Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellows

Meet our current fellows

Aleezay Asghar, MD  Class of 2027

What struck me about UIC during my fellowship interview was the faculty’s genuine interest in learning about my goals and helping me achieve them even before I matched. I knew I wanted to pursue medical education alongside my clinical training, and as soon as I matched, one of the associate program directors began connecting me with mentors and opportunities. Within three months of starting fellowship, I applied to the Master’s in Health Professions Education program at UIC and have received overwhelming support from the department over the past two years. The program has helped me balance a full-time PCCM fellowship with graduate training, adjusted schedules when needed, and connected me with mentors within our division, across UIC, and across national societies. And in talking to my co-fellows, I’ve realized that this level of support is not unique to me or to medical education. Our faculty are involved in basic science research, clinical trials, national societies, quality improvement, and hospital leadership, and I have watched nearly every fellow develop their own niche with the support of mentors in the division.

The clinical and educational training at UIC is outstanding, but what truly sets the program apart is our faculty and the culture they have built. From my interview day until now, I have never gotten the sense of “this is how it is.” Instead, the attitude has always been, “This is the goal. What’s the best way to get there?” That flexibility, investment, and commitment to our success is what makes UIC so special.

Aleezay Asghar, MD  |  Class of 2027
Maidah Yaqoob, Class of 2021

While looking for the best ‘fit’ for me for fellowship, my primary criteria was people, because people make places and experiences! I am grateful that I matched at UIC because it provided me with the most humble, learned, renowned and wise attendings with a vested interest in my education and well being. The clinical experience, research opportunities and mentorship created the foundation of my training that made me into a physician I have always aspired to be! Not only did UIC provide me with opportunities to further my career but also with long lasting friendships with my co-fellows and attendings that I will cherish forever! As I part, I leave a piece of my heart behind and carry with me UIC’s legacy.

Maidah Yaqoob  |  Class of 2021
nophoto

At UIC I had the opportunity to train under world class researchers and clinicians. This provided invaluable experience in critically evaluating the ever changing landscape of pulm and critical care. It was particularly useful for navigating the explosion of weak data that plagued the early months of the global pandemic Providing care for the complex population of inner city Chicago allowed ample opportunity to develop the skills needed to resuscitate and stabilize the incredibly sick. The community that is forged in the challenges of fellowship training has left me with lifelong friends amongst well respected colleagues. However the most important lesson that was continuously reinforced is the need to be a lifelong student and resist settling for easy answers.

Mateo Tole, MD  |  Former Fellow Class of 2019