Life at Pritzker - Pritzker School of Medicine - University of Chicago

a student publication
a guide to your first year at Pritzker
from the class of 2015

Table of Contents
Welcome
Welcome Letter.............................................................................................................1
About the Editors..........................................................................................................2
Medical School Myths and Realities..............................................................................3
Academics
First Year Courses..........................................................................................................6
Study Advice.................................................................................................................9
Places to Study............................................................................................................10
Introduction to Pritzker
About the Pritzker School of Medicine........................................................................14
Pritzker Traditions.......................................................................................................15
Pritzker Societies.........................................................................................................16
Student Organizations.................................................................................................18
Patient Contact...........................................................................................................27
Pritzker School of Medicine Administration................................................................29
Biological Sciences Learning Center............................................................................33
University of Chicago Hospitals..................................................................................34
University of Chicago and Hyde Park
Introduction to the University.....................................................................................39
Introduction to Hyde Park.........................................................................................42
Campus Map..............................................................................................................43
Places to Eat on Campus.............................................................................................44
Coffee Shops and Cafés in Hyde Park.........................................................................46
Health Services...........................................................................................................48
Exercise........................................................................................................................50
Computing..................................................................................................................51
Religious and Spiritual Life.........................................................................................55
Housing.......................................................................................................................58
Owning a Home.........................................................................................................63
Transportation.............................................................................................................65
Personal Safety.............................................................................................................71
Weather in Chicago.....................................................................................................74
Everyday Essentials......................................................................................................76
Family Information.....................................................................................................78
Balancing Your Life at Pritzker.....................................................................................80
Chicago
The City.....................................................................................................................83
Chicago Online Resources..........................................................................................93

Welcome!
Dear Class of 2016,
We are so excited to welcome you to the Pritzker School of Medicine. We are looking forward
to your arrival on campus in a few short months!
Not only are you about to become a member of a class of 88 amazing individuals, but also
a Pritzkerite, a University of Chicago Maroon, and a Chicagoan. The goal of Life at Pritzker
is to include as much information as possible to ease your transition into these new roles.
Inside, you’ll find four sections:
Academics: Information about courses, books, academic resources, and places to study on
campus
Introduction to Pritzker: Description of Pritzker traditions, student organizations. Learn
more about who you’ll meet and where you’ll be while you’re at Pritzker.
University of Chicago and Hyde Park: Introduction to the resources on campus and
around the neighborhood
The City: A section devoted to all the fun things Chicago has to offer: food, museums,
nightlife, entertainment, and more.
Of course, this is only the beginning. Think of it as the appetizer to the main course, the real
life at Pritzker you’ll begin in August. We hope to whet your appetite!
On behalf of the Class of 2015 editors,
Christina Suh
Caroline Thomas
Jack Peace
Kate Adkins
Please note: The information in this book is accurate as of the date of printing. The editors and the Pritzker School of
Medicine do not endorse any of the businesses or websites contained herein.
Life at Pritzker – 1

About the Editors
Editors (from left to right): Christina, Jack, Caroline, and Kate
Christina Suh chsuh1@uchicago.edu
Christina was born in South Korea, grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and eventually
ended up in the city of Troy, Michigan. Before coming to Pritzker, she studied Biochemistry
and Gender & Health at the University of Michigan – Go Blue! When outside of the BSLC,
she enjoys drawing, planning events like the Phemister Blood Drive and Lunar New Year
Dumpling Party, and participating in aquatic IM sports.
Caroline Thomas cthoms@uchicago.edu
Caroline is from Hinsdale, IL and went to the one and only University of Michigan
where she majored in Brain, Behavior and Cognitive Science and minored in Art History.
After bleeding maize and blue for three and a half years, she graduated early to
travel before returning home to her roots by coming to Pritzker for medical school. She
spends her free time volunteering at Maria Shelter, mentoring high school students at
the Chicago Youth Program, and watching Bones with her fellow squint classmates.
Kate Adkins kzadkins@uchicago.edu
Kate is a lifelong Midwesterner, born and raised in Iowa and educated at Carleton College. At
Pritzker, she volunteers with various groups and plans class social events like Pritzker Prom. You’ll
often find her out riding the El on her constant quest to find the best coffee shops, brunch spots,
and veggie burritos in the city. She is the official provider of birthday cakes to the class of 2015.
Jack Peace jpeace@uchicago.edu
Jack is from Auburn, WA and went to the University of Southern California for undergrad.
He is adapting well to the climate change from SoCal and you may see him venturing out for
a lakeside run along Lake Michigan (but not when it’s too cold). When he is not snapping
photos for fun, you will find Jack volunteering at the Washington Park Clinic or exploring
Chicago.
2 – Life at Pritzker

Medical School
Myths and Realities
You’ve probably all heard the myths about medical school: all medical students do is study, classes
are grueling, and there’s no time for anything fun. We asked some MS15s to give their 2 cents on
some common myths about life at Pritzker.
Myth Reality
You can’t have a life outside of med school. “I get downtown at least once a week, cook
all the time, and spend time hanging out
with my friends almost every night!”
“I was worried that there wouldn’t be time
for music but I’ve been able to continue
performing. Pass/fail makes anything
possible!”
Hyde Park is dangerous. “Be smart, use common sense. Don’t walk
around at 9pm with your headphones
on and waving your smart phone around
for everyone to see. Don’t leave valuables
unattended. Follow those two rules and
hakuna matata.”
Pritzker is only research-oriented. “I think that it’s a major asset to have
Pritzker be a place that has so much
interesting research going on...but if you
don’t want to do research, you don’t have
to.”
“Pritzker provides a lot of support for
students who want to pursue other interests,
like community service or education.”
You need to live in Hyde Park for convenience.
“I love living in the city. It helps me keep up
with my life outside of medical school, but
at the same time I feel very connected to my
classmates and our collective experience at
Pritzker. I have also come to the realization
that I cherish my commute. It is the perfect
excuse to zone out, refresh my mind, and
sing at the top of my lungs to the radio for
30 minutes each day.”
The weather in Chicago is awful. “I’m from Miami, Florida, and if I can
survive the Chicago winter, anyone can!”
“Invest in a good coat and warm shoes!”
“The weather in Chicago is awful:
unfortunately, this is not a myth.”
Life at Pritzker – 3

ACADEMICS

First Year Courses
Pritzker’s first year curriculum includes courses in three main areas: Scientific Foundations in
Medicine; Patient, Physician, Society, and Systems (P2S2); and Scholarship and Discovery.
Two of the threads, P2S2 and Scholarship and Discovery, continue through all four years at
Pritzker.
Scientific Foundations in Medicine includes all the basic science courses. Patient, Physician,
Society, and Systems brings under one umbrella the content of the non-basic science courses
including Health Care Disparities in America, Clinical Skills, Doctor-Patient Relationship
and Social Context of Medicine. Small group learning is utilized, along with expanded use of
standardized patients and the Clinical Performance Center. The Scholarship and Discovery
thread is designed to facilitate students’ completion of a mentored scholarly project by the end
of their time at Pritzker. The five tracks that students may pursue are Scientific Investigation,
Medical Education, Quality and Safety, Community Health, and Global Health. During
the first year, students participate in introductory courses such as Epidemiology. The final
culmination of Scholarship and Discovery is the presentation of students’ scholarly projects
during their fourth year. You can learn more about Pritzker’s curriculum at pritzker.uchicago.
edu/md.
What courses did MS14 like best? We polled the class, and the top three favorites were
Physiology (43%), Anatomy (29%) and Pathology/Immunology (25%).
Summer Courses
Human Body
The Human Body course starts in the summer and ends a few weeks into autumn quarter.
This course provides students with a foundation in the structural organization of the body.
Students learn gross anatomy of the back, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, head and neck, and upper
and lower limbs. The course includes lectures, small group sessions, and cadaver dissections.
Anatomy is integrated with radiology, so students learn how to identify anatomical structures
on medical images.
Highlight: Bonding with your lab group over hours of dissection
Course Directors: Drs. Callum Ross and James O’Reilly
Health Care Disparities in America
This courses focuses on the disparities that exist in health and health care in the United States
across categories such as race, gender, socioeconomic status, age, and sexual orientation. The
class culminates in a small group project that explores an aspect of health care disparities in
greater depth.
Highlight: Tours of community hospitals and clinics
Course Director: Dr. Monica Vela
6 – Life at Pritzker

Autumn Courses
Cells, Molecules, and Genes
The Cells, Molecules, and Genes course integrates three topics in biology: cell and molecular
biology, biochemistry, and genetics. Using clinical cases to illuminate the material, students
become active participants in the learning process by working in small groups to unravel and
understand the basic science behind these cases.
Highlight: Dr. Waggoner’s vacation pics, and Dr. Weiss’ singing
Course Directors: Drs. Dorothy Hanck, Darrel Waggoner, and Roy Weiss
Clinical Skills 1A
In Clinical Skills 1A, students learn the basics of doctor-patient communication and how to
take a patient history. In addition to lecture, there are small group meetings and videotaped
interactions with standardized patients.
Highlight: Putting that new white coat to use
Course Directors: Drs. Jeanne Farnan and Monica Vela
Winter Courses
Cell and Organ Physiology
Cell and Organ Physiology integrates basic cell physiology with organ-based physiology and
histology. Students gain a comprehensive understanding of structure/function relationships
and their application to clinical cases. The course covers cell and membrane physiology, as
well as the physiology and histology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine,
renal, and reproductive systems. Lectures are supplemented by trips to cardiovascular and
pulmonary laboratories.
Highlight: Getting to try out the pulmonary function tests
Course Directors: Drs. Naduri Prabhakar, John Kwon, James O’Reilly, and Anthony Montag
Doctor-Patient Relationship
Doctor-Patient Relationship provides an introduction to the importance of the doctorpatient
relationship to the process of ethical decision-making. The topics of informed consent,
assessment of patient competence, truth telling, confidentiality, end-of-life decisions, religion,
spirituality, and law are examined in several clinical contexts such as acute care, pediatrics,
geriatrics, and rehabilitation medicine. Small group sessions following lecture provide a chance
for in-depth discussion.
Highlight: Small group sessions facilitated by fourth year TAs
Course Directors: Drs. Mark Siegler and David Rubin
Clinical Skills 1B
This course is the continuation of Clinical Skills 1A in which you learn to take vital signs, find
pulses, and perform the heart, lung, abdominal, ENT, and musculoskeletal exams.
Highlight: Getting to feel like a “real” doctor
Course Directors: Drs. Jeanne Farnan and Monica Vela
Life at Pritzker – 7

