medical center staff, either as private practitioners or as medical center-based physicians. Christ Medical Center also benefits from the support of its parent organization, Advocate Health Care, which has relationships with many local physicians, health care facilities and hospitals. Christ Medical Center will actively assist residents interested in exploring such practice opportunities.

12. Where do the residents generally live?

Although you may live anywhere in Chicago and surrounding communities, many residents live in the suburb of Oak Lawn.