Residency begins with a fun yet busy four-week orientation in July packed with didactic sessions, procedure labs, ED orientation shifts, and social events. Faculty-led didactics cover the basics of emergency medicine. Procedure labs using high-fidelity medical simulators provide the opportunity to learn advanced emergency procedures. Residents receive certification in BLS, ACLS, and PALS and complete IRB certification, FEMA-certified disaster medicine training, EMS orientation, and clinical ultrasound orientation. Social events include a trip to Guaranteed Rate Field for a White Sox game (that's right, not the Cubs!), an annual Welcome Party, and other impromptu events.

These rotations, interspersed in 2- or 4-week blocks, introduce interns to the Cook County ED and its faculty, exposing them to the workings of a busy, urban, county department. The rotations serve as primers for interns to begin to build EM acumen, practice basic procedural skills, and learn to care for patients in the resuscitation bay under the guidance of a senior resident. The emphasis is on teamwork and understanding how to efficiently move patients through our system.

The Cook County Trauma unit was one of the nation's first. Our specialized trauma unit is one of the busiest in the nation. EM residents function as part of a Level 1 trauma team that provides care to a variety of patients throughout the city of Chicago. Residents learn and execute a wide range of diagnostic protocols developed by the Department of Trauma and become proficient in all trauma procedures. Residents attend daily teaching rounds in the Trauma ICU and on the floor. When you finish your training here, you will feel able to approach and manage all trauma patients.

All residents are expected to utilize emergency ultrasound (EUS) in their daily ED work. During the July orientation month, the EUS faculty and fellows teach small-group workshops explaining the basics of our state-of-the art EUS machines, followed by hands-on training in procedures and advanced diagnostic ultrasound techniques. Interns then complete a 2-week dedicated ultrasound rotation during their first year. Training continues with dedicated rotations during the PGY2, PGY3, and PGY4 years.

Interns spend one month rotating in the Emergency Department at Stroger’s sister hospital, Provident, on the south side of Chicago. Working as the only resident with multiple attendings, interns get earlier community experience while working with a diverse and high-acuity population.

The CCH Pediatric ED serves as a great introductory experience to the world of Pediatric EM. The department sees bread-and-butter cases and is staffed with Pediatric EM faculty, as well as pediatric nurses – all of whom are great resources.

Cook County Hospital was the site of the nation’s first Medical Intensive Care Unit. Acuity is high with nearly all patients requiring ventilatory support and hemodynamic monitoring. Interns function as part of the team and take call as the admitting team every fourth day. Residents gain valuable experience in shock management, invasive monitoring, ventilator management, and advanced airway procedures.

Glenbrook Hospital is located just outside Chicago in Glenview, IL. The rotation exposes the residents to a very different patient population, primarily older patients with complicated medical histories. The rotation serves as great experience in critical care, full of procedures and high-acuity patients.

Residents learn the basics of burn care and wound management during this time. In the Burn ICU, residents also learn ventilator management, hemodynamic support, and advanced wound care. As the seasons change, so does the pathology. In addition to thermal burns, our Burn unit also manages chemical, inhalation, and frostbite injuries.

Serving over six million people from the Chicagoland area, and thousands more visitors from around the world, internal medicine at Cook County provides an unparalleled medical experience. With outstanding Oncology, Infectious Disease, Cardiology, GI, and Pulmonary divisions, residents receive exceptional clinical training working with dedicated clinicians who have “seen it all."

Interns learn to deliver and provide care to uncomplicated patients in active labor at one of Chicago's busiest L&D units and are also exposed to life-threatening maternal obstetric emergencies and complicated deliveries.

Junior residents build on the knowledge from first year by increasing their efficiency and ability to make rapid medical decisions. Residents hone their physical examination skills and learn to utilize only the necessary diagnostic tests. They become more comfortable using ultrasound to aid clinical decision making and continue to work with senior residents to learn the nuances of managing patients in the resuscitation bay.

