4 Best Medical Schools in Chicago – 2024


Written By: Editorial Staff @ NursingProcess.org

Chicago-based medical schools routinely make the list of the top medical schools in the nation. If you decide to go to one of the medical schools in Chicago, you will have to move to the Windy City because while medical studies may use online resources to enhance learning, for the most part they are conducted in a campus classroom setting. For most physicians in Chicago, a four-year school experience is just the beginning of their medical education; after they graduate, they will pursue a specialization track through an internship and residency. Physicians in the Windy City earn $208,820 on average. Want more information? Review the 4 best medical schools in Chicago for 2024 below.



RECOMMENDED ONLINE HEALTHCARE SCHOOLS

BELOW ARE THE 4 BEST MEDICAL SCHOOLS IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS FOR 2024

(We have ranked the best medical schools in Chicago based on our Ranking Methodology.


1. University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine - Chicago


Program Length:

4-Years

About the Medical School:

If graduating from one of the best medical schools in Chicago is high on your list, then you cannot overlook University of Chicago Division of the Biological Sciences, The Pritzker School of Medicine. This medical school is known for the high quality of its graduates and the innovative research that it engages in. Whether you are looking at a close-knit environment, a favorable location, or a diverse student body, here you will easily be able to fulfill these requirements. Not only will you develop close bonds with peers & faculty who come from varied backgrounds, but the campus being located in the residential neighborhood of Hyde Park offers a double advantage of finding a comfortable home and easy access to the modern facilities of a world-class city. Furthermore, being part of a university campus, the school provides interdisciplinary learning opportunities with students from other disciplines, including law, business, public policy, to name a few. Besides, this medical school in Chicago striving towards making a difference, here, you will be offered umpteen learning opportunities to engage in community service through its student-run free clinics and participation at partner schools.

Program Details:

This is a four-year program that is grounded in the key competencies of patient care, knowledge for practice, practice-based learning & improvement, interpersonal & communication skills, professionalism, systems-based practice, interprofessional collaboration, and personal & professional development. The curriculum aims at laying a solid foundation in basic & clinical sciences throughout the four years of the program. While the first & second years include core and electives courses, in the third year you complete clerkships in medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics & gynecology, psychiatry, family medicine & neurology. Whereas, in the fourth year, you complete a sub-internship, a selective and elective experiences. Additionally, you also complete a month-long rotation in emergency medicine. Furthermore, to prepare you for the scholarly project which must be completed at the time of graduation, the college starts preparing you for your chosen scholarly track from the beginning of the program. To complete the scholarly project, you have the option to apply to any one of the tracks, including Scientific Investigation, Community Health, Medical Education, Healthcare Delivery Sciences, or Global Health.

Admission Requirements:

To qualify for this medical program in Chicago, you must have an MCAT score, letters of recommendation, and in addition to submitting a primary application, you must also submit a secondary application through the college website.

Key Highlights

• At this medical school should you wish to broaden career avenues, you can pursue any one of the dual degrees, from an MD/Ph.D., MD/MBA, MD/AM, or MD/MPH
• In the fourth year, during the Emergency Medicine rotation, you have an option to participate in helicopter evaluation and ambulance services. This unique learning opportunity can prove to help understand the practical knowledge of handling typical medical emergencies.


2. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine - Chicago


Program Length:

4-Years

About the Medical School:

Counted among the best medical schools in Chicago, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine provides a conducive academic environment where you can flourish and reach your career goals. To become an M.D. in Chicago, apart from excellent medical education, to suit your academic needs, you require learning that can be customized, be it in terms of coursework or clinical experiences. Here, apart from the individualization of coursework, the college’s student organizations and special interest groups allow you to pursue your passion in an area of your interest. Through participation in these special interest groups, you will gain valuable hands-on learning experience that enhances leadership & professional skills. Also, for completion of the scholarly project, based on your interest, you can choose an area of study, either from clinical investigation, translational medicine, global health, community & family health, medical humanities, or the medical social sciences.

Program Details:

A curriculum that promotes health equity, this is one of the few medical programs in Chicago that offers real-world application in every component of your training. The college’s commitment to addressing health disparities is reflected in every aspect of the training you receive. From the beginning of the program, health equity and cultural competence are emphasized, be it in the courses or clinical rotations. The program offers an inclusive curriculum that is divided into three phases. During phase 1 that spans 20 months of instructions, you complete 14 modules based on the organ systems. Thereafter, you progress to phase 2 & 3 across years three & four of the program. Phase 2 takes you through clerkships in medicine, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, pediatrics, neurology, and psychiatry. Finally, phase 3 of the program entails completing advanced clinical rotations, professional development in the area of medicine you choose, and a capstone. Also, you are provided with the opportunity to participate in the teaching selective where you can develop teaching skills. To sum it up, the three phases of the program are built on four elements of science in medicine, clinical medicine, health & society & professional development, besides the seven threads that are woven through the program.

