Ascension Illinois/Saint Joseph (Chicago) Program
Joliet, ILLast Updated: 2/19/2026
About This Program
Program Length
3 Years
First Year Positions
2 Positions
Application Deadline
Jan 10, 2026
Avg Work Hours
40 Hours/Week
Program Setting
Community
Application Service
ERAS
Program Statistics
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Contact Information
Program Director
Bachar Hamad, MD
St Joseph Med Ctr
Primary Program Contact
Marisol Vargas, BSN
St Joseph Med Ctr
Survey Received: 9/24/2025
Program ID: 1441614003
Locations
St Joseph Med Ctr
Gastroenterology Pgm
333 N Madison St
Joliet, IL 60435
Ascension Illinois
200 S Wacker Dr
Chicago, IL 60606
Rush University Medical Center
1653 W Congress Pkwy
Chicago, IL 60612
Ascension Saint Joseph-Chicago
2900 N Lake Shore Dr
Chicago, IL 60657
University of Chicago Medical Center
5841 S Maryland Ave
Chicago, IL 60637
Loyola University Medical Center
2160 S First Ave
Maywood, IL 60153-5585
Application Information
Applicant Interview Format
Hybrid
Interviews Conducted Last Year
10 Interviews
Interviews/First Year Positions
5:1
Participates In
Advanced or Fellowship Match of NRMP
Code: --
ERAS®
Yes
Doesn't Participate In
- Main Match of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
- San Francisco Match
- Military Match
- Urology Match
U.S. MD Applicants
Must Have Passed Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed Step 2
Yes
IMG Applicants
Must Have Passed Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed Step 2
Yes
DO Applicants
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 1
Yes
Must Have Passed COMLEX Level 2
Yes
Must Have Passed Step 1
Yes
Must Have Passed Step 2
--
Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)
Minimum
3 Letters
Maximum
4 Letters
Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation
- Letter from a department chair
- Letter(s) from someone within the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending)
Requires Previous GME
Yes
Number of previous GME years required
3 year(s)
Offers Preliminary Positions
No
Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations
Yes, Minimum 1, Maximum 4
Required Supplemental Information
Yes
Osteopathic Recognition
No
Medical School Graduation Timeline
Graduation from medical school must have occurred within the past 3 year(s).
Gap Experience Requirement
PGY-1 applicants to this program with a gap of 1 year or more between medical school graduation and entry to residency must have the following experience occur during the gap: Clinical experience in the US or outside the US
Resident / Fellow Characteristics
Three year averages. Medical school type does not include graduates of Canadian schools.
Types of Graduates
Resident Gender
Program Faculty
Faculty/Resident Ratio
0.2:1
Program Faculty
2
Female Faculty
0%
Faculty Distribution
Physicians (1)
Non-Physicians (1)
Work Environment
Program Start Dates
July 1
Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)
40 Hours
Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)
8 Hours
Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)
2.00
Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)
No
Night Float System
No
Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year
Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)
Year 1 - Three times per week for 3 week(s)
4
Year 2 - Two times per week for 2 week(s)
4
Year 3 - Once per week for 1 week(s)
4
NA = Not Applicable
NGO = Negotiable
OTH = Other
Visa Status
This program will consider an appropriately qualified applicant with the following visa or visa status. Contact the program for additional information.
J-1 visa sponsorship through ECFMG
Yes
H-1B visa
Yes
F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)
No
Program Size
5
Current Residents
PGY-1s2
PGY-2s2
PGY-3s1
Key Dates & Timelines
2026 - 2027
JAN10
Application Due
Jan 10, 2026
FEB20
Interview Period Starts
Feb 20, 2026 - Apr 10, 2026
2027 - 2028
FEB20
Application Due
Feb 20, 2026
MAR10
Interview Period Starts
Mar 10, 2027 - Apr 10, 2027
Average PGY-1 Educational Environment
Structured Didactic Activities
3
Hospital Outpatient
15%
Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care
15%
Employment Policies & Benefits
Free parking
Educational Benefits
Off-campus electives
Yes
Research rotation
Required (4 wks)
Integrative medicine curriculum
No
Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)
No
Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork
No
Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language
No
Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum
No
Economics of health care systems curriculum
No
Debt management/financial counseling
No
Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation
No
International experience/global health
No
Resident/fellow retreats
No
Hospice/home care experience
No
MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training
No
Tracks & Educational Features
Research track/non-accredited fellowship track
Yes
Primary care track
No
Hospitalist track
No
Rural track
No
Women's health track
No
Academic or clinician educator track
No
Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length
No
Evaluations
Aggregate resident Milestone achievements
Yes
Graduates’ board certification pass rates
Yes
Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)
No
Patient surveys
Yes
Portfolio system
Yes
Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)
No
Medical Insurance Coverage
- Major medical for residents
- Major medical for dependents
- Major medical for domestic partners
- Outpatient mental health
- Inpatient mental health
- Group life insurance
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Disability insurance for HIV
--
Salary Compensation
$0-$68k
PGY-1 through PGY-6
PGY-1
$0
PGY-4
$67,617
PGY-5
$67,617
PGY-6
$67,617
Salary paid by a non-profit institution.
Vacation & Sick Days
Residents receive 20 Vacation Days and negotiable sick days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.
Vacation Days20
Sick DaysNGO
Maximum # of paid days
20 days
Maximum # of unpaid days
NGO
Quality of Life Information*
Joliet, IL
Purchasing Power Index --
Safety Index --
Health Care Index --
Climate Index --
Cost of Living Index --
Property Price to Income Ratio --
Traffic Commute Time Index --
Pollution Index --
Estimated Monthly Costs
Estimated cost does not include rent.Family of 4
--
Single Person
--
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