Second-year residents learn to care for acutely ill children, frequently with complex congenital and metabolic disorders, in the specialized Lurie Children's Hospital ED. The center is one of the dedicated pediatric Level 1 trauma centers in Chicago.

Community First Medical Center is located on the Northwest Side in the Portage Park neighborhood. Residents get extensive opportunities for increasing autonomy with procedures and care of a complex patient population while gaining experience working in a non-academic setting.

Evanston Hospital (located in Evanston, IL, which borders Chicago to the north) and Glenbrook Hospital (located in the northwest suburb of Glenview, IL) are part of the NorthShore University HealthSystem. The rotation exposes residents to a Level 1 trauma center (Evanston) and a busy community hospital (Glenbrook) by working alongside experienced EM faculty. Here, residents provide care for a very different patient population than at Stroger - primarily older patients with complicated medical histories.

Rush University is the the residency program's academic affiliate. The new Rush Hospital is a state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2012. The ED is an accredited stroke and chest pain center. PGY2 residents primarily staff the resuscitation beds while treating medically complex patients in this busy academic emergency department.

The Cook County Trauma unit was one of the nation's first. Our specialized trauma unit is one of the busiest in the nation. EM residents function as part of a Level 1 trauma team that provides care to a variety of patients throughout the city of Chicago. Residents learn and execute a wide range of diagnostic protocols developed by the Department of Trauma and become proficient in all trauma procedures. Residents attend daily teaching rounds in the Trauma ICU and on the floor. When you finish your training here, you will feel able to approach and manage all trauma patients.

This is a two-week continuation of focused ultrasound training. Residents perform scans throughout the department, assist in procedures, participate in ultrasound image reviews, and receive additional didactics with the clinical ultrasound faculty.

PGY2 residents are responsible for the evaluation and management of all orthopedic injuries presenting to the Stroger adult and pediatric EDs and Trauma unit. Residents learn appropriate exam techniques and diagnostic strategies for virtually every orthopedic presentation and work closely with faculty to learn emergency reduction techniques and the indications for operative intervention. Dr. Sherman, our nationally recognized emergency orthopedics expert, provides additional didactics. Our ultrasound team also provides dedicated bedside teaching for MSK scans and nerve blocks.

Learn the basic skills of airway management, the advanced techniques necessary for managing the difficult or failed airway, spinal anesthesia, and the pharmacology of rapid sequence induction and procedural sedation in the controlled setting of the operating room.

After receiving a one-day orientation as an intern into the standard operating procedures for Chicago EMS, this two-week rotation during the PGY2 year allows residents to gain further insight into Chicago's EMS organization through ambulance ride-alongs and a visit to Chicago's 911 call center.

The entire PGY2 class will attend the annual AAEM conference while the PGY1, 3, and 4 classes cover the ED. It's a great opportunity to network, learn, and socialize together!

The third year provides advanced training in the assessment and management of the critically ill. In the adult ED, the PGY3 resident is primarily responsible for caring for the highest acuity patients in our Red team and the resuscitation bay.

Evanston Hospital (located in Evanston, IL, which borders Chicago to the north) and Glenbrook Hospital (located in the northwest suburb of Glenview, IL) are part of the NorthShore University HealthSystem. The rotation exposes residents to a Level 1 trauma center (Evanston) and a busy community hospital (Glenbrook) by working alongside experienced EM faculty. Here, residents provide care for a very different patient population than at Stroger - primarily older patients with complicated medical histories.

West Suburban Hospital’s busy community ED has an annual census of 52,000 patients with 16,000 pediatric cases. Shifts are scheduled during the busiest time of day, creating an ideal high-acuity learning environment that allows residents to perform advanced procedures and sharpen complex decision-making skills.

The Cook County Trauma unit was one of the nation's first. Our specialized trauma unit is one of the busiest in the nation. EM residents function as part of a Level 1 trauma team that provides care to a variety of patients throughout the city of Chicago. Residents function as part of the trauma team. Call days consist of primarily evaluating new patients in the Trauma resuscitation bays. Residents learn and execute a wide range of diagnostic protocols developed by the Department of Trauma and become proficient in all trauma procedures. Residents attend daily teaching rounds in the Trauma ICU and on the floor. Third-year residents act as team leaders for all patients admitted to the Trauma unit.

