Patient Diversity

Rush University Medical Center sits in the center of the West Medical Corridor. Patients from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds of the surrounding neighborhoods as well as Northern and Western Illinois, Western Indiana and Southern Wisconsin choose to come to Rush for treatment of their medical and surgical conditions. Pilsen, the Ukrainian and East Villages, the West Loop and the Taylor street neighborhoods lie close to the Medical Center's doors.

Resident Responsibility

While rotating through the ward service, residents are able to meet patients with whom they will form lasting bonds in the Rush University Internists resident continuity clinic. Rush University Internists attendings round with residents on the wards 7 days a week. Each team draws from the collective knowledge and enthusiasm of residents, interns, sub-interns and medical students. Rush University Internist attendings encourage residents to assume full responsibility for patient care issues.

Other teams benefit from the collegial relationship with Internal Medicine attendings who practice in the adjacent Professional Building as well as thriving community branches. The majority of the practicing Internal Medicine attendings trained at Rush University Medical Center as students or residents; these attendings have a unique bond with the rotating teams when they admit their patients. Senior residents of these teams develop independent decision-making and teaching skills while rounding with their interns, sub-interns and medical students.

Specialty Services and Research

There are 19 sections within the Department of Internal Medicine. Residents have an opportunity of pursue careers in a wide array of medical subspecialties.

Clinical research thrives at Rush. Residents receive sectional support to present research papers, abstracts and posters at regional and national meetings. Section directors, researchers and fellows seek out Rush residents for help on clinical and basic science research projects. We encourage residents to present posters, abstracts and papers at local and national conferences.

Critical Thinking Curriculum

During the ambulatory month, each resident participates in the critical thinking curriculum. Residents develop data searching skills, learn diagnostic strategies and present journal articles. Residents also participate in the error reduction committee.

Education

The balance of our program is markedly in favor of education over service. During 36 months of training, the average house officer's curriculum will include 14 inpatient rotations (inclusive of intensive care units). Therefore, more than 50% of the overall curriculum are rotations where there is no evening call, and at most one day of weekend responsibility. On all non-inpatient services, the house officers will have at least two out of the four weekends of each rotation free of all responsibilities.

Morning report, teaching rounds, noon conference, Chairman's rounds, Internal Medicine Grand Rounds and subspecialty grand rounds provide residents with opportunities to gain and share medical knowledge.

There is a board review course for all residents in their final year of training.

Rush Internal Medicine residents work closely with combined program residents from the Medical Psychiatry, Medical Pediatric and Cook County Primary Care Program residents. The residents benefit from these interactions, broadening their perspectives on care of Internal Medicine patients.

Extracurricular Experiences
House Physician for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago

Rush Internal Medicine residents provide coverage for all CSO and Lyric Opera events. Each resident receives 2 tickets to the performance. The resident responds to calls from the audience and the performers. Participation is voluntary. Residents need only to sign up for a desire performance.