chicago neurology programs?

[neurotrancer]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to comment on neurology programs available in the chicago area...competitiveness, residency conditions, anything else you might consider especially notable or pertinent?

Peace!

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[neurologist]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone would be willing to comment on neurology programs available in the chicago area...competitiveness, residency conditions, anything else you might consider especially notable or pertinent?

Peace!

As far as neuro is concerned, I'd say go to Rush or don't bother going to Chicago at all.

 

[neurotrancer]

Why do you say that only Rush is adequate? And I was hoping to hear a little more than what was contained in the above to be honest. I'm not sure that was really much of an answer at all actually...

I have been thinking lately...my primary concern is to be a good physician. This requires hard work and a lifetime of dedication to studying. So if I were to go to a less "renowned" school, but still work hard, couldn't I in theory be just as good in the long run? I guess someone could say the more renowned school is more cutting edge, better facilities, etc. etc. I think the difference that some of those things make is very little compared to the difference that can be made when one applies themselves towards hardcore studying and hard work...

 

[Methyldopa]

So if I were to go to a less "renowned" school, but still work hard, couldn't I in theory be just as good in the long run?

I completely agree with you. It's your own reading, studying that will make you into a good physician. Of course having good attendings helps. But I think what is important is the amount of pts you see. Hey you can read all about HIV vacuolar myelopathy, but it doesn't matter a lick until you see a pt with such a condition. In that way, where you go to residency matters, somewhat.

 

[Claymore]

I'll throw out a voucher on my own program, University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), but will refrain from commenting or comparing it to other Chicago programs. I'm speaking from the perspective as an intern who matched there for next year.

I think that this is a program really on the way up. They have added new leadership in the past few years (program director, Dr. Gorelik, is a real asset...seems very resident friendly) and he has recruited a whole bunch of new faculty from around the area to strengthen the department. There is an excellent diversity of experience as you work in 3 different hospitals with exposure to phenomenal pathology; this is one of the strengths of the program in my opinion. There is the urban University hospital, the VA, and Christ, a large (700+ bed) community hospital on the South Side. You get to work in the role as the primary service (Univ. Hospital) or the consulting service (Christ). Most attendings are very dedicated to teaching. The department takes particular pride in its stroke and Neuro ICU training, as Dr. Gorelik and faculty have placed an emphasis on this. And no doubt one of the biggest strengths is the fact that it is here in Chicago, a great place both to learn medicine and to live. You can find anything in the city that you could possibly desire with regards to entertainment, dining, job opportunities for spouses, etc.

The program has also recently expanded in size, and now is taking 5 residents/year which apparently really helps with the workload. The personality of the program would probably be considered a more "clinical" one, meaning you work hard and learn by doing things and seeing lots of patients, and there is perhaps less emphasis on research. However, I am told that there are adequate opportunities to get involved with research if you choose, and many residents do. Everyone seems to place well into the fellowships of their choice, and I am told that roughly half of available fellowships in the department each year are filled by UIC residency grads.

Overall if you are looking for a diverse, clinically oriented program in an urban academic center in one of the greatest cities in the country, I'd consider UIC. Any specific questions let me know, and good luck with your interviewing...enjoy the free dinners!

 

[Nerdoscience]

The Rush program of 3 years ago is gone. Many of the faculty members are now at UIC, and there have been many other dramatic moves to and from all the Chicago programs in the last 2 years.

I'd advise reformulating any opinions of the programs in Chicago based on information older than that.

 

[neurotrancer]

would anyone be willing to tell me a little about the competitiveness of any of the chicago neuro residencies?

My Step I score is right at the national average.

I have no blemishes on my record. I hope to get good recs from neurologists.

My undergrad degrees are Neuroscience (with honors) and Philosophy (with honors) from Univ. Pitt (granted, I'm not sure how much anyone will really care except that it shows I have a significant demonstrated interest in neurology perhaps).

What will be some of the things I can do to enhance my app?

I appreciate all the comments thus far. I definitely am more interest in clinical medicine rather than research (for as obsessed as I was about my undergrad thesis research I still don't think research is my interest).

Thanks!

 

[Claymore]

In my earlier post I meant to say Dr Gorelik is the dept. chair, not the program director. My mistake.

In terms of competitiveness to give you a rough idea I am a DO with USMLE scores a little above the national average and an otherwise solid application; I was offered interviews at UIC, Loyola, Rush, and U of C, but not Northwestern last year. I get the impression that Rush is still the most competitive.

 

[neurotrancer]

Thanks a lot!

I think neuro might be the thing for me. It is soooo fascinating to be able to figure out so much based on just things like MRI, LP, and H&P. Right now I'm following a patient 38 yo AAM with PMH AIDS, CHF, HTN, CAD, s/p CVA x 3, GERD c erosive esophagitis, EtOH addiction, etc. etc. who has been noncompliant with his HAART and now he may have JC virus PML. He's been in and out of hospitals for a few months but no one has paid attention to his vague complaints regarding his parasthesias and nonspecific pain. He was admitted with a recent diagnosis of c diff (stool cultures have returned negative and his diarrhea has been getting better) and the weekend resident team was thinking there's nothing significant going on with him, but this morning when I took his history, I noted complaints of these strange parasthesias and pain in extremities intermittent for past 3 mos. and in my pitifiul assessment as an MS 3 I thought neuro exam was CN 2-12 intact except for what appeared to be these spontaneous muscle fasciculations in his extremities at rest. Well, when the attending rounding saw the pt. he noted hyperreflexia, + babinski (damn I missed that! rediculous!), and resting hand tremor/general tremulousness (though the pt. wasn't exhibiting that generalized tremulousness when I examined him). He had also been complaining of incrased weakness but again, that had been glossed over by most prior people as secondary to his poor nutrional status and diarrhea, etc. Well, also, he had c/o unsteadiness on his feet at night and had a near fall catching himself with the sink in the bathroom, but I guess the residents and I attributed that to his advanced osteoarthritic degenerative changes in his left leg. Sheesh. I gotta practice this whole historian thing. yeeeesh...

