Long time lurker, first time poster in a new account
I'm nearing the end of residency and have spent an awesome four years in Chicago for it. Training here has been excellent however practicing as an attending in this city would be anything but ideal. Different strokes for different folks.
For your points:
1. Is in a decent city
- It's Chicago. You have everything that you would ever want in your immediate area or just a short lyft ride away in the Northside. But with a big city comes big city problems. Traffic is unreal especially if you consider taking a job out of the city limits (better pay, better staffing, etc). For example, a commute to the south suburbs from Lakeview/Wrigleyville will net you an hour and a half minimum, possibly 2 hours during the rush hour times of 5-7 pm and 6-9 am. Even travelling within the city, 1 mile = 10 minutes depending on the day and time and area. I heard 4 gunshots nearby while staying atmy fiance's place last night further north around Devon. It depends on what you think is decent and worth it and whether you are coming with kids
2. Has tons of availability
- There are jobs available in the city. However the going rate is roughly in the 180-190s and more often than not (understatement) it will be at an understaffed (nurse and md) with limited backup (no anesthesia/obgyn/peds/gi/ent etc) with a county population. You will be looking at less at an academic site however true academics is limited to actually a few places, there are community academic sites available such as presence resurrection or midwestern which staffs multiple community sites through the chicago area. Commuting across the border to NW indiana is an option for jobs with substantially higher pay and better everything, except the commute is rough (long) and you would be better served living in the suburbs which defeats your entire purpose of living in a large city.
3. With a good salary
- Again.. 180-190 average with the low end being in the 160s. You may find higher rates as a nocturnist or as a 1099 IC, but understand that within the Chicago city limits, there is really no such thing as a free lunch . You're likely signing up for a dumpster fire that no one else wants. Your CMGs of choice in the city are Vituity and TH with USACS in the south suburbs.
4. In a state with tort reform
- This is cook county, the second worst county in the country for malpractice..
5. In a residency program
- Chicago has many residency programs. Loyola just opened up a new program out of their main site in Maywood. Presence residents staff Resurrection and St. Francis. UIC staffs multiple community sites such as Mercy and Advocate Lutheran/Masonic/Christ . Cook County residents staff Community first and Rush. Midwestern residents staff Swedish/Weiss/St. Bernards/Hammond/Crown Pointe/St. James etc. You can take jobs at sites that have residents, even easier for off service ones.
As everyone has stated above, it's priorities. I can tell you based on my own opinion, you will not achieve your entire list of must haves but you can check off 2-3 in Chicago and likely any other equivalent big city. Ask yourself why you want to move and have this "big city experience", is it for personal or professional reasons? For me, training here in Chicago was priceless but staying here for my first attending job out of residency was not practical for multiple reasons but it may be worth it for you
