University of Chicago

[Amoeba]

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Anyone have any thoughts about the recent news from and about the University of Chicago? I had a great feeling about this place and have been planning to rank them highly, but seems like there is a lot of flux there right now. The new chairman, who they told us about on interview day but wasn't there yet, has just started, but the program director is stepping down and moving this summer, which we did not know during interview season and sounds like it is a bit of a surprise. She seemed like a huge resident advocate and honestly appeared to be one of the programs best assets. So now, wondering about starting intern year with a dept chair who's been there for a few months and a program director starting at the same time as us. Anyone know anything about the new leadership?

In addition, there has also been bad financial news out of U of C as a whole recently, including a significant number of job cuts. IM, in particular, appears to be having the hardest time, but the institution as a whole seems to be confronting this. There has also been a lot of talk about diverting more and more ER patients from the surrounding community to smaller hospitals or County. The whole medical center has been getting some rough press in Chicago over the past couple weeks.

I liked the program a lot, but am not sure what to make of all this. Any residents or anyone else there have any thoughts on the direction of the program? Thanks...

 

[buffah]

The program director is stepping down and moving this summer, which we did not know during interview season and sounds like it is a bit of a surprise. She seemed like a huge resident advocate and honestly appeared to be one of the programs best assets. So now, wondering about starting intern year with a dept chair who's been there for a few months and a program director starting at the same time as us. Anyone know anything about the new leadership?

In addition, there has also been bad financial news out of U of C as a whole recently, including a significant number of job cuts. IM, in particular, appears to be having the hardest time, but the institution as a whole seems to be confronting this. There has also been a lot of talk about diverting more and more ER patients from the surrounding community to smaller hospitals or County. The whole medical center has been getting some rough press in Chicago over the past couple weeks.

Hey Amoeba,

My friend is a resident in the program and admitted that the program director change was a surprise to the residents as well. However, her reason for leaving is personal (family) rather than professional, and the new acting program director is also a PICU attending who has been groomed for the new role for some time and everybody loves her as well.

Given the current state of the economy, I think that many hospitals across the country share financial concerns, but University of Chicago seems to have received the most press. My friend said that the pediatrics department has not experienced any obvious changes yet, so maybe it was mostly IM that was affected...? However the residents and program directors have been openly talking about possible trimming of some of the parties or other perks (free food?), but nothing major. I wonder how long they have been having these discussions, because during my interview a while ago, I remember the assisstant program director mentioning the hope/plan to pick up more "insured" patients to improve hospital reimbursement. Apparently and unfortunately, the hospital has been losing $ by serving primarily uninsured/medicaid patients.

Hope that helps.

 

[Amoeba]

Hey Amoeba,

My friend is a resident in the program and admitted that the program director change was a surprise to the residents as well. However, her reason for leaving is personal (family) rather than professional, and the new acting program director is also a PICU attending who has been groomed for the new role for some time and everybody loves her as well.

Given the current state of the economy, I think that many hospitals across the country share financial concerns, but University of Chicago seems to have received the most press. My friend said that the pediatrics department has not experienced any obvious changes yet, so maybe it was mostly IM that was affected...? However the residents and program directors have been openly talking about possible trimming of some of the parties or other perks (free food?), but nothing major. I wonder how long they have been having these discussions, because during my interview a while ago, I remember the assisstant program director mentioning the hope/plan to pick up more "insured" patients to improve hospital reimbursement. Apparently and unfortunately, the hospital has been losing $ by serving primarily uninsured/medicaid patients.

Hope that helps.

Hey, thanks for the info...I have heard much of the same from the couple people I've asked, which has been reassuring. It really does seem like a neat program. I liked the interview day a lot, and have heard good things from residents there; I just wasn't sure what to make of so many questions about the place all coming up at once, during what's already a pretty nerve-wracking time. Thanks again for the update.