For Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20), the following annual stipends are granted to each resident based on their PGY level:

• PGY1 Residents $68721.84
• PGY2 Residents $71134.68
• PGY3 Residents $73568.16

• $2500 in educational benefits for the PGY1, and $3000 for PGY2 and PGY3
• Payment of fees for required certification courses including AAFP Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Provider Course (ALSO), AAP Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), & AHA Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS)
• Access to online medical resources and journals through the UIC Library of Health Sciences
• Tuition waivers for graduate work at UIC
• Funding for residents presenting their work at academic conferences, available through application

• Four weeks (20 working days) of paid vacation in each post-graduate year and observance of the same holidays as essential staff
• Five additional days available in second and third years for educational conferences, workshops, and seminars
• 24 days of sick leave per year
• Paid maternity or paternity leave as a combination of vacation and sick time.
• Once employed by the University for at least 12 months, an employee may take a total of 12 consecutive weeks of unpaid leave for personal or family illness or for the birth or adoption of a child.

• Eligibility for comprehensive health care, including vision benefits, and dental care coverage (nominal monthly fee)
• Supplemental stipend for partial coverage of dependents enrolled in health and dental care plans (maximum $141 for one dependent and $177 for two or more dependents)
• Long-term disability coverage
• Life insurance benefit of one year’s stipend without cost to the resident
• Enrollment in the tax-deferred State University Retirement System (SURS)
• Professional liability insurance while performing educational duties

• Employee Assistance Program for counseling and referral services as well as dedicated Clinical Employee Assistance Services when personal problems may be impacting job performance
• Provision of personal lab coats, scrubs, and accompanying laundry service
• $1200 per year is added to paycheck
• Access to the UIC Sports & Fitness Center on the west campus, just 2 blocks from the hospital, for a minimal fee
• Access to campus-based childcare

The goal of the Mentoring Program is to consistently promote the personal and professional development of each resident over the course of the three-year program. To achieve this goal, mentors and residents meet on a regular basis to discuss the resident’s progress in various rotations, clinics, and educational activities, as well as the resident’s well being.

Placement with a mentor

At the beginning of each year, mentors are selected for each resident; every effort is made to accommodate resident preferences. Residents are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the faculty through clinical experiences and by reviewing profiles. Residents are encouraged to schedule brief introductory meetings with faculty whom they would like to get to know better as possible mentors, but with whom their contact is limited.

Mentor-resident relationship

Meetings between mentors and residents occur quarterly, with more frequent meetings as needed. The “shape” that meetings take will ultimately be determined between the resident and the mentor but might include a general overview of resident status regarding developmental issues (e.g., adjustment to new year), review/summary of evaluations from rotations, discussion of resident’s experience in rotations/clinics, and stress management or personal issues. Mentors are also valuable resources for providing post-residency employment guidance.

The intern year presents many unique challenges for residents—for all, adjustment to a new professional life; for some, a new city or a hospital system. On a monthly basis, interns meet our behavioral scientist Dr. Kelsey Christensen. Interns are provided the opportunity to discuss issues openly with confidentially, to give and receive support, and to identify strategies for managing the issues that they face.

Dr. Kelsey Christensen, our behavioral scientist, meets weekly with residents on the inpatient service to enhance communication and reduce stress. At the beginning of every month, they meet with the attending physicians from the inpatient team, as well as all residents on the service for that month, to establish protocol and guidelines, and to respond to questions.

An all residency retreat is conducted every summer. A half day retreat is organized every February.