Spring Courses
Cell Pathology and Immunology
This course provides an introduction to the pathogenesis of human disease from both a
mechanistic and research standpoint. The goals of the course are to help students understand
the basic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of human disease and to learn about basic research
investigating human disease. The course is taught using lectures and clinical correlation
sessions.
Highlight: Dr. Meredith’s dry humor
Course Director: Dr. Stephen Meredith
Microbiology
This class provides an overview of the clinically important microorganisms and their roles
in infectious diseases. Lectures are supplemented with case study sessions in which students
work through patient cases and learn how to diagnose and treat infectious diseases. A weekly
laboratory teaches students how to stain and identify microbes growing in culture.
Highlight: Gram staining with your lab partners
Course Director: Dr. Olaf Schneewind
Social Context of Medicine
Social Context of Medicine covers topics including the types of organizations in which
physicians practice, the effects of race and class on people’s health and on the delivery of
medical care, Medicare, Medicaid, and private health insurance, managed care, challenges
facing hospitals, problems with cost quality, and access to care in the U.S. Many sessions are
given by lecturers who are experts in their field.
Highlight: Great guest lectures by hospital administrators and leaders in the healthcare and
pharmaceutical industries
Course Director: Dr. Elmer Abbo
Clinical Skills 1C
In Clinical Skills 1C, students continue to improve their medical interviewing skills. They also
learn how to do a written history, as well as an oral presentation of a medical history.
Highlight: Taking your first sexual history and providing smoking cessation therapy
Course Directors: Drs. Jeanne Farnan and Monica Vela
Spring Elective
You are required to take 100 units of elective work during the spring. For credit, the elective
must be medically related, although you can take other electives beyond your 100 credits at
no cost to you.
Highlight: A chance to pursue your own interests, such as medicine & human rights,
emergency medicine, or medical imaging
8 – Life at Pritzker

Study Advice
The best study advice is to do what works for you. Take advantage of study skills you perfected
in undergrad. Don’t feel pressured to study the same way as your classmates, as everyone has
different methods by which they learn best. Still, you may find you have to modify your study
skills based on the quantity and type of information you are presented with. It takes some time
to adjust to the sheer amount of information covered in medical school classes.
It’s also important to keep in mind the big picture of why you are in medical school. You are
here to learn about a subject you enjoy, so take time to think about what you are learning and
how it will apply to your career. If you come across a topic that you think is interesting in class,
take some time to research that topic further. It will put your education in perspective and may
rejuvenate your desire to learn.
The following are some other study tips straight from the class of 2015:
Remember it’s a pass/fail system.
Don’t stress out about every minor detail. Rather, relax and use your time to pursue other
interests. You will have the opportunity to learn medicine throughout your career.
Read before lecture.
This will make your time in lecture much more effective. Often, students will sit in lecture
taking notes but feel totally confused about what the professor is saying. Read beforehand and
you won’t have to study as hard after.
Review lecture notes everyday to reinforce material you learned in class.
To move information from short-term to long-term memory, you need to expose yourself to
it as much as possible. Review the material while it is still fresh in your mind and it will stick
better. This will save you tons of time when you are reviewing for the exam.
Know your resources.
The Pritzker Student Portal has old exams and former students’ study guides and some courses,
like Anatomy, post old exams on Chalk. Taking old exams is a great way to study and many
former study guides are also high-yield.
Keep up with the present material.
Try your best to stay on top of the material. If you fall behind, learn the material that is presently
being taught. If you try to catch up, you will always be behind and it will be a constant fight
to keep up. Catch up over the weekend when you have more time.
Remember: Everyone accepted at Pritzker has what it takes to do well academically! Relax,
take some time to pursue your own interests, and don’t forget: it’s pass now or pass later!
Life at Pritzker – 9

Places to Study
One of the great qualities of the University of Chicago is the large number of study spaces
available. Below are some descriptions of common study areas.
Regenstein Library
Located just a block from the BSLC, Regenstein Library (commonly
referred to as “the Reg”) is the largest library on campus and holds a worldrenowned
collection of materials. There is a café on the lower level with
warm meals, snacks, coffee, and tea. The Reg has large tables as well as
smaller cubicles and private study rooms. It is open late and many of the
evening shuttles stop at its doorstep, so it’s easy to get home after late night
studying. The newly opened Mansueto Library is a glass-domed study
space located right next to the Reg.
Crerar Library
Crerar is UChicago’s science library and is just across the street from the
BSLC. It is the only library with medical school textbooks on reserve, so
if you don’t want to buy books, this is the place to go. Look for the study
rooms on the upper floors and the computer lab in the basement.
Harper Library
With high arching ceilings and large chandeliers, Harper is a beautiful and
quiet study space located on the quad. There is a student-run café next to
the main study area, as well as an adjacent space for collaborative learning
called the Stuart Reading Room. Weekday afternoons Stuart is occupied
for undergrad tutoring, but it’s a good spot to use late night or on the
weekends.
10 – Life at Pritzker
Mansueto Library.
Sculpture in the Crerar entryway.
Main study area in Harper Library.

D’Angelo Law Library
D’Angelo is a little farther from the BSLC (it’s across the Midway) but it’s
a nice place to study with clean, modern architecture and a reflective pool.
Charles M. Harper Center
The business school is a clean and modern building with a large central
atrium where students can chat or study. This might appeal to those of you
who like a little background noise while you study. There are a few food
options in the building, so it’s a good place to go if you want to grab a bite
while you work.
Reynolds Club
Similar to a Student Union, Reynolds Club contains a dining hall, study
spaces, and the offices for student organizations like the college newspaper
and the radio station. There’s a café on the second floor called Hallowed
Grounds that is a great place to chat, study, or play pool.
Classics Café
Very few medical students study here so it’s a good place to go for a change
of scenery. The environment is calm and serene.
D’Angelo Law Library.
Booth School of Business.
Hallowed Grounds Café at Reynolds Club.
Sun-filled window at Classics Café.
Life at Pritzker – 11

INTRODUCTION TO
PRITZKER

About the Pritzker
School of Medicine
Mission
At the University of Chicago, in an atmosphere of interdisciplinary scholarship and
discovery, the Pritzker School of Medicine is dedicated to inspiring diverse students of
exceptional promise to become leaders and innovators in science and medicine for the
betterment of humanity.
History
The University of Chicago matriculated its first class of medical students in 1927 and
continues to serve as a leader in training physicians and scientists. In recognition of the
generous support extended to the medical school from the Pritzker family of Chicago, the
medical school was renamed the Pritzker School of Medicine in 1968. The great traditions
which underlie our school’s history include the presence of a full-time teaching faculty
devoted to working with students, a strong emphasis on research and discovery, and a
commitment to translating the most recent advances in biomedical science to the bedside.
Unique Features of Pritzker
Size: Pritzker has 88 students in each class, making it
smaller than many other medical schools.
Location: Pritzker is one of the few medical schools
located on its University’s campus. This offers students
ample opportunities for interdisciplinary work.
Structure: Pritzker is situated within the larger
Biological Sciences Division, encouraging students to
view medical questions in terms of the science that
underlies them.
Community: Pritzker students bring diverse
intellectual and social contributions to the school.
Diversity: Pritzker demonstrates a commitment to
diversity through a class composition of different ethnic backgrounds, geographic origins,
ages, and fields of study.
14 – Life at Pritzker
“The most critical ingredient of
our success is the quality of the
students themselves. Here at
the University of Chicago Pritzker
School of Medicine you
will find a student body whose
boundless enthusiasm for
learning, investigation and science
is matched only by its enthusiasm
for teamwork, friendship,
and making the most of
this great city.”
- Dean Holly J. Humphrey

Pritzker Traditions
The Pritzker School of Medicine has many great traditions that you can look forward
to throughout the year. Some are fairly new and some date back to the medical school’s
inception.
Summer and Fall Quarters
White Coat Ceremony
A really special evening that
ushers first year students into
the profession of medicine.
First Cut Day Cookies and
Milk
Reflect upon your first day of
lab with cookies and milk.
Medical Education Day
Come watch the University’s
most distinguished teachers
be recognized.
Service of Gratitude
Share music, poetry, and
prose reflecting on the
donations which make
the Human Body course
possible.
First year students at the White Coat
Ceremony, held just before the start of summer
classes.
Winter Quarter
First Year Symposium and
Talent Show
Take a day off of classes
to explore leadership and
communication skills, then
show off your talents to
your classmates.
Match Day
Celebrate with the fourth
years as they find out where
they will be training for the
next 2 – 10 years!
“Giving the Second Years
the Clap”
Applaud the second years as
they exit their last CPP&T
exam winter quarter,
marking the end of their
pre-clinical years.
Spring Quarter
Senior Scientific Session
A forum for fourth years
to present their capstone
research projects to faculty
and fellow students.
Senior Show
One of the last
opportunities for fourth
years to make complete
fools of themselves.
Fourth year students celebrate at Match Day.
Life at Pritzker – 15

Pritzker Societies
The Pritzker Societies were formed as a venue for continuous mentoring of medical
students from their entry into medical school to graduation and beyond. The societies
are vertically integrated to enhance collaboration between classes and to foster mentoring
between faculty, new students, and more experienced students. Each society is headed by
two Career Advisors, and each incoming Pritzker student is assigned to a society and to one
of that society’s advisors. The four Pritzker societies are named after individuals who made
significant contributions to medicine at the University of Chicago.
Coggeshall
The Coggeshall Society is named for Lowell T.
Coggeshall (1901-1987) who served as Dean
of the Biological Sciences Division and the
Medical School of the University of Chicago for
16 years. Dr. Coggeshall’s greatest contribution
to American medical education was his role in
reshaping the AAMC into an effective voice for
academic medicine.
Advisors: Brian Callender, MD (Medicine) and
Mindy Schwartz, MD (Medicine)
DeLee
The DeLee Society is named for Joseph B.
DeLee (1869-1942) who is often called the
father of modern obstetrical care. In 1914, Dr.
DeLee established what later became Chicago
Lying-In Hospital.
Advisors: Patty Kurtz, MD (Medicine) and
Tipu Puri, MD, PhD (Medicine)
16 – Life at Pritzker
Dr. Brian Callender
Dr. Patty Kurtz
Dr. Mindy Schwartz
Dr. Tipu Puri

