Residency Program
Message from the Program Director
Thank you for your interest in the Otolaryngology- HNS Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. Finding the program where you can thrive personally and develop into the surgeon you aspire to be is a daunting task! As a proud graduate of this program, I would like to highlight the strengths of our training program.
Our residents are provided with outstanding clinical training in a collegial environment. Our faculty is extraordinarily talented and diverse and have dedicated themselves to be exceptional clinicians and educators.
We have many training locations all within close proximity to each other. Our residents have the opportunity to rotate at multiple sites in addition to our university hospital including Cook County Hospital, Jesse Brown VA hospital, and Lurie’s Children’s hospital as well as private hospital settings. With this wide array of practice settings, our residents receive outstanding, well rounded training in every subspecialty.
The level of autonomy our residents are able to achieve during their training is frequently touted as the resident’s favorite aspect of the program. We are able to achieve this while still having abundant oversight and a robust safety net, and our residents uniformly feel well prepared for independent practice when they graduate.
We have a structured mentoring program to guide residents both in their professional development and in their research endeavors. Having this support structure allows us to identify opportunities for growth throughout our resident’s training.
We have a long history of competitive fellowship and job placement for our graduating residents. Our residents receive outstanding training that prepares them for a career in general Otolaryngology, or for entering subspecialty fellowships. About half of our residents pursue a career in general Otolaryngology, and half go on to competitive fellowship programs.
But given all of the above, I believe the number one strength of our program is our resident complement. Our residents are incredible individuals who truly care about each other and support each other throughout their rotations. I am proud of the supportive workplace culture that we have fostered over the years and I am dedicated to continuing this as program director.
I look forward to sharing more about our program with you. Please contact us with further questions.
Tatiana Dixon
Residency Program Director
LInks
Welcome Letter from the Chiefs
To Prospective Residents:
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in the University of Illinois Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery Residency Program. Residency is an incredibly formative time, and Chicago is an exceptional place to train.
Chiefs
One of the greatest strengths of our program is the depth and breadth of clinical experience available to our residents. Training across multiple hospitals exposes us to a wide range of practice environments, patient populations, and pathology. From common otolaryngologic conditions to complex and advanced disease, residents develop experience across the full spectrum of our specialty while learning from faculty with diverse areas of expertise.
Chicago itself is an integral part of that experience. As one of the most diverse cities in the country, it allows us to care for patients from an extraordinary variety of backgrounds. This diversity challenges us to become thoughtful, adaptable physicians and provides a clinical experience that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
Just as important is the community within our residency. Our residents work closely together throughout five years of training, and the camaraderie among our co-residents is an important part of what makes the program special. We support one another through the challenges of residency, celebrate each other’s accomplishments, and enjoy spending time together both inside and outside of the hospital. Training across multiple sites also creates a strong culture of teamwork, communication, and looking out for one another.
Our program offers the unique opportunity to train within a city with a remarkable concentration of hospitals and medical resources. The variety of our training sites provides exposure to different healthcare systems and approaches to patient care while allowing residents to develop increasing independence and surgical responsibility throughout residency.
Beyond the hospital, Chicago is an incredible place to call home. Its distinct neighborhoods, restaurants, lakefront, sports, music, and cultural institutions offer countless ways to enjoy life outside of residency and build a community during these five years.
We are proud of the comprehensive training our program provides and, equally, of the community of residents, faculty, and patients who make it such a rewarding place to learn. We look forward to introducing you to our program and sharing what makes training in otolaryngology at UIC and living in Chicago so special.
Sincerely,
Ashley, Luke, and Kyle
Application and Selection Process
Our program fills 3 residency positions each year.
Applicants seeking a PGY-1 Categorical position starting June will need to apply through ERAS. All 3 positions are filled through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
When selecting an applicant for an interview, the Resident Recruitment Committee will evaluate the strength of your application with all of its components, including:
- The Dean’s Letter (Medical Student Performance Evaluation)
- Strong letters of recommendation
- Third-year Core Clerkship grades
- Research experience
- Personal statement – mission fit
- USMLE Step 2 Score preferable
- Leadership roles
- Service to the underserved
Interview Day Planning
This year our interviews will take place in person on Monday, January 11 and Tuesday, January 12, 2027. There will be an optional social mixer for those who would like to get to know our current residents and learn more about our program the evening of Monday, January 11.
We’ve designed an interview process with the aim of fostering mutual understanding. Our Chair will deliver a presentation preceding the interview sessions. The interviews are organized into two groups. All candidates will experience one on one interviews with each of our faculty members and our three Chief Residents. Following or preceding the interview sessions, candidates will engage with the residents, including a tour of UI Health. Scheduled breaks in the morning or afternoon provide time to recharge between sessions.
Thank you for your interest in our program!