NW vs UChicago

[Josh1105]

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Could anyone who's familiar with them weigh in on the differences and the relative strengths and weaknesses of these two programs??

Thanks!

 

[deleted52758]

not super knowledgable about either program, but i have worked with residents from both program.

obvious differences, northwestern is a 4 year program, UofC is 3 years.
northwestern offers extensive ICU training
UofC offers flight training (the only program in chicago that does)
Location: northwestern is downtown, easy to live in the more fun areas in chicago, UofC is in hyde park, which is a bit of a drive from some of the nicer areas to live in chicago.
faculty: both have great faculty.

 

[Josh1105]

These differences I definitely know, thank you though.

I was wondering if anyone had any insight into the actual ER training that each program gives you (i.e. how is this affected by the diff hospitals you rotate in at each program, how are the faculty at each program)? Where do UC residents tend to live? Also, what do people think about the 4th year at NW -- is it a particularly useful one, or does it seem redundant (mostly a question for people that are in the program or have interviewed/have some familiarity with it)?

thanks so much for any insight you can give.

 

[EBKame]

I rotated at U of C, but cannot speak for NW. Residents live all over: south loop, hyde park, river north, even lincoln park.

 

[EMMER]

is this program really as great as it seems? It doesn't seem like there are any holes in the curriculum, the faculty and residents seemed really nice and supportive. losing evanston may not be a bad thing as it certainly gives more flexability. Pts in the ED seemed to break the NWU sterotype of rich waspy people. Chairman and PD are tops. anyone have any thoughts?
sounds like i am in love but i wanted to kick the tires, so to speak, before taking her to prom.

 

[EctopicFetus]

About NWU word from some people (including someone I know who trained there) is that there is not a ton of autonomy in the ED as most pts have their specialists all lined up and not much gets done on a portoipn of these patients. All that being said I heard their chairman give a talk and the guy seems amazing.

Chicago, great rep, more inner city as the south side of chi town is pretty ghetto. NO level 1 trauma at main facility and they go to mt sinai to do their trauma time.

Overall both are solid but anyone who thinks ANY program is lacking in holes isnt looking deeply enough.

There is not a perfect program out there and thats simply a FACT. Now the holes in some programs bother some people less than others.

 

[Ceez]

Chicago, great rep, more inner city as the south side of chi town is pretty ghetto. NO level 1 trauma at main facility and they go to mt sinai to do their trauma time.

Not entirely true. Univ of Chicago is a level 1 pediatric trauma center. We get most of our adult trauma experience from not only Sinai, but Lutheran General. And I did so many trauma resuscitations as a intern, that now I'm just annoyed when these code yellows interrupt my work flow.

 

[EMDude]

anyone heard anything about the rotation schedule at northwestern for the upcoming years since Evanston is now a part of the u chicago program? they changed their website.

 

[pdp2001]

i just talked to a pgy3 and an attending at nw - the final paperwork isn't done yet, but they're pretty sure evanston will be replaced by methodist in indiana and some other site that i can't remember the name of. methodist is a county kind of place from what i've been told.

 

[EMMER]

i just talked to a pgy3 and an attending at nw - the final paperwork isn't done yet, but they're pretty sure evanston will be replaced by methodist in indiana and some other site that i can't remember the name of. methodist is a county kind of place from what i've been told.

interesting...i know a secondary site shouldn't make much difference but i am not sure how that makes me feel. commuting to indiana would annoy me.

 

[emmd06]

interesting...i know a secondary site shouldn't make much difference but i am not sure how that makes me feel. commuting to indiana would annoy me.

FYI: it take ~10 more minutes to get to Methodist than it does to get to Evanston from downtown Chicago. I know it sounds far, because it's in a different state, but it's actually rather close and all on highway (as opposed to the largely one-lane, less snow-plowed trek up to Evanston).

If anyone has any questions about Northwestern, feel free to private message me. I'm a 3rd yr resident there and would be happy to answer any questions.

I apologize to the original poster - I don't know very much about U of C, since I didn't apply there for residency.

Good luck in the match, everyone.

 

[waterski232002]

I trained at UofC... so I'm a little biased. But I think those who rotated through both departments would agree that UofC's southside patients are more sick and the level of autonomy does not compare (good for some people, but can be a disaster for others). At UofC you will be the patient's sole physician with a senior resident guiding you from day #1. Not to say that Northwestern doesn't offer sick patient's, but when I went through the ER as a med student, I noticed a difference in that regard.

If you like learning by the book, lectures, and strict academics... go to northwestern. They will guide you more clinically... The attendings oversee the ER much more closely.

If you like learning by trial and error in the department, learning by fire, and thrive off independence and being autonomous... UofC is your program. Nobody will baby you, and nobody will hold your hand...

Both are good programs, but very different. If you are unsure, spend a day in each department with the senior resident. That should answer any questions about which program is right for you...

 

[emmd06]

In regards to some of the comments about Northwestern, I agree that it is an academic institution. We read a lot, we are taught a lot, and many of us are interested in pursuing a career in academics/medical education. The focus on education drew me towards Northwestern when I was applying for residency. If you are indifferent towards learning and teaching, Northwestern probably is not the place for you.

I find the thoughts on resident autonomy at Northwestern to be rather shocking and untrue. While I agree that some of these criticisms may be made about our experience in Evanston, saying them about the ED at Northwestern is foolish. Sure I get the occasional patient that expects their numerous specialists to be waiting in the ED for them, but as I tell them, that is not how it works. It is a silly rumor that is propagated by people who have never worked at Northwestern before.

Again, if anyone has specific questions about Northwestern, I'd be happy to answer them.

 

[Wrigleyville]

About NWU word from some people (including someone I know who trained there) is that there is not a ton of autonomy in the ED as most pts have their specialists all lined up and not much gets done on a portoipn of these patients. All that being said I heard their chairman give a talk and the guy seems amazing.

Chicago, great rep, more inner city as the south side of chi town is pretty ghetto. NO level 1 trauma at main facility and they go to mt sinai to do their trauma time.

Overall both are solid but anyone who thinks ANY program is lacking in holes isnt looking deeply enough.

There is not a perfect program out there and thats simply a FACT. Now the holes in some programs bother some people less than others.

I guess NMH is technically a lvl 1 trauma center, but there is no helipad, and the hopital is not near major highways or places people tend to get shot, stabbed, or otherwise assaulted. The volume and kinds of trauma you will see there does not compare to most other lvl 1 centers.

 

[EMextra]

Anyone know what this means? Chair of Medicine stepped down, head of EM as well--if you go to the FAQs on their website it is kind of scary what they are doing to the ED. Sounds like two levels of care (specialty/money being turfed to separate site vs ED patients/medicaid/no money sit and wait and then be transferred to another hospital for inpatient care or just told you don't have an emergency go away) Anyone got any inside info? 😕

http://www.chicagotribune.com/busin...cago-resignation-garcia-feb07,0,5302967.story