This is a one-week continuation of focused ultrasound training. Residents perform scans throughout the department, assist in procedures, participate in ultrasound image reviews, and receive additional didactics with the clinical ultrasound faculty.

Third- and fourth-year residents learn to care for acutely ill children, frequently with complex congenital and metabolic disorders in the specialized Comer ED. The center is the primary pediatric Level 1 trauma center for the South Side of Chicago.

Cook County Hospital was the site of the nation’s first Medical Intensive Care Unit. Acuity is high with nearly all patients requiring ventilatory support or hemodynamic monitoring. Residents gain valuable experience in shock management, invasive monitoring, ventilator management and advanced airway procedures. PGY3 residents supervise all care for their team in conjunction with the critical care fellow and coordinate educational programs with the MICU faculty.

Cook County Hospital, the University of Illinois Hospital, and the Illinois Poison Center (IPC) form the Toxikon Consortium. During this four-week rotation, EM residents serve as consultants for Cook County and UIC hospitals and provide toxicology support for hundreds of hospitals throughout the state through the IPC. An exceptional staff of board-certified toxicologists and fellows provides outstanding didactics.

The final year prepares the resident to obtain any position in emergency medicine, whether academic or community based. In addition to honing their diagnostic and problem solving skills, senior residents manage patient flow, teach and supervise junior residents and medical students, and master emergency medicine procedures.

Community First Medical Center is located on the Northwest Side in the Portage Park neighborhood. Residents get extensive opportunities for procedures and care of a diverse, complex patient population while working alongside experienced EM faculty in a busy community setting.

Evanston Hospital (located in Evanston, IL, which borders Chicago to the north) and Glenbrook Hospital (located in the northwest suburb of Glenview, IL) are part of the NorthShore University HealthSystem. The rotation exposes residents to a Level 1 trauma center (Evanston) and a busy community hospital (Glenbrook) by working alongside experienced EM faculty. Here, residents provide care for a very different patient population than at Stroger - primarily older patients with complicated medical histories.

West Suburban Hospital’s busy community ED has an annual census of 52,000 patients with 16,000 pediatric cases. Shifts are scheduled during the busiest time of day, creating an ideal high-acuity learning environment that allows residents to perform advanced procedures and sharpen complex decision-making skills.

The Cook County Trauma Unit was one of the nation's first. Our specialized trauma unit is one of the busiest in the nation. EM residents function as part of a Level 1 trauma team that provides care to a variety of patients throughout the city of Chicago. Residents function as part of the trauma team. Call days consist of primarily evaluating new patients in the Trauma resuscitation bays. Residents learn and execute a wide range of diagnostic protocols developed by the Department of Trauma and become proficient in all trauma procedures. Fourth-year residents supervise all care on the trauma service with the fifth-year general-surgery resident and coordinate educational programs with the Trauma faculty.

This is a one-week continuation of focused ultrasound training. Residents perform scans throughout the department, assist in procedures, participate in ultrasound image reviews, and receive additional didactics with the clinical ultrasound faculty.

Fourth-year residents learn to care for acutely ill children, frequently with complex congenital and metabolic disorders, in the specialized Comer ED. The center is the primary pediatric Level 1 trauma center for the South Side of Chicago. PGY4 residents act primarily as the trauma senior resident while on service.

Elective time provides the opportunity to investigate a particular area of emergency medicine or explore new clinical interests. Rotations are typically completed at Stroger Hospital or local institutions, but residents have pursued novel experiences across the country and abroad. Popular electives include oral surgery, SICU, pediatric anesthesia, and disaster relief with a variety of established international aid organizations.

The entire PGY4 class will attend the annual ACEP Scientific Assembly while the PGY1-3 classes cover the ED. It's a great opportunity to network, learn, and socialize together!