Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
As a student, you will spend the majority of your time at the St. James Chicago Heights campus. During "gunning" season, expect upwards of 10+ students on the service (both rotating and base CCOM students hanging out). The two guys in charge are Dr. Davis and Dr. Canaday. Dr. Davis is a good guy, makes all the decisions, thus everyone wants to hang out with him. Dr. Canada, his partner, will ignore you in the office, will not allow you to to see patients by yourself; basically "stay out of his way." Few others you will experience,
Dr. Mehl - joints guy - good teacher - likes to yell at everyone
Dr. Payne - spine, very smart, pimps the hell out of you. Everything from basic science, to research, to anything. Basically, if you are explaining something to him and use the word "sickle cell." His next question is.."So Dr. you said siclkle cell...tell me more about it." Thus, dont mention anything you can't explain.
Think I'm missing one more..but basically Dr. Davis is in charge of selecting residents.
Didactics / Teaching
This is the poorest area of the program. They have weekly meetings where all the residents group up at Little Company of Mary. During my two weeks there (and from what I heard) very limited attending presence at these meetings. All resident run. Very sub-par compared to other programs (Harrisburg, Doctors, ect).
Operating Experience
With the residents visiting all the hospitals in the area, it seems that their operative experience is very good. All the attendings take a back seat for the residents at St. James (even the interns get to do things). Seniors basically do the entire case.
Clinic Experience
You basically spend time with Dr. Canaday and Dr. Davis in the office (or you are in the OR with the other surgeons). During 4th year, they try to have you spend 1 week in the OR, 1 week with Davis, 1 with Canaday, and then 1 free week. Clinic with Davis, he allows you to see patients, dictate, ect once he becomes comfortable with you. Clinic is in Olympia Fields, Orland Park, and Bourbonnais (40 mins away).
Research Opportunities
No idea, never mentioned.
Residents
Great group of residents. All very willing to help you as students, ask you appropriate questions (pimping), let you participate in surgery (nailing, screws, ect).
Lifestyle
It's tough to say since you only see 1 hospital of the 8 they go to. At St. James you work as a student from 4-5 AM till whenever (5-11 pm). Never take call.
Location / Housing
Since the program is basically the "Chicago" program; everyone and their mother wants to come here..even though it's not the best overall program in the DO world. No student housing. Residents live all over the city and suburbs. Lots of driving.
Limitations
Every few months as a resident you move around to a new hospital. Obviously this is great from a surgical standpoint, however, you are always commuting; thus Chicago and it's traffic might not be the best (although where is there traffic at 4 AM..ahah).
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
I had a great time, seems like a solid program, however, tough to tell since you only see St. James. Dr. Davis apparently makes the sole decision on who he is taking as residents. No formal interview day. 4 spots with 1 always going to a girl. I heard this year (2012), they took 4 base students (from CCOM).
If this program was not in Chicago (location), it would not be that attractive for rotators. I gave it a 7 as its a good program, but not great. The location is the biggest selling point as well as operative experience, however, the didactics are sub-par. Also during gunning season, you'll have 8 students trying to be with Dr. Davis in his OR and office; its crowded and annoying. No formal interview day. Residents do submit a "rank list" to Dr. Davis, but apparently it is just ignored and he does what he wants. So, if he likes you, guess you're in; if not, shit out of luck.