Huggins
The Huggins Society is named for Charles B.
Huggins (1901-1997) who won the Nobel
Prize for Medicine in 1966 for his pioneering
discoveries regarding the relationship between
hormones and prostate cancer.
Advisors: Shalini Reddy, MD (Medicine) and
Nanah Park, MD (Pediatrics)
Phemister
The Phemister Society is named for Dallas
B. Phemister (1882-1951) who was the first
professor of surgery in the new Billings Hospital
at the University of Chicago where he also served
as chair from 1927 to 1947.
Advisors: Jason Poston, MD (Medicine) and
Elizabeth Kieff, MD (Psychiatry)
Phemister students competing in an intense tug-of-war
match during Field Day, a day of friendly (or not so
friendly) competition between the four societies.
Dr. Shalini Reddy Dr. Nanah Park
Dr. Jason Poston
Dr. Elizabeth Kieff
Coggeshall students compete in a three-legged race.
Life at Pritzker – 17

Student Organizations
Adolescent Substance Abuse Program
The Adolescent Substance Abuse Program (ASAP) is a unique program in which medical
students visit local elementary and middle schools to teach 5th – 8th graders about the
dangerous effects of commonly abused drugs. Anatomy and physiology are used to explain
these concepts.
Contact: Alex Cole (alexandercole@uchicago.edu), Kirk Cahill (kecahill@uchicago.edu)
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Medical Student, Resident,
and Fellows section (AAPI-MSRF) is a national
organization that represents over 10,000 students.
Pritzker’s AAPI-MSRF chapter aims to provide a
support system for South Asians and other interested
students via student-student and faculty-student
mentoring, to promote South Asian culture at
Pritzker, and to raise awareness and involvement in
South Asian health issues.
Contact: Sahitya Denduluri (sahi@uchicago.edu),
Alisha Ranadive (aranadive@uchicago.edu)
American Medical Association
The AMA Medical Student Section (MSS), with
nearly 50,000 members, is the largest and most
influential organization of medical students in the
country. With Chapters from 141 accredited US
allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, medical ASAP volunteers teaching middle school students about the
students are represented in the AMA through their damage drugs inflict on bodily organs.
own democratic, policy-making body. The AMA-
MSS is dedicated to representing medical students,
improving medical education, developing leadership, and promoting activism for the health
of America.
Contact: Omar Ahmed (ogahmed2@uchicago.edu)
American Medical Student Association
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the oldest and largest independent
association of physicians-in-training in the United States with a membership of nearly
65,000 medical students, premedical students, interns, residents, and practicing physicians
from across the country. A progressive organization run for students, by students, AMSA
focuses on four strategic priorities: universal access to health care, eliminating health
disparities, advocating for diversity in medicine, and transforming the culture of medical
education.
Contact: David Goese (dgoese@uchicago.edu), Edie Swain (eswain@uchicago.edu)
18 – Life at Pritzker

American Medical Women’s Association
The mission of the American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) is to foster
camaraderie and promote awareness of women’s issues in medicine at Pritzker and beyond.
The Pritzker chapter of AMWA encourages female medical students to be open-minded and
pro-active during their medical school careers with respect to medically, politically, culturally,
and religiously challenging topics. AMWA also endeavors to provide the Pritzker community
with in-depth exposure to special issues concerning women’s health.
Contact: Christina Suh (chsuh1@uchicago.edu)
Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association
The University of Chicago Asian Pacific American Medical Students Association (APAMSA)
seeks to promote health for all Asian and Pacific Islander communities and individuals
through community action and health education. APAMSA regularly sponsors health clinics
in Chinatown and Medical Chinese Language Lunches for students.
Contact: Susan Pei (pei@uchicago.edu), Christina Suh (chsuh1@uchicago.edu)
Basic Life Support Program
The Pritzker Basic Life Support (BLS) Program offers a training program to ensure all
medical students are proficient in BLS skills.
Contact: Katie Hekman (keh@uchicago.edu)
The Comer Food Project
Medical students work with social workers and nurses to identify hungry families whose
children are hospitalized in the Comer Children’s Hospital. They work with the hospital
chaplain to deliver a bag of food that will support the patients and their families during
the child’s hospital stay. The Comer Food Project originated from a project undertaken by
students in the Healthcare Disparities course.
Contact: Rob Stern (sternrm@uchicago.edu)
Community Health Clinic
Community Health Clinic (CHC) is the largest free medical clinic in Illinois and is run
collaboratively between students from Chicago-area medical schools and its full-time staff.
At CHC, Pritzker students attend to a culturally diverse patient population while increasing
their clinical exposure and serving the community.
Contact: Claire Shappell (cshappell@uchicago.edu), Robert Sanchez (robertsanchez@
uchicago.edu)
Complementary and Alternative Medicine Interest Group
The Integrative, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (ICAM) Interest Group was
created to promote awareness of different integrative, complementary and alternative
medicine modalities and to provide opportunities for Pritzker students to learn about nonallopathic
forms of medicine.
Contact: David Goese (dgoese@uchicago.edu), Yan Wang (ywange@uchicago.edu)
Life at Pritzker – 19

Dermatology Interest Group
The mission of the Dermatology Interest Group is to promote interest in dermatology,
advise applicants to dermatology, and serve as a liaison between medical students and the
dermatology section.
Contact: Susan Pei (pei@uchicago.edu), Jennifer Jones (jmjones204@yahoo.com)
Diabetes Prevention and Management Group
The Diabetes Prevention and Management Group (DPMG) is an organization that is
committed to spreading awareness and educating the community about diabetes. We also
provide underserved communities with free blood sugar screenings and counsel patients
about their results.
Contact: Jon Stein (jhstein@uchicago.edu), Chris Flanagan (cdflanagan@uchicago.edu)
Emergency Medicine Interest Group
The Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) focuses on all those who may think a
career treating critically emergent illness would be cool. We talk about the benefits of the
specialty, the spring elective for first years, do procedure clinics, and hang out with some fun
docs. Our slogan is: “Do EM, tell better stories.”
Contact: Colin Pesyna (pesyna@uchicago.edu), Claire Naus (cnaus1@uchicago.edu)
Family Medicine Interest Group
The mission of the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) is to foster interest in Family
Medicine among students at the Pritzker School of Medicine by hosting guest speakers,
offering procedure clinics directed to medical students, and sponsoring students to attend
the national FMIG conferences.
Contact: Michael Allain (allainm@uchicago.edu), Joanna Perdomo (joannaperdomo@
uchicago.edu)
Geriatrics Interest Group
GIG holds seminars and talks throughout the school year on topics such as palliative care
and end-of-life issues. In the past GIG has also provided the opportunity for first-year
students to round with attendings.
Contact: Lauren Kolodziej (lkolodziej@uchicago.edu),
Rich Schroeder (rschroed@uchicago.edu)
Health Professions Recruitment and Exposure Program
HPREP members serve as mentors and friends to minority high school students. Over
the course of a Saturday, area students are bused to the University of Chicago campus to
participate in a variety of lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities. The goal is to give
students insight into life as a health professional as well as the opportunity to connect with
medical students.
Contact: Jessica Portillo (jcportillo@uchicago.edu), Chris Chesley (cchesley@uchicago.edu)
20 – Life at Pritzker

HIV Intervention and Prevention Corps
HIV Intervention and Prevention Corps (HIP Corps) works to help reduce the incidence of
new HIV infections among underserved youth through the demonstration of an effective,
culturally sensitive HIV/AIDS prevention education and community outreach.
Contact: Edie Swain (eswain@uchicago.edu), Anne Viollt (anneviollt@uchicago.edu)
Humanism in Medicine
We, at Humanism in Medicine, work to bring out the parts of medical school that can get
buried in the long hours of lecture and studying. Our goal is to emphasize the humanistic
parts of medicine: human dignity and respect, our own mental and physical health,
obtaining balance, joy, and fun, and finding meaning in our chosen profession.
Contact: Christina Suh (chsuh1@uchicago.edu), Michael Yee (michaely@uchicago.edu)
International Medicine Group
The International Medicine Group (IMG) was established as a forum for students interested
in international health care issues. The group promotes opportunities for students to travel
abroad, and works with the Global Health Initiative.
Contact: Jimin Kim (jiminkim@uchicago.edu)
JOURNEES
JOURNEES seeks to expose medical students to the healthcare needs of diverse patient
populations beyond that of the University of Chicago Medical Center. Through direct
service-learning experiences, we hope to gain awareness of the social determinants of
diminished health conditions in underserved areas and to assist community organizations
working to alleviate poor health outcomes throughout the country.
Contact: Arielle Hirschfeld (athirschfeld@uchicago.edu), Kate Adkins (kzadkins@uchicago.
edu)
Latino Medical Student Association
The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) is a national
organization comprised of five regional chapters. The mission of
LMSA is to unify all Latino medical students into one organization,
to provide a voice for underrepresented medical students, to actively
promote recruitment and retention of Latino students at all levels, to
educate medical students on Latino health issues, to advocate for the
rights of Latinos in health care, to provide leadership opportunities
for Latinos, and to promote volunteerism in the Latino community.
Contact: Elise Madrid (madridem@uchicago.edu), Kiara Tulla
(tulla@uchicago.edu)
Maria Shelter Medical Clinic
The Maria Shelter Clinic is a free health clinic led and operated by
Pritzker students every Wednesday evening at the Maria Shelter, a
homeless shelter for women and their children.
Contact: Edie Swain (eswain@uchicago.edu),
Rebecca Harris (rmharris@uchicago.edu)
IMG members selling coffee and sporting
red ribbons as part of a World AIDS Day
fundraiser.
Life at Pritzker – 21

