Chicago Programs

[VikingFavre]

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I am pretty ignorant about most of these programs, so I am curious what are general thoughts regarding how these programs compare to one another?

Specifically looking to compare UIC and UChicago

Thanks,
VikingFavre

 

[bmk579]

I posted this earlier in a different thread...
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My $0.02 on Chicago programs...

UIC > Loyola=Rush > UofC > Northwestern > Cook County

UIC
UIC has the best reputation and is the most well-regarded. Very strong faculty and teaching in all the subspecialties (especially cornea/retina/uveitis, also oculoplastics). Fellows in all subspecialties, including uveitis and oculoplastics (ASOPRS). Strong faculty is a big plus in getting top-notch fellowships, and they really support you. Most do fellowships (plastics, retina, cornea, uveitis, glaucoma), but a few also go into comprehensive. Good surgical numbers for an academic program (last years class averaged 150's for cataracts). Resident-run clinic is a big plus. Also, it is a large program, 6 residents/yr.
- downsides: older facilities, not too many others

Loyola
- probably good surgical numbers and subspecialty surgical numbers due to lack of fellows. Dr. Bouchard is well-known in cornea. Good for comprehensive training.
- downsides: not very strong academics. faculty in other subspecialties (other than cornea) may be weak/not well-known, which would make it hard to get the top tier fellowships in retina/plastics/etc other than cornea.

Rush
- Seems like good surgical volume, overall good training. Dr. Packo is really well-known in retina, good retina fellowship program
- downsides: only 2 residents/yr - big problem if you don't get along well with your classmate; surgical intern year is a downside in my opinion (especially considering some of the cush transitional years out there); not very strong in academics

U of C
- I think U of C is on a downswing, since Dr. Mieler left and joined UIC. Surgical numbers are low. U of C as a whole is also undergoing some turbulent changes, which have been detrimental to other programs, including medicine.

Northwestern
- I have not heard very many good things about this place (interviewed there and know former residents). However, Jampol is well-known and regarded, although eccentric.
- The residents seem unhappy, and I was told by a former resident that it can be a pretty malignant place. Several residents have dropped out of the program over the past few years. I think residents are sent to India to make up for poor surgical volume. Faculty are not very supportive.

Cook County
- really high surgical volume
- downsides: poor didactics, faculty is weak (especially in some of the subspecialties), they don't do vitrectomies due to lack of a vitrectomy machine, very disorganized/poor ancillary staff (typical county hospital), weak in terms of fellowship placement/getting competitive fellowships

 

[uchicagophtho]

Regarding U of Chicago - I think the information posted on here is outdated. Surgical numbers are not low and have trended up significantly this year with the addition of the Northshore University hospitals (formerly Evanston Northwestern Hospital) and Dr. Marian Macsai's group. First year residents are doing a lot of plastics up there as primary and lots of cataracts for 3rd years. The surgical experience and patient population is a lot more diverse with 3 hospital systems - U of C, Weiss, Northshore (up until 2 years ago, U of C was the only training site). There are resident-run clinics at the U of C Hospital (continuity clinic in which residents follow the same patients throughout the 3 years of residency) as well as resident-run clinics at Northshore. The program underwent significant changes over the past 2 years but is stable and on the up, at least from what we see working here on a day to day basis.

 

[TheSandMan11]

UIC- overrated. Their surgical numbers are pretty low. What a lot of the posters (who I suspect are UIC residents/faculty) are not telling you is that the residents have to spend time in central Illinois to get achieve adequate surgical numbers. If you're looking to go to a fellowship, UIC is a good place. If you're looking for comprehensive surgical experience, I would look elsewhere. Horrible facilities (but who picks a place on facilities anyways). Azar and Goldstein are fantastic!

Rush- Great place. All faculty are part time. Dr. Packo is great! He is an outstanding clincian, a charismatic leader, and well known in the retina field. Good surgical numbers. Horrible Surgical Prelim year (4-5 months of gen surg, month of neurosurg, month of ENT, Derm, and some internal med), but every resident says that going to rush was worth the prelim year.

Northwestern- Great facilities. Little endstage path. Low surgical volume. UIC and Northwestern both rely on the VA for surgical numbers so they are both equivalent. If fact they both see patients on the same VA floor.

Stroger- Lots of end stage path. High surgical volume. There is a rumor that has been spreading that they do not have the equipment for vitrectomies. That is absolutely false! No contact lense exposure. Little cosmetic exposure. Work 7am-7pm weekdays.

 

[bmk579]

UIC's surgical numbers are not the highest you will find, but are definitely comfortable. I agree that there are probably better places to go if you are 100% certain you want to do comprehensive, but that being said, 1 or 2 people per year for the past couple years have gone into comprehensive. Subsurgical numbers have improved over the past couple years, with improved primary trab/plastics/cornea exposure.

The surgical experience is divided between the surgical sites, and not only driven by the VA. For cataracts, on average about 50 come from the University (resident-run clinic), 50 from the WSVA (1 block away), and the remaining 50 or so from the other 2 VAs (North Chicago and Danville). The "central Illinois" (Danville) VA is not relied upon to reach adequate numbers. The only time you go there is during a 2-month period as a senior, during which you make a total of 4 trips. Last year, one of the seniors chose not to go for family reasons, and still ended up with about 130-140 cataracts.

UIC and Northwestern are definitely not equivalent in terms of surgical volume/experience. At UIC you operate a significant amount of time at the university on your own cases that are generated through the resident clinic (in addition to the cases you get during your VA block). You see a lot of diverse and complex pathology, due to the large amount of tertiary referrals and trauma that gets sent in.

disclaimer: I am a recent grad and am posting just because I thought the previous info on UIC was outdated. I know for a fact that none of the other residents (and especially faculty) ever post on this site.