“ ‘If you had a chance to pick a different residency, would you?’ is a question often asked on the interview trail. My answer without hesitation is… absolutely not! ‘What do you like about it?’ is usually the question that follows. My answer without hesitation is…hands down, first and foremost, is the faculty. As a UIC medical student who’s evolved into a UIC resident, from Day 1, I’ve never felt such an involvement and eagerness to teach as I have here. There’s a lot to learn in and out of the OR, and you can’t learn without both the one-on-one OR time between you and the attending and the morning/afternoon conferences. Every faculty and staff member is approachable at any time of the day--you won’t be turned away. Every office in the department has its doors open--often you’ll find a group of attendings plus or minus students/residents chatting about something either clinical or perhaps social. Our morning conferences are geared for and catered to our needs--case presentations, key words, pharmacology, journal club, review/boards questions. If there’s room for improvement, suggestions are invited and changes implemented sooner than later.
A very close second of my favorites about UIC is the residents. I knew a few already from med school, met more of my classmates early on intern year, met the rest of the crew throughout the years, and we’ve all become a tight-knit group already. Each class has its unique traits and overall the people here are fantastic. What makes our program so unique is that we are more like a family. Though we may work individually, we still consider ourselves a team. We remember what first day of intern year is like by yourself in the OR and empathize with our struggles on day 1 of new specialty rotations. Whenever possible, we try to anticipate and help to make each other’s days somewhat easier by offering breaks, lunches, helping pre-op or set up rooms, whatever we can.
As a CA-1, I’m amazed at the diversity of cases I’ve experienced already at UIC and VA. I never imagined that intern year I’d be doing my own blocks and Peds cases; never imagined this year that I’d place a double-lumen tube for a chest case, never imagined I’d have managed a number of awake fiberoptic intubations. These were new challenges, and through all this, the attendings and fellow residents as well were there, supportive and available, but also providing me enough space to develop my own rhythm and independence in the OR.
Our entire department is like a family--we try to help each other become the best at what we do. Part of this formula that becomes very clear early on is an appreciation of balancing life outside of the OR. There’s always something going on one weekend or another, birthday celebrations, end-of-the-rotation gatherings. Before conference in the morning or at lunch, we’re catching up and planning ahead for new restaurants and venues to visit! We work hard, yes, we learn a lot from our experiences and each other, and we try to have fun while doing it too.
If you come to UIC and we don’t get to meet, that’s because I’ll have graduated. But anytime, feel free to e-mail me the questions above (francesekim@gmail.com) and I promise I’ll have the same answers for you. I have 2 years to go and am super excited for the challenges ahead. I know when I’m done, I’ll have the clinical and professional skills to manage whatever comes my way, and you will too.”
Frances Kim, M.D.
CA-1, 2007-2008
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