Medical Students for Choice
The mission of Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) is
to increase awareness and educational opportunities for
medical students regarding abortion and reproductive
health.
Contact: Sarah Dabagh (dabagh@uchicago.edu), Lara
Delamater (ldelamater@uchicago.edu)
Military Medicine Interest Group
The mission of the Military Medicine Interest Group
is to promote the field of military medicine through
events for all Pritzker students and to offer mentoring
to students interested in a military career.
Contact: Ryan McDermott (ryan4@uchicago.edu)
Mission Nutrition
Mission Nutrition is an organization that was formed to address obesity on the South Side
of Chicago. Born out of a project emanating from the Health Care Disparities in America
course at Pritzker, Mission Nutrition is an after-school program that educates students on
nutrition and empowers them to make healthy choices.
Contact: Brittany Seidensticker (bseidensticker@uchicago.edu),
Anne Viollt (anneviollt@uchicago.edu)
New Life Volunteering Society
The New Life Volunteering Society (NLVS) operates a free, student-run clinic located on
the north side of Chicago that provides health care to the medically underserved population.
NLVS is also part of a larger national service organization which engages in community
service and education in addition to health care delivery.
Contact: Rishi Pandya (pandyark@uchicago.edu),
Noura Choudhury (nchoudhury@uchicago.edu)
Ophthalmology Interest Group/Sight Savers
The Ophthalmology Interest Group aims to help students learn about an ophthalmology
residency and its application process, educate members about the various fields within
ophthalmology, and provide opportunities for students to interact with those in the field
through research and clinical shadowing. OIG also sponsors glaucoma screenings within the
community.
Contact: Richard Schroeder (rschroed@uchicago.edu), Joshua Eassa (jee@uchicago.edu)
OUTPatient
OUTPatient, also known as the Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender People in Medicine
Group, offers education to the Pritzker community on LGBT related topics, and provides a
social forum for both LGBT and non-LGBT students.
Contact: Yimo Lin (yimo@uchicago.edu)
22 – Life at Pritzker
MSFC members representing Pritzker at a regional
conference in Minneapolis.

Palliative Care Interest Group
The Palliative Care Interest Group aims to promote awareness of the emotional, medical,
legal, and personal aspects of end-of-life care. The group will work with Mitchell, DCAM,
and Comer hospital staff to host interactive events and to give back to the community.
Contact: Jack Peace (jpeace@uchicago.edu), Yan Wang (ywange@uchicago.edu)
Pediatrics Interest Group
The Pediatrics Interest Group aims to raise awareness about careers in pediatrics by
organizing panels, shadowing, and other opportunities for students to interact with
physicians in the field.
Contact: Joanna Perdomo (joannaperdomo@uchicago.edu),
Kate Adkins (kzadkins@uchicago.edu)
Peer Mentoring at Pritzker
Peer Mentoring at Pritzker (PMAP) is a student organization that aims to facilitate
interaction between senior students and lowerclassmen with the goal of providing
mentorship from students with similar interests and advanced experiences.
Photography Interest Group
The goal of the Pritzker Photography Interest Group is to provide amateur photographers
with an encouraging environment in which to learn more about photography, express
themselves through photography, and document Pritzker events for the greater good of the
school.
Contact: Josh Williams (jtbwilliams@uchicago.edu)
Pritzker Christian Fellowship
The Pritzker Christian Fellowship (PCF) is a nondenominational Christian fellowship
affiliated with the nationwide Christian Medical & Dental Associations in which medical
students and faculty can gather together to explore how their faith relates to medicine. We
seek to live out our faith in the medical profession, doing God’s will and being a light on our
campus.
Contact: Trisha Osmolak (posmolak@uchicago.edu)
Pritzker Community Services Fellowship
Pritzker Community Services Fellowship (PCSF) aims to create a community of students
and faculty dedicated to lifelong service and advocacy in underserved areas and to develop
leaders in public service and community health. The goal is to create a supportive network of
driven medical students who collaborate closely with each other and with the community to
cultivate a culture of empathy, compassion, and altruism within the fellowship and the larger
Pritzker community.
Contact: Toussaint Mears-Clarke (tmearscl@uchicago.edu)
Life at Pritzker – 23

Pritzker Dance Group
The mission of the Pritzker Dance Group (PDG) is to
teach all styles of dance to the Pritzker community and
greater neighborhood. Through this, the group aspires to
foster and grow relationships, encourage new modes of
expression, and promote healthy, active living.
Contact: Joanna Perdomo (joannaperdomo@uchicago.
edu),
Elise Madrid (madridem@uchicago.edu), Kiara Tulla
(tulla@uchicago.edu)
Pritzker Mammography Access
Partnership
The Pritzker Mammography Access Partnership (PMAP)
Lookin’ fly! The Pritzker Dance Group performing a routine.
is dedicated to promoting mammogram access for all
Chicago women. The organization partners with the Southside HealthCare Collaborative
and Illinois Breast and Cervical Cancer Program to identify state-funded resources to provide
free breast and pelvic exams, mammograms, Pap smears, and cancer therapy on the South
Side. They also conduct research to determine awareness of area primary care providers of free
mammography resources for their patients as well as other issues relating to mammography
access.
Psychiatry Interest Group
The mission of the Psychiatry Interest Group is to promote an enhanced understanding of the
career opportunities within the field of psychiatry by providing forums for discussion on both
the breath and depth of options available to current psychiatrists.
Contact: Anya Bershad (abershad@uchicago.edu), Susan Pei (pei@uchicago.edu)
Radiology Interest Group
The Radiology Interest Group serves as a forum where students can meet with physicians from
the University of Chicago and community hospitals to learn more about this dynamic field.
REMEDY
REMEDY UChicago (remedyuchicago.org) is a student-run, philanthropic organization at the
Pritzker School of Medicine. Our goal is to collect medical supplies from donor institutions
-- and to purchase medical supplies using monetary contributions – and bring these supplies
to international communities who need them most. We are a local chapter of our parent
organization, REMEDY, Inc. (remedyinc.org).
Contact: Noura Choudhury (nchoudhury@uchicago.edu),
Edie Swain (eswain@uchicago.edu), Yimo Lin (yimo@uchicago.edu)
24 – Life at Pritzker

Say Ahhhh A Cappella
Pritzker’s co-ed a cappella singing group ‘Say Ahhhh’ seeks to bring together students from
all different backgrounds in music for a fun and laid-back singing experience. Performances
take place throughout the year at various medical school functions.
Contact: Lara Delamater (ldelamater@uchicago.edu), Michael Yee (michaely@uchicago.edu)
Student Interest Group in Neurology
The Student Interest Group in Neurology (SIGN) is as much about enjoying neuroscience
as it is about preparing medical students for careers in neurology. Events range from
technology demonstrations, to academic events, to community outreach, to events about life
as a neuro resident. There are no requirements for membership and most people have not
decided what field they will enter, so everyone is welcome.
Contact: Jose Morales (jmmorales@uchicago.edu),
Ashoke Khanwalkar (akhanwalkar@uchicago.edu)
Student National Medical Association
The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) is a national organization committed
to supporting current and future underrepresented minority medical students, addressing
the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent,
culturally competent, and socially conscious physicians.
Contact: Abdullah Pratt (pratta@uchicago.edu)
Students for the Advancement of Medical Spanish
The goal of Students for the Advancement of Medical Spanish (SAMS) is to reduce
language barriers in the health care system by helping future physicians develop a working
understanding of medical Spanish and its application in the clinical setting.
Contact: Annie Lauer (alauer@uchicago.edu), Rishi Pandya
(pandyark@uchicago.edu), Justin Hellman (jhellman@uchicago.edu)
Students for the Advancement of
Technology in Medicine
The mission of Students for the Advancement of Technology
in Medicine (SATIM) is to expose students to the various ways
technology plays a critical role in clinical practice, training, and
research. From organizing didactic events by physician pioneers
implementing new devices and techniques to setting up simulation
workshops with real hands-on experience, SATIM exposes medical
students to the themes of innovative technological advances and to
the discussion about how best to harness their utility. The group also
manages the Pritzker Student Portal through which class materials
are shared amongst students.
Contact: Anup Shah (anupshah@uchicago.edu),
Ashoke Khanwalkar (akhanwalkar@uchicago.edu)
Students running a simulation code as part of a
SATIM event.
Life at Pritzker – 25

Surgery Interest Group
Activities of the Surgery Interest Group include monthly
educational meetings and workshops, providing MSIs
and MSIIs with useful clinical tidbits, providing
information on research projects and electives in surgery,
and providing career advice and guidance to MSI—
MSIVs.
Contact: Ramin Morshed (rmorshed@uchicago.edu),
Courtney Orsbon (courtneyorsbon@uchicago.edu)
USMLE Guidance and Support
Group
The USMLE Guidance and Support Group (UGSG)
provides students with resources, guidance, and
reassurance about the three step medical licensing
examination process (with primary focus on the USMLE
step 1). UGSG collects subjective student data regarding
test preparation and feedback and hosts panel discussions.
Contact: Rebecca Plummer (rplummer@uchicago.edu),
Joey Statz (jstatz@uchciago.edu)
Washington Park Children’s Free Health Clinic
Washington Park is a free, walk-in clinic for children which is open every Thursday evening. The
clinic is fully run by medical students, volunteer physicians, and students of the School of Social
Service Administration. This is a great opportunity to practice clinical skills very early in your
medical education, take care of patients, and make an impact on the surrounding community.
Contact: Chris Flanagan (cdflanagan@uchicago.edu),
Elizabeth Rhinesmith (erhinesmith@uchciago.edu)
26 – Life at Pritzker
Learning how to suture...on bananas! At a suture
workshop hosted by SIG.