Admission Requirements:

To be considered for admission, apart from being an exceptional student, you must be compassionate and empathetic. Additionally, you are required to complete pre-requisite courses, submit letters of recommendation and take the MCAT test.

Key Highlights

• The college follows a portfolio system where you monitor and assess your progress as a medical student. As a student, this helps you receive continuous feedback, thereby enhancing performance, leading to personal and professional growth.
• Here, you can explore teaching opportunities in the schedule & format that suits your individual needs. So, you could either teach weekly or opt for the flexible format of preceptorship, depending on what you prefer.


3. University of Illinois College of Medicine - Chicago


Program Length:

4-Years

About the Medical School:

Small group settings, early clinical exposure, and a diverse environment are some of the reasons that make the University of Illinois College of Medicine one of the popular accredited medical schools in Chicago. With the location advantage of being amidst the medical district, the college offers exceptional clinical exposure, starting from the first year at one of the teaching hospitals nearby. Furthermore, ground-breaking research in cancer, diabetes, and other areas of medicine has earned the college generous grants from the NIH. Also, as one of the largest medical schools in Chicago, the college matches students with more than 60 extraordinary residency programs that prepare them in a range of specialties, ranging from nephrology, orthopedic surgery to family medicine. So, as a graduate of this program, you will acquire a solid foundation in basic & clinical sciences to be prepared to provide outstanding healthcare to the underserved urban & rural populations.

Program Details:

To become a Doctor in Chicago, you must complete four years in medical school. Here, the program is divided into three phases. Phase 1, comprising of year one & two, educates you on body systems, pathogenesis, skin, muscle & movement, circulation & respiration, digestion, brain & behavior, and regulation & reproduction. Thereafter, you enter the third year of medical school where you rotate through the core clerkships in hospitals and ambulatory care. During this phase of the program, you also complete elective courses that complement your career goals. In year four, in addition to a sub-internship, you go through a wide range of electives within the UIC system and also outside of it. The program is offered sequentially, requiring you to complete course requirements of the first two years, including taking the USMLE Step 1 before advancing to the third year. You are eligible to sit for the USMLE Step 2 exam after completing the core clerkships in the third year.

Admission Requirements:

To be eligible for this medical program in Chicago, apart from the primary application, you must submit a secondary application through the college website. Besides having the required GPA & submitting the MCAT test score, the college requires you to submit at least three letters of recommendation. Also, to complete the admission process, you must participate in an interview.

Key Highlights

• This campus, in addition to the traditional MD program, offers specialized programs in Global Medical Education, Urban Medicine, Innovation Medicine, and Clinician Executive Medicine.
• For those keen on combining the expertise of two complementing fields, the college also offers dual degrees in MD/MPH, MD/MBA, MD/MS CTS, and MD/MS in BioEngineering.


4. Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center - Chicago


Program Length:

4-Years

About the Medical School:

Graduating from one of the best accredited medical schools in Chicago opens-up promising career avenues not only in Illinois but anywhere in the world. As a graduate of Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center, a leading medical school in Chicago, you will be a proficient and empathetic physician who is committed to serving the health needs of a diverse population. The college meets the changing needs of the medical field by continuous innovation & excellence in medical education & research. Being located in the Illinois Medical District and on the same campus as the Rush University Medical Center, here, you will train at the area’s most respected hospitals. Furthermore, with a diverse research portfolio, the college not only contributes to the expansion of medical science but also offers students a conducive learning environment to engage in path-breaking research and improve care for patients across the world. Besides, at Rush, learning through serving the community forms an integral part of your training. In fact, each year students serve more than 10,000 community members through various programs and activities.

Program Details:

Similar to most other medical schools in Chicago, here too, the curriculum is delivered in phases. This four-year program is divided into the pre-clerkship & clerkship phase. At Rush, the direct patient care experiences start in the first few weeks of the program and continue through your journey as a medical student. In the pre-clerkship phase, you will take courses that are organized in the organ system. Typically, emphasis on the application of clinical knowledge and integration of topics form the framework of the pre-clerkship first two years of the program. Also, during this phase, you can take electives in biomedical research, health equity, social justice leadership, Spanish for medical professionals, and humanities in medicine. In the third year of the program, you go through seven core clerkships. Finally, the fourth-year entails completing an emergency medicine clerkship, sub-internship, and electives.

Admission Requirements:

To fulfill the minimum admission requirements of this program, you must complete the pre-requisite courses, have the required GPA, and submit an MCAT score. Additionally, apart from possessing the qualities of a promising candidate, you must submit three letters of recommendation.

Key Highlights

• At Rush, interprofessional collaboration forms an integral part of your training. From the first year onwards, courses in interprofessional study are integrated into the curriculum.
• Year three which is the start of the clerkship phase begins with a CRASH course that reinforces the concepts mastered in the first two years of the program. This valuable crash learning thoroughly prepares you to go straight into the clerkship phase of patient care experiences across various specialties.


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