Family Medicine Residency FAQ
What is the call schedule?
When on the on the Family Medicine Inpatient Service, residents have one 24 hr call per week on alternating Fridays and Saturdays. PGY 1 residents have one week of night float on the Family Medicine Inpatient Service, and one week of night float on the Pediatric Inpatient Service. PGY 1 residents also have one overnight call per week on the Obstetrics service. PGY 2 residents have three 2-week night float assignments on the Family Medicine Inpatient Service. PGY 3 residents have one 2-week night float assignment on the Family Medicine Inpatient Service.
Do the new resident work hours rules really protect residents from being overworked?
Yes. We take these regulations seriously, and make every effort to promote resident health and well being. Our night-float system allows our PGY 2 and PGY 3 residents to take call less frequently, and keeps residents from working more than 80 hours per week.
How many electives will I have?
Core rotations are completed during the first and second years. During the Second Year, residents have one 4-week elective rotation. The Third Year residents choose one Pediatric Ambulatory elective (4 weeks), one Pediatric elective (4 weeks), and two 4-week Adult Medicine electives.
Are outside electives allowed?
Yes. Residents may request to fulfill an elective at another institution if it satisfies an educational need.
Does the program offer any support for educational expenses?
Yes, Advocate Christ Medical Center allots educational stipends as follows:
- $750 for PGY1 year
- $1,000 for PGY2 year
- $1,000 for PGY3 year
This fund may be used to reimburse costs for approved conferences, travel, books, computer programs and electronic devices. Additional funds may be available when certain criteria are met.
What is the patient population?
Advocate Christ Medical Center is a tertiary referral center, as well as a provider of care to the surrounding community, with a wide spectrum of patients and diseases. Patients come from all ethnic backgrounds and income levels, presenting a wide range of common to complex health conditions.
How much training is in the ambulatory setting?
Interns spend one half-day per week in the continuity clinic at the Family Medicine Center. PGY 2s spend two full days in clinic per week. PGY 3s also spend two full days in clinic per week with evening clinic coverage until 7 pm one day per week. PGY 2s and 3s also participate in a half day of Saturday clinics. Additionally, many of the core and elective rotations include an outpatient experience.
Will I have an opportunity to do scholarly activity or research?
Residents participate in scholarly activity through required Grand Rounds and Journal Club presentations, as well as through a Community Health rotation project. Residents may also pursue research experience through individual projects or ongoing faculty research at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Research is supported by Advocate Christ Medical Center's parent company, Advocate Health.
Does the program provide assistance in job placement?
Yes. Advocate Christ Medical Center is in a superb position to assist residents with career planning. Many former residents of our program are on the medical center staff, either as private practitioners or as medical center-based physicians. Advocate Christ Medical Center also benefits from the support of its parent organization, Advocate Health Care, which has relationships with many local physicians, health care facilities and hospitals. Advocate Christ Medical Center will actively assist residents interested in exploring such practice opportunities.
Where do the residents generally live?
The convenient location of Advocate Christ Medical Center affords a wide variety of living options for resident physicians. Currently, the majority of our Family Medicine residents live in Chicago neighborhoods such as the South Loop, River North, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and Old Town. Living in these areas allows residents to take advantage of everything that Chicago has to offer while also being a short 30-minute commute away from ACMC.
Many residents also choose to live in the surrounding suburbs of Palos, Hometown, Lombard, Darien, Naperville, and Orland Park. Whether you are looking for the excitement of big city living or the laid back family atmosphere that the suburbs have to offer, Advocate Christ Medical Center provides numerous possibilities to suit your personal living preferences and enhance your overall residency experience.