Patient Contact
You are finally in medical school, you finally get to do what you’ve always wanted to do—
treat patients, right? Not exactly. By this point you’ve probably realized that the first two
years of med school are filled with classes like pathology and pharmacology rather than
histories and physicals. Luckily, at Pritzker, students get to work with patients throughout
those book-heavy preclinical years. Whether it’s shadowing an otolaryngologist in the
DCAM or volunteering Saturday mornings at NLVS, you’re bound to find something that
keeps you focused on exactly why you came to medical school.
Community Health Clinic
Run in part by medical students from all over the city, Community Health Clinic (CHC)
provides the chance to practice those blossoming clinical skills Monday nights throughout
the year. If you are interested in serving as a medical Spanish or Polish certified interpreter or
simply want to work at one of the city’s largest free clinics, then CHC is the place for you.
Maria Shelter
Wednesday nights at Maria Shelter provide a unique experience for those interested in
providing health care to women and children living in the shelter. The Maria Shelter health
clinic is run entirely by medical students, and volunteers get to take patient histories and
present patient cases to the attending physician. Maria Shelter also coordinates community
and education events for the Shelter residents.
New Life Volunteering Society
Spend a Saturday morning performing histories and physicals with patients from the North
Side’s Southeast Asian population at New Life Volunteering Society (NLVS). In addition
to applying those basic skills, volunteers get the unique opportunity to interact with new
aspects of medicine, such as shared medical appointments that track and counsel patients
with chronic conditions.
Washington Park
Take pediatric care to new heights Tuesday nights at Washington Park’s free, walk-in clinic.
Whether you want to learn how to take a pediatric history or hone those vaccination skills,
the clinic gives you a taste of treating the local, South Side population.
Life at Pritzker – 27

Longitudinal Program
Beginning in December of first year, Longitudinal Program (LP) matches students with
physician preceptors to spend seven sessions shadowing in their University of Chicago
affiliated clinic. During each visit, students implement skills learned concurrently in the
Clinical Skills course, including everything from the abdominal exam to a geriatric home
visit exercise in history taking.
Shadowing Physicians
If the free clinics and LP aren’t enough for you, it’s easy enough to explore different fields by
contacting physicians in the University of Chicago system. Doctors are open and willing to
have anyone and everyone shadow them—all you have to do is ask. For example, two MS14s
shadowed a transplant surgeon last August, flew to pick up a heart, and got to watch the
surgery.
Other Volunteer Opportunities
In addition to the opportunities discussed above, Pritzker students also interact with patients
through events like health screenings, health fairs, and vaccine drives. These events are often
put together by Pritzker student organizations.
Pritzker students volunteer at a flu shot drive in Chinatown.
28 – Life at Pritzker

Pritzker School of Medicine
Administration
The Administration of the Pritzker School of Medicine oversees the general workings of the
school, including the curriculum, admissions, financial aid and student life. In this section,
we give you a “who’s who” of the Pritzker administration with a focus on the people you’ll be
interacting with most during your first year.
Office of the Dean
The Office of the Dean oversees medical education for students in
the Pritzker School of Medicine and for all residents and fellows in
graduate medical education programs at the University of Chicago
Medical Center.
Holly Humphrey, MD, Dean for Medical Education
pritzkerdean@bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Medicine
Candace Tate, Executive Assistant to Dr. Humphrey
admin-team@bsd.uchicago.edu
Gerard Mikols, MBA, Associate Dean for Medical Education-Administration
gmikols@bsd.uchicago.edu
Dana Levinson, MPH, Assistant Dean for Medical Education
dlevinso@bsd.uchicago.edu
Kelly Smith, MPP, Director of Strategy and Planning
ksmith2@bsd.uchicago.edu
Holly Humphrey, MD Dana Levinson, MPH
Kelly Smith, MPP
Gerard Mikols, MBA
Candace Tate
Life at Pritzker – 29

Student Affairs and Programs
The Office for Student Life is dedicated to supporting the personal
and professional development of all students at Pritzker by providing
programs and services geared toward the development of happy and
well-balanced physicians-in-training who will become competent,
caring, and compassionate physicians.
The Office for Student Life works in concert with many other
Pritzker programs as well as faculty who oversee specific programs in
global health and community service learning.
James Woodruff, MD, Associate Dean of Students
jwoodruf@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Medicine
Key contact for: career advising, Pritzker societies, dual degrees,
student government, student organizations, and personal/
professional needs
Shalini Reddy, MD, Director of Student Professional Development
Programs
sreddy@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Medicine
Key contact for: Pritzker societies and student organizations
Elizabeth Kieff, MD, Director of Wellness Programs
ekieff@bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Psychiatry
Key contact for: Health and well-being issues related to Pritzker,
including concerns about relationships, children, studying, stress, etc
Kate Blythe, Director of Student Affairs and Student Programs
kblythe@bsd.uchicago.edu
Candi Gard, Student Programs Administrator
cgard@bsd.uchicago.edu
Valaria McClinton, Student Programs Administrator
vmcclint@bsd.uchicago.edu
30 – Life at Pritzker
Have a question but not sure who to contact?
James Woodruff, MD Shalini Reddy, MD
Elizabeth Kieff, MD
Kate Blythe
Candi Gard Valaria McClinton
Try contacting Dr. James Woodruff (jwoodruf@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu), Dr. Shalini
Reddy (sreddy@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu), Dr. Elizabeth Kieff (ekieff@bsd.uchicago.
edu), or Dr. Monica Vela (mvela@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu).
Involved with many aspects of student life, these individuals are “point people” for
Pritzker. If they can’t answer your question, they can direct you to someone who can.

Multicultural Affairs
The Office of Multicultural Affairs works to
ensure a supportive academic environment
for underrepresented minorities at our school.
Among the nation’s highest ranked medical
schools, Pritzker has achieved one of the most
diverse student bodies.
Monica Vela, MD, Associate Dean of
Multicultural Affairs
mvela@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Medicine
Rosita Ragin, Assistant Dean for Multicultural Affairs
rragin@bsd.uchicago.edu
Nikeela Oliver, Secretary for Multicultural Affairs
noliver2@bsd.uchicago.edu
Admissions and Financial Aid
The Office of Admissions and Financial Aid is involved with MD
admissions, yearly financial aid applications and awards, and financial
literacy education.
Anthony Montag, MD, Associate Dean for Admissions
amontag@bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Pathology
Sylvia Robertson, Assistant Dean for Admissions and Financial Aid
sylvia@bsd.uchicago.edu
Cynthia Frierson, Director of Financial Aid
cfrierson@bsd.uchicago.edu
Key contact for: Questions about financial aid
Darrell Nabers, Director of Admissions and Outreach
dnabers@bsd.uchicago.edu
Key contact for: admissions volunteering, student interviewing, hosting
applicants, outreach programming to student applicants, new student
recruitment
Charles Todd, PhD, Associate Director of Admissions & Financial Aid
ctodd@bsd.uchicago.edu
Lee Brauer, Assistant Manager, Admissions and Financial Aid
lbrauer@bsd.uchicago.edu
Maria Hernandez, Coordinator for Admissions and Financial Aid
mhernand@bsd.uchicago.edu
Juana Villalpando, Coordinator for Admissions and Financial Aid
jvillalp@bsd.uchicago.edu
Monica Vela, MD Rosita Ragin Nikeela Oliver
Anthony Montag, MD Sylvia Robertson
Cynthia Frierson Darrell Nabers
Charles Todd, PhD
Lee Brauer
Life at Pritzker – 31

Medical School Education
The Office of Medical School Education develops the Pritzker curriculum
to meet the changing needs of students and the medical profession. This
office prepares the quarterly class schedule, conducts course and faculty
evaluations, and uses evaluations to improve courses and clerkships
through the Curriculum Review Committees.
Halina Brukner, MD, Associate Dean for Medical School Education
hbrukner@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Medicine
Lori Orr, Director of Medical School Education
lorr@bsd.uchicago.edu
Key contact for: questions about the curriculum or clerkship rotations
Maureen Okonski, Registrar
mokonski@bsd.uchicago.edu
Key contact for: issues relating to registration
Jill O’Brien, Medical School Education Administrator
jobrien1@bsd.uchicago.edu
Key contact for: course schedules, NBME registration
Scholarship and Discovery
Scholarship and Discovery is one component of Pritzker’s curriculum
in which students complete a mentored research project by the time of
graduation. See the First Year Courses section for details and visit our Wiki
site at https://sites.google.com/site/scholarshipdiscovery/home.
Vineet Arora, MD, MAPP, Assistant Dean for Scholarship and Discovery
scholarshipanddiscovery@bsd.uchicago.edu
Department: Medicine
Sujata Mehta, MA, Manager for Scholarship and Discovery
scholarshipanddiscovery@bsd.uchicago.edu
Pritzker Communications/Website
Caroline oversees the school’s internal and external communications
including editing the Pritzker Pulse student newsletter and maintaining
the Pritzker website.
Caroline Kraft, Marketing and Communications Coordinator /
Residency Advising Manager
ckraft@bsd.uchicago.edu
Key contact for: Website content, Pritzker Pulse, letters of
recommendation, advising, and residency applications
32 – Life at Pritzker
Halina Brukner, MD
Jill O’Brien Lori Orr
Vineet Arora, MD,
MAPP
Caroline Kraft
Maureen Okonski
Sujata Mehta, MPP

Biological Sciences
Learning Center
924 E. 57th St.
The BSLC is a single building with a dual purpose to educate new generations of students
and to create new knowledge through research. For the next two years you will spend most
of your time in this building, located on the north side of 57th Street across from the
John Crerar Science Library and the Gordon Center for Integrative Science (GCIS). In
addition to classroom and laboratory space for first- and second-year medical students, the
BSLC is home to many courses in the College and the graduate programs of the Division
of Biological Sciences. Next door to the BSLC is the Gwen and Jules Knapp Center for
Biomedical Discovery (KCBD, 900 E. 57th St.), a 10-story building housing state-of-theart
research programs in diabetes, pediatrics, genomics and cancer, among other medical
specialties. Some of you may end up doing research in the Knapp Center during your time
at Pritzker.
Lower Level
Lecture hall: BSLC 001
Clinical Performance Center
Computer lab and computer stations
1st Floor
Two main lecture halls: BSLC 109 and 115
Pritzker Administrative Offices 104
Pritzker Wellness Resource Center 102
2nd Floor
Small classrooms
Red Mango
3rd Floor
Second-year lockers
Clinical Pathophysiology lab rooms
Mailboxes
Pritzker student lounge (BSLC 340)
4th Floor
First-year lockers
Gross anatomy and histology labs
Computer lab (BSLC 410)
5th Floor
Greenhouses
The BSLC, where almost all first year classes are held.
Life at Pritzker – 33

University of Chicago
Hospitals
While you will spend a lot of time in BSLC during your first two years at Pritzker, you will
also need to be familiar with the University of Chicago hospitals and clinics. Social Rounds
are held on Friday afternoons in the Pritzker Student Lounge in Mitchell Hospital, and you
may need to visit different parts of the medical center to shadow, attend talks and meetings,
and more. Here’s some basic information to get you started.
Abbott Memorial Hall
947 E. 58th St.
Houses physiology and pharmacology.
Billings Hospital
950 E. 59th St.
Houses Administrative offices for the departments
of medicine, surgery, and pathology.
34 – Life at Pritzker
Comer Children’s Hospital
5721 S. Maryland Ave.
Place of care for children
Duchossois Center for
Advanced Medicine
5758 S. Maryland Ave.
Home to nearly all of the adult primary and
specialty clinics, pediatric specialty clinics, and
outpatient diagnostic and treatment facilities.

