Teaching tomorrow’s caregivers means being committed to providing a learning environment today.

Each year Advocate Christ Medical Center, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital train more than 1,400 medical students, as well as 600 medical and dental residents and fellows, in accredited programs and a range of specialties.

Christ Medical Center also trains more than 2,500 emergency medical technicians, paramedics and other providers of emergency care each year through the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Academy. The Academy represents one of the largest EMS training programs in Illinois.

Advocate Health Care is a leading educator in Illinois, training more primary care physicians than any other non-university hospital in the state. These hospitals, conducive to teaching and learning, also provide training programs in nursing, radiology and other health care professions.

Keeping these young, talented caregivers within our communities plays a large role in Advocate’s commitment to graduate medical, nursing and continuing education. The students are not the only ones who benefit; however, as Advocate’s teaching hospitals attract established physicians at the top of their fields. These "attendings" guide the younger generation as they care for patients together, learning techniques, as well as bedside manner.

Putting caregivers-in-training to work at busy hospitals is a long-standing tradition that has widespread benefits. "I’ve said it many times before," said George Mesleh, M.D., chairman of the Surgery Department who mentors the general surgery residents at Christ Medical Center. "Quality of care is much better provided in a teaching atmosphere. It keeps physicians up-to-date on things. It keeps them progressive, honest and engaged."