WELCOME LETTER FROM THE CHIEFS

To prospective residents:

Congratulations on your decision to pursue otolaryngology as your future specialty!

On behalf of the the University of Illinois at Chicago Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery department, we are delighted to extend our warmest welcome to you as you embark on this exciting journey.

Our residency program has a longstanding tradition of excellence. We have dedicated faculty, strong clinical exposure and exceptional camaraderie among our residents. Our program provides us broad and diverse exposure to all facets of Otolaryngology. Our case volume and variety is impressive. We pride ourselves on early, safe autonomy with senior residents highly motivated to jump into the teaching role. While our core training grounds are at the University of Illinois Hospital, we spend a substantial amount of time at nearby hospitals including Cook County, VA, Lurie Children’s and Northshore. If you ask any of us, we find this opportunity to have multiple training sites as one of the strengths of the program, allowing us such unique learning opportunities, from the experienced staff to the patient population. Not only is this great for our surgical training, but also in career planning, in which direct exposure to different hospital systems and level of academia is irreplaceable to make decisions in the future.

Over the past several years, our residents have consistently matched at top fellowship programs in their desired subspecialties. Each of us this year, had great success matching into our top fellowship choices. That being said, should we have not had a passion to pursue these fellowships, we all would have felt prepared to graduate and practice General Otolaryngology independently.

Residency has been such a formative time both professionally and personally in our lives. The camaraderie within the department is genuine and caring. The residents have an amicable relationship with the faculty, who are always approachable and available to help with questions or concerns. The diversity in backgrounds among faculty and residents is also a unique facet of the program and one that unequivocally enhances our training and our ability to empathize with our patients.

As Chief Residents, we have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the growth and development of our colleagues and friends within the program. The camaraderie and support that exist among residents make our program truly special. Our residents not only excel academically but also foster an environment of collaboration, inclusivity, and mentorship, which we believe is essential for a fulfilling residency experience. Whether its our robust clinical experiences, cutting-edge research opportunities, or the vibrant and diverse community in Chicago, we believe that our program is a place where you can thrive and make a meaningful impact in the field of Otolaryngology.

When we graduate, we will be proud to say that we have trained at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Thank you for considering us for your residency training. We hope you join us!

All the best,
Natalia Hajnas, John Wilson and Brittany Abud