Emergency Room
901 E. 58th St.
Frank McLean Institute
5824 S. Ellis Ave.
Mitchell Hospital
5815 S. Maryland Ave.
Home to the primary adult inpatient facility,
it includes the emergency department and
the Arthur Rubloff Intensive Care Tower.
Surgery-Brain Research
Pavilion
5812 S. Ellis Ave.
Fast Facts About the UChicago Medicine
Closest hospital entrance to the BSLC.
For the 2011 fiscal year, from www.uchospitals.edu/about/fact/hospitals-sheet.html.
Average Beds in Service: 550
Admissions: 22,797
Patient Days: 142,837
Deliveries: 1,572
Visits to the DCAM: 384,550
Emergency Visits: 74,359
Life at Pritzker – 35

Map of UChicago Medical Center
.
SOUTH COTTAGE GROVE AVENUE
Medical
Campus Map
Registration
(Level 1)
Food Court
(Level 2)
Duchossois
Center
(DCAM)
Duchossois
Center (DCAM)
Entrance &
Valet Parking
Garage
Entrance
Elevator to
Parking Garage
Parking
Garage
New Hospital Pavilion
Pharmacy
(Level 1)
Comer Children’s
Hospital & Clinics
Entrance &
Valet Parking
Mitchell Adult
Hospital Entrance
(Open 24 Hours)
& Valet Parking
Parking
Office
Wyler
Pavilion
Entrance
Garage
Entrance
Visitor Elevator
Visitor Elevator
Staff Elevator
Pharmacy
Gift Shop
Sidewalk to Comer
Children’s Hospital
And Now...Introducing the New Hospital Pavillion
Visitor Elevator
Visitor Elevator
Accessible Entrance Café/Food Court
36 – Life at Pritzker
SOUTH MARYLAND AVENUE
HOSPITAL
ELEVATOR
Comer
Children’s
Hospital
Mitchell
Lobby
Admitting
(Level 2)
L Corridor
CLINIC
ELEVATOR
Children’s
Emergency
(Level 1)
Children’s
Clinics
ELEVATOR
Mitchell
Adult
Hospital
Radiology
(Level 1)
Student
Care
Center
(Level 1)
EAST 57TH STREET
Children’s
Emergency
Entrance
Labor &
Delivery
(Level 2)
D Corridor
SOUTH DREXEL AVENUE
EAST 58TH STREET
H Corridor
Goldblatt
Entrance
EAST 59TH STREET
W Corridor
B Corridor
Adult
Emergency
Entrance
W Corridor
Medical
Records
(Level B)
B Corridor
P Corridor
N Corridor
ELEVATOR
M Corridor
ELEVATOR
M Corridor
AB Corridor AB Corridor
Q Corridor
Surgery
Waiting
(Level 2)
Cafeteria
(Level B)
A Corridor
Ingleside
Post Office Bookstore
A brand new hospital building will open in January 2013. According to the website, the
hospital “will contain 240 single-occupancy inpatient rooms including 60 intensive care
beds; 28 operating rooms with leading-edge technology; two floors of expansion space
for future technology; and an integrated diagnostic and interventional platform including
cardiac, gastrointestinal, neurological and vascular services.” During Revisit Weekend,
prospective students had the opportunity to tour the new facilities.
J Corridor
S Corridor
S Corridor
E Corridor
G Corridor
O Corridor
Ellis Ave.
Entrance
I Corridor
SOUTH ELLIS AVENUE
N

Affiliated Hospitals
Third and fourth year students perform clerkships at the following hospitals with which
UCMC has a partnership.
NorthShore
The NorthShore University HealthSystem is an integrated healthcare delivery system that
includes the following hospitals:
Evanston Hospital
Glenbrook Hospital
Highland Park Hospital
Skokie Hospital
La Rabida Children’s Hospital
La Rabida is the only hospital in the country solely dedicated to caring for children with
chronic illnesses, disabilities, or who have been abused or neglected.
Mercy Hospital
Mercy Hospital is also a clerkship site for internal medicine and psychiatry; specifically for
primary assignment on the adult inpatient general psychiatry unit.
Life at Pritzker – 37

UCHICAGO
AND HYDE PARK

Introduction to the University
The University of Chicago was founded in 1890 by the
American Baptist Education Society and oil magnate John
D. Rockefeller, who later described the University of Chicago
as “the best investment I ever made.” The land for the new
university, located in the recently annexed suburb of Hyde
Park, was donated by Marshall Field, owner of the Chicago
department store that used to bear his name. William Rainey
Harper, the first president, imagined a university that would
combine an American-style undergraduate liberal arts
college with a German-style graduate research university.
The University of Chicago quickly fulfilled Harper’s dream,
becoming a national leader in higher education and research.
Frederick Rudolph, professor of history at Williams College,
wrote in his 1962 study, The American College and University:
A walk through the quads. A History, “No episode was more important in shaping the
outlook and expectations of American higher education
during those years than the founding of the University of Chicago, one of those events in
American history that brought into focus the spirit of an age.”
One of Harper’s curricular innovations was to
run classes all year round, and to allow students
to graduate at whatever time of year they
completed their studies. Appropriately enough,
the first class was held on Saturday at 8:30 in
the morning. Just as appropriately, Harper
and the other faculty members had pulled a
feverish all-nighter beforehand, unpacking and
arranging desks, chairs and tables in the newlyconstructed
Cobb Hall. Although the University
was established by Baptists, it was nondenominational
from the start. It also welcomed
women and minority students at a time when
many universities did not.
Ivy-covered gothic architecture is a distinctive
feature of the quadrangle.
The first buildings copied the English Gothic style of architecture, complete with towers,
spires, cloisters, and gargoyles. By 1910, the University had adopted more traditions,
including a coat of arms that bore a phoenix emerging from the flames and a Latin motto,
Crescat Scientia, Vita Excolatur (“Let knowledge increase so that life may be enriched.”).
Life at Pritzker – 39

In 1929, Robert Hutchins became the University’s fifth president. During his tenure,
Hutchins established many of the undergraduate curricular innovations that the University
is known for today. These included a curriculum dedicated specifically to interdisciplinary
education, comprehensive examinations instead of course grades, courses focused on the
study of original documents and classic works, and an emphasis on discussion, rather than
lectures. While the Core curriculum has changed substantially since Hutchins’ time, original
texts and small discussion sections remain a hallmark of a Chicago education.
Less well-known is that the University was a
founding member of the Big Ten Conference.
The University’s first athletic director, Amos
Alonzo Stagg, was also the first tenured coach
in the nation, holding the position of Associate
Professor and Director of the Department of
Physical Culture and Athletics. In 1935, senior
Jay Berwanger was awarded the first Heisman
trophy. Just four years later, however, Hutchins
famously abolished the football team, citing the
need for the University to focus on academics.
Varsity football was reinstated in 1969.
In 1941, shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor during WWII, the University of
Chicago began its participation in the Manhattan Project to develop the atomic bomb.
The University formed the “Metallurgical Laboratory,” a cover name for the project, and
physicists set up shop underneath the unused football field (located near what is Mansueto
Library today). On December 2nd, 1942, Enrico Fermi and his colleagues created the first
self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction, and the site is now a historic national landmark.
Starting in the early 1950s, the University of Chicago became prominently involved
in redeveloping the Hyde Park neighborhood. Since then, the university has faced the
challenging and complex task of integrating its goals and missions with those of the
surrounding community. Its relationship with the racially and economically diverse Hyde
Park and Kenwood community has been at turns tense and collaborative and continues to
evolve.
During the late 1950s and early 1960s, the University began to add modern buildings to the
formerly all-Gothic campus. These included the Laird Bell Law Quadrangle (Eero Saarinen,
1959) and the School of Social Service Administration (Ludwig Mies van der Rohe,
1965). In 1963, the University acquired the Robie House, built by Frank Lloyd Wright in
1909. By 1970, the Regenstein Library – at seven stories and almost a block square, the
largest building on campus by far – occupied the site of Old Stagg Field. The University
experienced its share of student unrest during the 1960s, beginning in 1962, when students
occupied President George Beadle’s office in a protest over the University’s off-campus rental
policies. In 1969, more than 400 students, angry about the dismissal of a popular professor,
occupied the Administration Building for two weeks.
40 – Life at Pritzker
A view of Hutchinson courtyard.

In 1978, Hanna Gray, Professor of History, was appointed President of the University,
becoming the first woman to serve as president of a major research university. During
Gray’s tenure, both undergraduate and graduate enrollment increased, and a new science
quadrangle was completed. In the 1990s, controversy returned to campus – but this time,
the point of contention was the undergraduate curriculum. After a long discussion process
that received national attention, the new curriculum was announced in 1998. While
continuing the dedication to interdisciplinary general education, the new curriculum
included a new emphasis on foreign language acquisition and expanded international and
cross-cultural study opportunities.
The University of Chicago has had a profound impact on American higher education;
curricula across the country have been influenced by the emphasis on broad humanistic and
scientific undergraduate education. The University also has a well-deserved reputation as
the “teacher of teachers” – teaching is the most frequent career path for alumni, luring more
than one in seven. “The question before us is how to become one in spirit, not necessarily
in opinion,” President Harper said at the first faculty meeting in 1892. In the intervening
century, the University’s programs, curricula and campus have undergone substantial
changes, many of which were deeply
controversial. However, as President Don
Michael Randel pointed out in his inaugural
speech of 2000:
“A number of words and phrases recur
through the eleven administrations
and 108 years since that first faculty
meeting. They speak of the primacy
of research, the intimate relationship
of research to teaching, and to the
amelioration of the condition of
humankind, a pioneering spirit, the
‘great conversation’ across traditional
disciplines that creates not only new
knowledge but whole new fields of
knowledge, the ‘experimental attitude’
and the intellectual freedom that
makes this attitude possible, the
intimate and essential relationship to
the city of Chicago, and, fundamental
to all this, a distinguished faculty
committed to this spirit. At no other
university is such a spirit so deeply
shared among faculty, students and
alumni.”
The newly renovated Harper Memorial
Library.
Life at Pritzker – 41

