Although clinical responsibilties take up a significant amount of time, there is life outside the hospital! With our location in Chicago, residents have limitless options for activities to fill their free time.

Summer in Chicago cannot be beat. Residents can sample Cubs or Sox games, neighborhood festivals, Lollapalooza, Taste of Chicago, or simply hanging out at the beach. The lakefront is a center for all kinds of summer sports, like volleyball, sailing, running, bicycling, or swimming. In recent years, Rush residents have participated in organized softball and kickball leagues. For music lovers, there are free concerts in Millennium Park, dance lessons at the Summer dance festival, and outdoor music venues such as Ravinia. Many Rush residents find time to gather together in some of the fine outdoor eating and drinking establishments throughout Chicago to enjoy the long summer evenings.

Winter in Chicago may encourage exploration of the excellent museums and cultural attractions Chicago as to offer. For example, the Art Institute of Chicago has numerous masterpieces in its permanent collection, and it hosts a variety of fantastic traveling exhibits. The city shows its true passion during football season as both North and South-siders come together to cheer on the Chicago Bears. Of course, there are those fine indoor eating and drinking establishments where residents can gather to enjoy the longer winter nights.

Throughout the year, Rush residents plan a variety of social events. Traditionally, each class gathers at least once a month at the end of each rotation for their "switch party". These gatherings may take place at residents’ homes, at bars or restaurants, or in clubs. These social events help to build relationships outside of the hospital that can help make time inside the hospital more enjoyable.

The residency program sponsors annual activities for the residents to provide a respite from clinical duties. A one-day retreat is planned separately for each class and consists of an educational component as well as a social gathering. The PL-1 retreat is usually held in February and consists of lunch and panel discussions or talks by a guest speaker and teambuilding exercises. Topics may include teaching techniques, cultural competency exercises, or career choices. The PL-2 retreat is usually held in May and focuses on preparing for the role of the senior resident. The PL-3 retreat is held in the fall with a variety of guest speakers to aid in searching for a job or planning for life after residency. During the evenings of the retreats, a fun activity is planned such as bowling, WhirlyBall, or attending a comedy show or playing games at an arcade. As an added bonus, residents are freed from all call duties on the night of the retreat with coverage provided by the other classes.

Another annual event is the Holiday Party held at the Chairman’s house. This is a time for residents to celebrate the season with each other as well as the faculty and other staff of the department. Coverage is provided by attendings so residents on-duty may be relieved to join in the festivities.

In June, all are invited to the annual graduation party. The event is held to spotlight the graduates, highlight resident achievements, and celebrate another academic year at the close. The evening culminates with the traditional comical skits prepared by the intern and senior classes, which are highly anticipated by residents and attendings alike!