Help Our Students Travel – HOST Program
The College of Medicine HOST Program (Help Our Students Travel) was designed to match fourth-year medical students to alumni across the United States as they travel for residency program interviews. While students are in town, alumni can provide lodging in their home, connect with the student over a meal or coffee; or connect by phone to share advice on the city or organization the student is interviewing.
“Being part of the HOST Program was a great experience that allowed me not only to
connect with COM alumni but to get a better idea of the city,
and make the interview trail less stressful.”
-Alejandra Cano, MD ’15
In 2018, graduates from the College of Medicine matched to residency programs in 26 states and the District of Columbia. This highly competitive process contributes to the student’s post-graduation debt, and travel costs often become the deciding factor for where our students apply for residency. Alumni participating in this program will be able to meet some of our impassioned students while also giving back to their alma mater.
“The HOST Program allowed me to reconnect with the COM and be a mentor to
the next generation of physicians. I highly recommend participating.”
-Katherine Ruiz-Mellott, ’94, MD ’98
Alumni
- Become a COM Alumni Host today by completing the Alumni Volunteer Form
Students
- To request an alumni host, complete the Student Request Form
- A list of cities that have alumni hosts can be found here.
Currently, alumni hosts are living in the following cities. As we grow our program, we hope to have representation in all states.
AR – Little Rock
AZ – Tucson, Mesa, Phoenix
CA – Los Altos, Portola Valley, Cupertino, Los Angeles, Palo Alto, Daly City, Sacramento
CO – Longmon
CT – New Haven
FL – Lakewood Ranch, Saint Petersburg, Longwood, Key Biscayne, Miami
HI – Kailua
IA – Iowa City
IL – Chicago, Arlington Heights, Champaign, Springfield, Inverness, Batavia, Cherry Valley, Rockford, Mohmet, Columbia, Congerville
IN – Carmel, Indianapolis
KY – Louisville
MA – Jamaica Plain, Boston
MD – Hanover
MI – Portage
MN – Saint Paul
MO – Saint Louis, Creve Coeur, Kansas City
MS – Ridgeland
NC – Chapel Hill, Charlotte
NM – Albuquerque
NY – Hilton, NYC, Yonkers, Hopewell Junction
OH – Cleveland
OK – Edmond
OR – Portland
PA – Conshohocken
TN – Nashville
TX – Corpus Christi, Southlake, Austin
UT – Salt Lake City
VA – Alexandria, Glen Allen
WA – Seattle, Vancouver
WI – Madison, Fitchburg, Marshfield, Milwaukee, Shorewood
For questions or to receive more information, please contact Christina Roberts, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement at crober21@uic.edu or (312) 996-6815.