Chicago Radiology Programs
Medical students searching for a radiology residency have a choice of several programs offered by public and private universities in Chicago and the surrounding area. This article discusses three of the closest schools, all of which are right in the city and less than a 20-minute drive from downtown. There is a table comparing school type, funding and enrollment for each of the three programs for you to view. Also included is a short paragraph about three additional universities offering residencies in the area.
- Students seeking ample one-on-one interaction with staff radiologists might be interested in the program at the University of Illinois at Chicago, which is a little more than a mile from downtown Chicago and is the largest of the schools offering radiology programs in the city.
- Radiology residents at the University of Chicago, about nine miles from downtown, have access to state-of-the-art radiology equipment and complete 13 subspecialty rotations.
- At Loyola University Chicago, residents work with a variety of radiology equipment and gain experience working with patients at the university's radiology clinics throughout Chicago. Loyola is 10 miles from the city center.
Comparison of Schools
Sometimes funding will make or break a resident's decision. The following table lists the benefits of each school's residency along with several other attributes.
| University of Illinois at Chicago | University of Chicago | Loyola University Chicago | |
|---|---|---|---|
| School Type | 4-year, public* | 4-year, private non-profit* | 4-year, private non-profit* |
| Total Enrollment (2017) | 30,539* | 16,227* | 16,673* |
| Campus Setting | Large city | Large city | Large city |
| Funding (2017-2018)** | Pay, conference allowance, other benefits | Pay, housing stipend, health insurance, other benefits | Pay, tuition assistance, health insurance, other benefits |
Sources: *National Center for Education Statistics, **Program website
University of Illinois at Chicago
The Department of Radiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) offers a diagnostic radiology residency program that takes about four years to complete. The program trains students to become familiar with a variety of radiologic principles and equipment so they can solve problems in the field and care for their patients. They can acquire real-world experience at UIC Hospital, Mercy Hospital or Children's Memorial Hospital.
Diagnostic Radiology Residency
Through UIC's Diagnostic Radiology Residency program, students complete rotations in radiology subspecialties that include general radiology, pediatrics, neuroradiology, nuclear medicine, body imaging, mammography, interventional radiology and fluoroscopy. Upon completion of the residency, radiologists will be familiar with the limitations of radiology, the uses of diagnostic equipment and common therapeutic procedures in the field. Fellowships are available in interventional radiology and radiology utilization management.
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago Medical Center was ranked in 2018 U.S. News & World Report #4 for adult specialties and #3 for children specialties in the nation. At the Department of Radiology, students can complete rotations in a variety of subspecialty areas. Residents have access to clinical facilities and research opportunities at the University of Chicago Hospitals, the Pritzker School of Medicine and the University of Chicago's Biological Sciences Division.
Diagnostic Radiology Residency
The 4-year diagnostic radiology residency consists of 4-week rotations in 13 areas, including breast imaging, abdominal computer tomography, thoracic imaging, neuroradiology, musculoskeletal imaging, cardiovascular imaging and pediatric imaging. Students engage in teaching and research and use a variety of equipment, including imaging systems, computed tomography units and fluoroscopy units. Fellowships are available in abdominal imaging, breast imaging, musculoskeletal imaging, neuroradiology and vascular radiology.
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University Chicago's Department of Radiology provides students with opportunities to acquire experience in research, clinical care and education. The department has numerous outpatient locations in the Chicago area. The department's clinics provide services such as bone density measurements, diagnostic imaging, interventional radiology, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging. Students gain experience working with a variety of radiology equipment, and the greater Chicago area benefits from having radiology services.
Radiology Residency
After completing the 4-year diagnostic radiology residency at Loyola University, graduates can earn certification from the American Board of Radiology in Diagnostic Radiology. Each year, six students are admitted to the residency program, which prepares individuals for careers in clinical practice or academic medicine. Students work one-on-one with faculty members through a mentorship program. Rotations commonly include fluoroscopy, pediatric radiology, fetal ultrasound and specialized imaging night float. Residents also have the option of completing a 4-month mini-fellowship in musculoskeletal imaging.
Other Schools
Radiology residencies are also available at Rush University, which is about three miles from Chicago; Northwestern University, which is about 14 miles north of Chicago in nearby Evanston; and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, just over 6 miles north of Chicago in the Lake View area.
