Introduction to the Program

West Suburban Medical Center

West Suburban Medical Center offers all the advantages of a large medical center - in a community hospital setting. Our residents are exposed to challenging medical cases and collegial relationships with faculty. Our programs provide individually focused teaching from an enthusiastic faculty.

Other strengths include a thriving community hospital in an urban setting, an affiliation with Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, a friendly work environment where there is no shortage of interesting medical, surgical and obstetric cases and a program that encourages active input from residents in decisions of direction and policy. As a graduate, you will leave the program with a well-grounded foundation in caring for patients, and an appreciation of the community hospital atmosphere. This combination of community experience coupled with an academic perspective allows our residency programs to offer a wide variety of opportunities for residents to acquire competency in the skills necessary to provide patient care.

Family Medicine Residency Program

The West Suburban Family Medicine Residency accepts eight first year residents each year. The program assigns residents to one of three distinctive Family Medicine Center sites for their continuity clinic experiences. During the application process, students are oriented to the three centers: Family Medicine Center, PCC Community Wellness Center, and Salud Family Health Center. Once enrolled in the program, incoming residents indicate their site preference, and assignments are made by the Program Director.

Family Medicine Center

West Suburban's Family Medicine Center was accredited in 1972 and is assigned four new residents per year for a total of twelve residents at the site. This is the residency's first training site and also serves as the location of the residency program's administrative offices. The characteristics of the patients of this site reflect the heterogenous nature of the population of the surrounding communities it serves. There is a full demographic range in education and income. Most adult patients are currently employed, and many patient visits are by members of managed health care plans. There is a significant demographic mixture of patients in culture, age and gender. In the majority of cases, more than one family member receives care at this Center.

PCC Community Wellness Center

PCC Community Wellness Center hosts two of the clinical site - one at the main center located in Oak Park, and the second at Salud Family Health Center in Chicago. In recognition of the need for community-based services for the medically indigent, PCC formed a community Board of Directors and was incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in June of 1993. PCC was approved as a Federally Qualified Health Center in 1994.

PCC Community Wellness Center - Oak Park Site

The PCC Community Wellness Center was accredited as a Family Medicine Center in 1994. The Center was founded in April of 1980 and is assigned two new residents at the site. It is located on the border of Chicago and Oak Park, Illinois. The mission of PCC is to provide quality, comprehensive health care for all the patients it serves, regardless of their ability to pay. PCC strives to promote preventive health care. PCC's primary service area is the Chicago community of Austin, and also a significant portion of the communities of West and East Garfield Park, Humboldt Park and North Lawndale.

Salud Family Health Center - Chicago Site

The Salud Family Health Center was accredited as a Family Medicine Center in 1997 and is assigned two new residents per year for a total of six residents at the site. This center serves patients primarily from the city of Chicago's northwest side communities of Belmont/Cragin, Hermosa, Humboldt Park, West Town and Austin. The patient population is largely working class. The Salud Family Health Center is one of the few medical facilities in the area with Spanish speaking health care providers, and thus enjoys a growing Hispanic patient base. Residents selecting Salud as a Family Medicine Center are an integral part of its development as a residency-training site. Spanish speaking ability is preferred, but not required.

Questions about our Family Medicine Residency? E-mail us: Program Administration