Introduction to Hyde Park
A typical view walking through Hyde Park.
Unique Attractions
• Frank Lloyd Wright Robie House
• Hyde Park Art Center
• Midway Plaisance, site of the World Fair in 1893
• Museum of Science and Industry
• Oriental Institute
42 – Life at Pritzker
Right on Lake Michigan, seven miles south
of downtown, Hyde Park/South Kenwood
is home to 43,000 people, including more
than 60 percent of the University’s faculty
and a great majority of its students. The
area was settled in the 1850s as an elegant
suburb and was among the most desirable
places to live in the city of Chicago.
Hyde Park is characterized by both
preservation and development, and it is
also the site of renowned museums and
architectural landmarks. The neighborhood
has a history of social activism, political
leadership, and community life and has
been cited nationally as among the most
successful racially and economically
integrated urban communities in the
United States.
• Renaissance Society, a non-collecting contemporary museum of art
• Seminary Co-Op, a bookstore with the largest volume of academic books in the U.S.
• Smart Museum of Art

Campus Map
During the first two years of medical school, you will be spending most of your time at the BSLC. It
is located on 57th Street between Ellis and Drexel Avenues. Below is a map of campus and some other
places that will be important for you to know as you start school. The rest is up to you to explore.
Enjoy!
BSLC University Bookstore
Knapp
Center
Ratner
Cobb Hall and the
Divinity School
Ida Noyes, The Pub,
Doc Films
Life at Pritzker – 43

Places to Eat on Campus
If you need a meal or a coffee, tea, or espresso while on campus, check out the places listed
below.
C = Coffee T = Tea
E = Espresso P = Pastries and Baked Goods
HP = Food from local Hyde Park Restaurants F = Freshly Prepared Foods
Argo Tea
DCAM Lobby
Monday—Friday: 5:30 a.m.—6:30 p.m.
C | T | P
Au Bon Pain
Mitchell Hospital lobby
Monday—Friday: 6:00 a.m.—Midnight
Saturday—Sunday: 6:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Comer Children’s Hospital
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
C | T | E | F | P
Barnes & Noble Café
University Bookstore
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
C | T | E | HP | P
Billings Hospital Cafeteria
Billings Hospital, basement
Monday—Friday: 6:30 a.m.—8:00 p.m.
Closed: 10:30—11:00 a.m., 4:00—4:30
p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 7:00 a.m.—2:30 p.m.
44 – Life at Pritzker
Bio Café
BSLC, 2nd floor
Monday—Friday: 8:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
C | T | F | P
Classics Café
Classics, 2nd floor
Monday—Thursday: 7:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Friday: 7:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
C | T | E | HP | F | P
Cobb Hall Coffee Shop
Cobb Hall, basement
Monday—Friday: 7:30 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
C | T | E | HP | P
Happy hour from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. features
free coffee or tea with purchases over $1.75.
Common Knowledge Café (Harper Café)
Harper Memorial Library, 3rd Floor
Monday—Thursday: 9:00 a.m.—Midnight
Friday: 9:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 2:00 p.m.—Midnight
C | T | E | HP | P

C—Shop
Reynolds Club, 1st floor
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.
Sunday: 10:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.
C | T | E | F | P
$1 shakes on Wednesdays!
DCAM Food Court
DCAM, 2nd floor
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Sandwiches, pizza, stir fry, a deli and frozen
yogurt.
Divinity School Coffee Shop
Swift Hall, basement
Monday—Friday: 8:00 a.m.—4:00 p.m.
C | T | E | HP | P
“Where God drinks coffee.”
Everett Kovler Café
Graduate School of Business, 1st floor
Dining Hall
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Starbucks Coffee Shop
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—10:00 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
C | T | E | F | HP
Ex Libris
Regenstein Library, A-level
Monday—Thursday: 8:30 a.m.—11:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 2:00 p.m.—11:30 p.m.
C | T | HP | P
Hallowed Grounds
Reynolds Club, 2nd floor
Monday—Friday: 10:00 a.m.—11:30 p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 12:00 p.m.—11:30 p.m.
C | T | E | HP | P
Hutchinson Commons
Reynolds Club, 1st floor
Monday—Thursday: 10:30 a.m.—Midnight
Friday: 10:30 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m.—8:00 p.m.
F
Intelligentsia Coffee
Graduate School of Business, 1st floor
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—3:00 p.m.
C | T | E
Jazzman’s Café
Knapp Center for Biomedical Discovery, 1st
floor
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
C | T | E | F | P
Bread bowls!
The Pub
Ida Noyes Basement
Monday—Thursday, Saturday: 4:00 p.m.—
Midnight
Friday: 4:00 p.m.—1:00 a.m.
A favorite after-hours hangout for over-21
students, staff, and faculty offering more
than 100 beers from around the world and
pub food. Membership costs $10/year for
students.
Sam & Elaine’s Café
Gordon Center for Integrative Science, 3rd
floor
Monday—Friday: 7:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
C | T | E | F | P
Smart Museum Café
Smart Museum lobby
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:00
a.m.—4:00 p.m.
Thursday: 8:00 a.m.—7:30 p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 11:00 a.m.—4:30 p.m.
C | T | E | HP | P
Life at Pritzker – 45

Coffee Shops and Cafés
in Hyde Park
Several new cafés have opened in Hyde Park over the past few years, and there’s now a
pretty diverse selection of offerings and locations. If you’re looking to branch out beyond
Starbucks*, the following is a comprehensive list of the coffee shops in Hyde Park.
Bonjour Café
1550 E. 55th St. (between Harper and Lake
Park Ave.)
Monday: Closed
Tuesday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:00 a.m.—5:00 p.m.
This is a French café that offers a wide
selection of delicious baked goods, including
croissants, fruit tarts, and macarons. Other
offerings include sandwiches, croque
monsieurs, paninis, quiche, salads and soups.
Tea and Metropolis coffee and espresso are
served, and outside seating is available.
Café 53
1369 E. 53rd St. (between Kenwood and
Dorchester Ave.)
Monday—Sunday: 7:00 a.m.—9:00 p.m.
Free Wi-fi
A good spot for studying – fairly quiet, with
plenty of tables and comfortable chairs, and
no one minds if stay there with your laptop
for most of the afternoon. Café 53 offers the
usual array of drinks, as well as gelato and a
wide selection of baked goods from various
Chicago bakeries, including vegan and
gluten-free options.
Café 57
1520 E. 57th St. (57th and Lake Park Ave.,
under the Metra tracks)
Monday—Friday: 6:30 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
46 – Life at Pritzker
Wi-fi with Purchase
Café 57 serves Intelligentsia coffee and
espresso, tea, sandwiches, and pastries;
smoothies and ice cream are on the way.
The coffee and pastries are great, and there’s
outdoor seating as soon as the weather gets
warm.
Istria
5030 S. Cornell Ave. (located in the Hyde Park
Art Center)
Monday—Friday: 6:30 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Wi-fi with Purchase
Right across the street from Regents, this is
definitely a neighborhood favorite. Istria is
known for its excellent Intelligentsia espresso
and coffee, including pour over brewing
systems, and for its freshly made gelato – ask
to sample flavors from classics like pistachio
to more inventive ones like caramelized fig
or chamomile cream. The space is nice and
fairly large, but seating can be hard to come
by during busy periods. Tea, paninis, and
pastries are also available.
*There are three Starbucks locations in Hyde Park: 55th and Woodlawn, 53rd and Harper, and in the Barnes
and Noble bookstore on campus (58th and Ellis).

Medici Bakery
1327 E. 57th St. (between Kimbark and
Kenwood Ave.)
Monday—Thursday: 11:00 a.m.—11:00
p.m.
Friday: 11:00 a.m.—Midnight
Saturday: 9:00 a.m.—Midnight
Sunday: 9:00 a.m.—11:00 p.m.
The Medici bakery is right next to the
Medici restaurant and offers deli sandwiches,
ice cream, freshly baked pastries (the
chocolate croissants are popular) and breads,
and coffee, espresso, and tea. You can also
get food to go from the Medici Restaurant
through the bakery. Seating is limited (only
3-4 tables), so it’s much more of a social
space than a study space. Outdoor seating is
available through the summer and early fall.
Robust Coffee Lounge
6300 S. Woodlawn Ave.
Monday—Friday: 6:00 a.m.—8:00 p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Free Wi-fi
Don’t be put off by the location – Robust
Coffee Lounge is a charming coffee shop
that offers a great selection of drinks as well
as lunch and breakfast items. They make
fresh Belgian waffles with customizable
toppings and offer a variety of sandwiches,
as well as a soup and quiche of the day. This
is another place where you can sit and study
for hours in a comfortable and nicely laid
out space.
Third World Café
1301 E. 53rd St. (between Kenwood and
Kimbark Ave.)
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 8:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Wi-fi with Purchase
Third World Café offers your usual range
of tea, coffee and espresso drinks, as well as
many breakfast, sandwich, salad and soup
options – and huge muffins. There’s a great
mix of people and plenty of seating.
Zaleski & Horvath MarketCafe
1126 E. 47th St. (between Greenwood and
Woodlawn Ave.)
1323 E. 57th St. (between Kimbark and
Kenwood Ave.)
Monday—Friday: 7:00 a.m.—7:00 p.m.
Saturday—Sunday: 8:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
Free Wi-fi
One of the editors’ favorite spots in Hyde
Park. There are two locations: the one on
47th Street has more grocery and specialty
food options, while the one on 57th Street
is more oriented towards the café side of the
MarketCafe. Z&H offers many delicious
sandwiches (as well as breakfast sandwiches
that are available all day), a variety of pastries
and a comprehensive list of drinks (coffee
is made using the Clover machine). Make
sure to get the fresh beignets on Sunday
mornings and browse the store for a nice
variety of specialty foods, chocolates, cured
meats and cheeses. Z&H can get crowded
around midday, but it’s a nice place to sit
and read or study in the mornings, and
the garage door front lifts up during nice
weather.
Latte art at Istria Café.
Life at Pritzker – 47

