McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program

Chicago, ILLast Updated: 2/19/2026

About This Program

The McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab offer a one-year, ACGME-accredited Brain Injury Medicine Fellowship. Fellows gain comprehensive training across the continuum of care, managing patients from ICU to outpatient rehab. The program covers a range of brain injuries, from concussion to severe disorders of consciousness, preparing trainees for all stages of recovery and reintegration.

Program Length

1 Year

First Year Positions

1 Position

Application Deadline

Sep 30, 2025

Avg Work Hours

50 Hours/Week

Program Setting

University

Application Service

ERAS

Program Statistics

View All

Compensation

$87k

20 Vacation Days
10 Sick Days

View All Benefits

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Elliot J Roth, MD
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

[email protected]
(312) 238-2870

Primary Program Contact

Jamie Byrne, BA
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

[email protected]
(312) 238-2870
Program Website

Survey Received: 7/16/2025

Program ID: 3471634001

Locations

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Brain Injury Medicine Pgm Ste 21-2127
355 E Erie St
Chicago, IL 60611

Sponsor Location

McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

420 E Superior St
Chicago, IL 60611

Participant Locations

PRIMARY TEACHING SITE

Shirley Ryan AbilityLab

355 E Superior St
Chicago, IL 60611

Northwestern Memorial Hospital

251 E Huron
Chicago, IL 60611

DayRehab Center and Outpatient Center-Northshore

900 Skokie Blvd
Northbrook, IL 60062

Application Information

Applicant Interview Format

Virtual

Interviews Conducted Last Year

14 Interviews

Interviews/First Year Positions

14:1

Program Participation

Participates In

Advanced or Fellowship Match of NRMP

Code: 2155347F0

ERAS®

Yes

Doesn't Participate In

Main Match of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP)
San Francisco Match
Military Match
Urology Match

Medical Exam Licensing Requirements for Interview Consideration

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

Yes

Recommendation Letter Requirements

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)

Minimum

Maximum

Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation

Data not provided by program

Additional Eligibility Information

Requires Previous GME

Yes

Number of previous GME years required

4 year(s)

Offers Preliminary Positions

Required Specialty-Specific Away Rotations

Required Supplemental Information

Osteopathic Recognition

Medical School Graduation Timeline

No cap on the number of years.

Gap Experience Requirement

Data not provided by program

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

8:1

Program Faculty

Female Faculty

37.5%

Faculty Distribution

Physicians (8)

Non-Physicians (3)

Work Environment

Work Schedule

Program Start Dates

July 1

Avg Hours/Week on Duty (During First Year)

50 Hours

Maximum Consecutive Hours on Duty (During First Year)

12 Hours

Avg Number of 24 Hour Off Duty Periods Per Week (During First Year)

2.00

Program Allows Moonlighting (Beyond PGY-1)

Yes

Night Float System

Call Schedule

Most Taxing Schedule & Frequency Per Year

Beeper or Home Call (Weeks / Year)

Year 1 - N/A

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

F-1 visa (OPT 1st year)

Program Size

Current Residents

PGY-1s1

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

SEP30

Application Due

Sep 30, 2025

OCT6

Interview Period Starts

Oct 6, 2025 - Nov 30, 2025

2027 - 2028

SEP30

Application Due

Sep 30, 2025

OCT6

Interview Period Starts

Oct 6, 2025 - Nov 30, 2025

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Structured Didactic Activities

Hospital Outpatient

30%

Non-Hospital Ambulatory Care

Employment Policies & Benefits

On-call meal allowance

iPads, tablets, etc., or technology allowance

Educational Benefits

Offered

Curriculum to develop health systems leadership skills (e.g., QI project leadership, community/organizational advocacy)

Yes

Off-campus electives

Yes

Research rotation

Required (4 wks)

Not Offered

Integrative medicine curriculum

Formal program to foster interprofessional teamwork

Instruction in medical Spanish or other non-English language

Alternative/complementary medicine curriculum

Economics of health care systems curriculum

Debt management/financial counseling

Academic support for USMLE Step 3 and/or COMLEX-USA Level 3 preparation

International experience/global health

Resident/fellow retreats

Hospice/home care experience

MPH, MBA, PhD or other advanced degree training

Tracks & Educational Features

Offered

Academic or clinician educator track

Yes

Not Offered

Primary care track

Hospitalist track

Research track/non-accredited fellowship track

Rural track

Women's health track

Offers additional training or educational experience beyond accredited length

Evaluations

Program Evaluations

Aggregate resident Milestone achievements

Yes

Graduates’ board certification pass rates

Yes

Performance-based assessment scores (e.g. OSCE, patient or computer simulations)

Resident Evaluations

Patient surveys

Yes

Portfolio system

Yes

Objective structured clinical examinations (OSCE)

Yes

Medical Insurance Coverage

Institution & Resident Share Cost

Major medical for residents
Major medical for dependents
Outpatient mental health
Inpatient mental health
Dental insurance

Fully Paid by Institution

Group life insurance
Disability insurance
Disability insurance for HIV

Salary Compensation

$87k

PGY-5

$87,376

Salary paid by a non-profit institution.

Vacation & Sick Days

Residents receive 20 Vacation Days and 10 Sick Days annually to support work-life balance and personal well-being.

Vacation Days20

Sick Days10

Family & Medical Leave Policy

Maximum # of paid days

NGO

Maximum # of unpaid days

NGO

For more information, view the program's leave policy on their website.

Quality of Life Information*

Chicago, 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

*Source: Numbeo

Similar Programs

Brain Injury Medicine (PM)

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McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program

About This Program

Program Statistics

Compensation

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Contact Information

Program Director

Primary Program Contact

Locations

Application Information

Participates In

Doesn't Participate In

U.S. MD Applicants

IMG Applicants

DO Applicants

Total required letters of recommendation (excludes MSPE and Dean's letter)

Required specialty-specific letters of evaluation within total letters of recommendation

Medical School Graduation Timeline

Gap Experience Requirement

Resident / Fellow Characteristics

Types of Graduates

Resident Gender

Program Faculty

Faculty Distribution

Work Environment

Visa Status

Program Size

Key Dates & Timelines

2026 - 2027

Application Due

Interview Period Starts

2027 - 2028

Application Due

Interview Period Starts

Average PGY-1 Educational Environment

Employment Policies & Benefits

Educational Benefits

Tracks & Educational Features

Evaluations

Medical Insurance Coverage

Salary Compensation

Vacation & Sick Days

Quality of Life Information*

Estimated Monthly Costs

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