 

[DixieCup8]

Does anyone know any specifics about the program at Rush, besides that it appears to be the most competitive in Chicago? How does it compare to the top programs in the northeast? (I'm from the East coast, and those are the programs I tend to hear the most about - but I'd like to give the midwest a fair look.)

 

[neurotrancer]

MRI on the above patient I described returned completely negative. He was discharged. MMSE was scored 29/30. He had numerous skin lesions which troubled me at first but then my attending said very briefly a few days ago those are excoriations. I thought...what kind of skin lesions in AIDS patients are so pruritic and have the appearance as these skin lesions? Well the other day all the attending said was...yup, homelessness will make a lot of vague complaints arise alright. All I said was...yeesh...

 

[Onco]

As far as neuro is concerned, I'd say go to Rush or don't bother going to Chicago at all.

That's a stupid comment 😀 Yes, Rush is a great great program but there are others..

U Chicago is an excellent program.

Northwestern is very good.

Alright, Loyola sucks big time.

 

[Nerdoscience]

Just my opinions: wow, I agree with Onco for once.

Northwestern: very good (cool Cognitive/Behavioral), but tend to be snobby. I guess I would be too if I worked on Michigan Ave and Lakeshore.
UIC: Up and coming, has a lot of former Rush people. The program to watch.
Rush: Still good, very nice hospital
U Chic: reputation for being malevolent, did not fill match 2 yrs ago, allegedly because of that. Word is that it was just the interviews, not hte program.

 

[neuroseeker]

Hi all. I'm applying for neurology this year and am very attracted to the locale of Chicago, but I also want to train at a 'reputable' institution that can provide me with good fellowship/career opportunities later down the line. Anyone care to comment on the current perceptions of some of the Chicago programs? I've heard Rush and Northwestern are strong, UIC maybe less so, and I have heard mixed things about U Chicago. Loyola seems to have somewhat of a poorer reputation overall. While I have no definite career plans yet, I really like neuromuscular as a subspecialty and I would like to still keep open the possiblity of an academically oriented career; I know the name/reputation of one's training institution is supposedly still important for this. Thanks for any advice/thoughts.

 

[deleted102545]

What I've heard "reputation-wise" is that Northwestern and U of Chicago are the two top programs, whatever that entails. I haven't really heard much about Rush, UIC, or Loyola.

 

[coup de chance]

...

 

[Mattchiavelli]

very interesting discussion, I just interviewed at both Northwestern and Rush last month so I'll give my 2 centavos

~~DISCLAIMER: these are germane to my personal and professional goals as a neurologist, your mileage may vary...~~

As for the schools I mentioned, everyone at my school is crazy for Rush, and I've not heard about faculty leaving or program decline- in fact I think they're expanding and restructuring some of their program operations due to the opening of their new hospital, which should be up and running by the time I'm a PGY2. Their rehab dept is the only one in the city specifically designated a "stroke specialty program" by their accrediting body. Dalfampridine [the first oral MS therapy] was developed at Rush so there's research to be done. The program is semi-advanced in that the IM program gives preference to the Neurology program's picks but doesn't force all 4 years if applicants need that flexibility. The administration of their IM PGY1 year had philosophies about the program that really resonated with me. They take care of more indigent patients, if that's what you're really into. Sleep at Rush isn't run through the neurology dept which I thought was weird. Residents seemed happy, nice, enthusiastic and not everyone was married with children.

As far as northwestern, they seemed pretty solid but I guess Rush had more of a "Bad News Bears" feel to the program [I wouldn't say northwestern was snooty really]. One of my mentors mentioned northwestern has some private neurologist patients on the service so I should ask the residents if they felt they were isolated from those patients which they said they weren't. They have a cognitive neurology division [not the typical behavioral neurology which was interesting] that was doing more than neurodegenerative disease. Their head of neurocritical care was very intense [obvs] but residents spoke highly of him and he seems prepared to produce a -lot- of research which he wants residents in on. Palatial facilities [also obvs]. I really liked their PD a lot. This program isn't as popular with people from my school and after interviewing couldn't understand why.

I didn't intend to talk any trash about any programs, but I'll just say everything people have said about Loyola I have also heard, but I didn't look into their program much so I only have hearsay to go off of.

 

[Neurapp]

Uchicago and Northwestern are good programs. I rotated at both. Northwestern is more malignant. Uchicago is wrought with issues of their own- none of the residents seem happy and the chiefs treat the new residents poorly. The residents do all the work for the ICU fellows on top of their own workload.

 

[Zmack]

Rush is good - nice faculty - a lot of support

Does anyone know any specifics about the program at Rush, besides that it appears to be the most competitive in Chicago? How does it compare to the top programs in the northeast? (I'm from the East coast, and those are the programs I tend to hear the most about - but I'd like to give the midwest a fair look.)

e faculty

 

[Zmack]

my impression of Loyola also

Northwestern is also excellent

That's a stupid comment 😀 Yes, Rush is a great great program but there are others..

U Chicago is an excellent program.

Northwestern is very good.

Alright, Loyola sucks big time.

ee with my impression