Health Services
The Student Life fee, which registered students pay quarterly, gives access to a variety of
services and resources provided by the Student Health Service and the Student Counseling
and Resource Service. For a full list of what is and is not covered by the Student Life fee,
consult the following website: http://studenthealth.uchicago.edu/page/2011-2012-universitystudent-health-insurance-plan-u-ship
Student Health Service
http://healthcare.uchicago.edu/
Location: The Student Health Service (SHS), room R-100, can be reached through various
entrances to the University of Chicago hospital. One option is to enter through the Ellis
entrance and follow the signs to the SHS, while another is to enter through the Goldblatt
entrance on 59th and Drexel and take a left after passing through the lobby.
Hours:
Call for an appointment between 8am and 5pm M-F
Appointment Hours:
8am – 6pm, Mon-Thur
8am - 5pm, Friday
NO WALK-INS
Telephone:
Appointments or to speak with a nurse: (773) 702-4156
Nurse Advice Line (after-hours): (773) 702-1915
Immunizations: (773) 702-9975
Billing Services: (773) 702-6817
Services: The SHS provides primary health care services to University students. Students
are encouraged to choose a primary care doctor when they first arrive. SHARE (Sexuality,
Health, and Resources for Everyone) provides gynecological care as well as sexuality and
relationship counseling. A comprehensive list of the services provided by the SHS, which
include vaccinations, travel immunizations, sports medicine, and nutritional services, can be
found on their website. When making an appointment, be sure to tell the receptionist you
are a medical student so you are not scheduled with a provider who also teaches at Pritzker.
48 – Life at Pritzker

Student Health and Counseling Services
http://studenthealth.uchicago.edu/
Location: 5737 S. University Ave.
Hours:
Telephone:
Monday—Friday: 8:30 a.m.—4:45 p.m.
Appointments – (773) 702-9800
Therapist on call (Emergencies/After hours) – (773) 702-3625
Services: The Student Health and Counseling Services provides short-term professional
counseling to all University students. All services are covered by the Student Life fee.
Visits are strictly confidential; no information is released outside the Student Health and
Counseling Services without a student’s written permission, except in life threatening
emergencies. Students may seek counseling for any problem that causes them distress,
including difficulty dealing with academic pressures, burn-out, anxiety, depression,
addiction, loneliness, and marital difficulties. Many different forms of counseling are offered,
such as support groups and counseling for individuals, couples, and families, including
marital counseling. Spouses of students can be covered by paying a separate Student Health
Service fee. The clinic can also make referrals to outside resources. You can call to arrange
an intake interview in which you provide information about yourself and your reasons for
seeking counseling. When calling to schedule an appointment, be sure to tell the receptionist
you are a medical student so you are not scheduled with Dr. Elizabeth Kieff. She is the
Director of Wellness at Pritzker and only sees non-medical students through the Student
Health and Counseling Services. Please also note that urgent cases are handled immediately.
You do not need an appointment during a crisis.
Life at Pritzker – 49

Exercise
It’s easy to stay active as a medical student at Pritzker. With the campus gyms, local parks
with tennis courts, and the Lakefront Trail, there’s plenty of ways to get exercise.
Gyms
Gerald Ratner Athletics Center
5530 S. Ellis Ave., athletics.uchicago.edu
The air-conditioned, 150,000 square-foot facility features
the 50-meter x 25-yard Myers-McLoraine Swimming Pool;
the Bernard DelGiorno Fitness Center with cardiovascular
exercise equipment, selectorized weightlifting machines,
and free weights; a multipurpose dance studio; competition
and auxiliary gymnasia; classroom and meeting room space;
permanent and day lockers and locker rooms; the University of
Chicago Athletics Hall of Fame; and the athletic department
offices.
Henry Crown Field House
5550 S. University Ave., athletics.uchicago.edu
Pritzker students after running half and full
The older athletic facility on campus, Henry Crown Field marathons at the University of Illinois.
House has cardio, resistance, and weight training equipment.
It also houses an indoor track and recreational courts that can be used for badminton,
volleyball, indoor soccer, and basketball.
Regents Club
North Tower of Regents Park Apartment
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, this private gym offers a comprehensive schedule of
aerobics classes and also has an indoor pool. It is possible to obtain a membership discount.
Outdoor Resources
Tennis Courts
Tennis courts can be found in several parks around Hyde Park. Try Promontory Point
(5491 S. South Shore Dr.) or Harold Washington Park (5200 S. Hyde Park Blvd.).
Lakefront Trail
The Lakefront Trail is an 18-mile paved trail along Lake Michigan. Running from
Hollywood Avenue on the north to 71st Street on the south, the trail includes mile markers,
restrooms, and parking lots. It is easy to reach the trail from Hyde Park.
In addition to these opportunities, there are a number of 5Ks, marathons, triathlons, and
other races in Chicago to participate in.
50 – Life at Pritzker

Computing
For better or for worse, it’s likely that you’ll spend a lot of time on your computer in medical
school. Whether you’re trying to keep up with the constant stream of emails, G-chatting
during lecture, or frantically going through three weeks worth of class PowerPoints before
an exam, your computer will probably be both a useful learning tool and a total distraction.
Here we’ll talk a little bit about the different computing resources available on campus, some
useful websites, and what kinds of computers Pritzker students use.
If you ever have an IT-related question or want more information about any of the
computer-related services on campus, the following is a useful and comprehensive website:
itservices.uchicago.edu.
Computers on Campus
There are computer labs and clusters all over campus. If you ever need to use software you
don’t have, scan something, or just check your email, there are plenty of places to do so. A
full list of the software available on university computers is provided here: itservices.uchicago.
edu/services/usite/software. Additionally, if you need to print anything outside of the BSLC,
there are printing stations located in all of the libraries. Money for printing can be loaded
onto your UChicago ID card at machines located near the printing stations.
BSLC 410– Anatomy Computer Lab
Located on the fourth floor of the BSLC (room 410) in the middle of the histology lab
rooms, there are about 10 PCs that you can use for usual computer work or to use software
designed to help with understanding histology and anatomy. Printing (black and white only)
is free as long as you bring your own paper. Only med students have access to the lab and it’s
a quiet, convenient place to use the internet or study if you don’t bring your computer with
you to school.
Regenstein Library
There are PCs and printing stations on every floor of Regenstein. In the A level, which you
can get to by taking the stairs down one level from the first floor, there’s a MacLab (maclab.
cs.uchicago.edu) equipped with more than fifty Apple Mac Pros with 23” or 24” Cinema
displays. These Macs come with lots of additional software, including Adobe Creative Suite,
and there are several scanners available as well. The MacLab is open until 10:00 p.m. on
Friday and Saturday, and 1:00 a.m. Monday—Thursday.
Life at Pritzker – 51

Crerar Library
Crerar is the closest library to the BSLC and tends to be much quieter than Regenstein. The
majority of the computers are located in the reading room on the first floor – there are PCs,
Mac Pros, scanners, and printing stations.
Harper Library
The newly renovated Harper Memorial Library Commons, on the third floor of the Harper
Memorial Building, is a spacious, beautiful reading room and a great spot for studying.
Right outside of this space is the Common Knowledge Café, where you can get snacks, food
from local restaurants, and your caffeine fix. If you ever find yourself in need of computer
access or printing, go the Stuart Reading Room, which is another space connected to the
café. Stuart Reading room has cubicles for collaborative work and a cluster of PCs past the
cubicles. The printing station is located near the entrance to the Stuart Reading Room.
Useful Websites
Orientation Homepage pritzker.uchicago.edu/current/students/orientation
All the key documents and deadlines for coming to Pritzker are found here.
The Chalk System chalk.uchicago.edu
Chalk will be one of the most useful academic websites during your first two years at
Pritzker. After logging in with your CNet username and password, which will be set up over
the summer, you will have access to all your class information and materials. Each class you
take will have its own site on Chalk, where important announcements, lectures, reviews,
readings, course evaluations and grades will be posted. You’ll be able to download materials
and submit assignments through Chalk. If you haven’t used Chalk before, it’s worth it to
quickly familiarize yourself with the organization and functions of the site. You can also
schedule office hours for some of the faculty & deans from Chalk.
cMail webmail.uchicago.edu
In one of the summer mailings, you will receive instructions on how to set up your CNet ID
and password. This will serve as your login information for email, Chalk, UChicago wireless,
and many other university services. You will automatically be added to the listhost as well,
which serves as a way for you to contact your whole class or the other classes at once. By
sending an email to ms16@lists.uchicago.edu, your message will be broadcast to all members
of the class of 2016. There will be a short session during orientation week about the proper
etiquette in regards to messaging the listhost. In general, remember that your message will
be seen by everyone in your class and will also be monitored by the OME, so use your best
judgment when sending out messages. You can set up a system to automatically forward
email from your cMail account to Gmail or any other email account you use here: cnet.
uchicago.edu/cmail/forwarding.
cMore cmore.uchicago.edu
The University of Chicago’s site for managing your personal information. This is where you
can update your contact information or access the latest bursar’s bill.
52 – Life at Pritzker

Pritzker Student Portal pritzker.uchicago.edu/psp
The Pritzker Student Portal is a website created by Pritzker students for Pritzker students.
It is run by the SATIM student organization. On here, you will find student notes, cram
sheets, reviews and previous exams that have been uploaded by students from previous
classes. You will need to set up a separate username and password to access the PSP (not your
CNet ID and password).
TIMESpace pritzker.uchicago.edu/timespace
You can find previously recorded lectures here.
Library Homepage www.lib.uchicago.edu
This is the place to start to find journal articles and books. You can also access electronic
articles from home via your CNet ID and password.
NSIT nsit.uchicago.edu
NSIT is the University of Chicago’s Office of Information Technology. Go here to see how
much software costs (only $25 for a Microsoft Office Professional license, only $65 for a
license toAdobe Professional, but $200 for an Endnote license!).
The Pritzker Calendar pritzker.uchicago.edu/events
This is where you can learn what cool medical school events are being hosted. Check it out
now to see what Pritzker students do.
The University of Chicago Calendar event.uchicago.edu/maincampus
A great resource for broadening your activities outside of the medical school!
Life at Pritzker – 53

Pritzker Students and Computers
If you’re thinking about buying a new computer before med school starts or if you’re
just curious about how Pritzker students use their computers during the school day, the
following information might be helpful. Here’s what MS14 students use:
Students who have a laptop: 90.5%
Students who have a desktop: 1.2%
Students who have both: 8.3%
PC: 52.4%
Mac: 46.4%
Both: 1.2%
Many students like to bring their laptops to class so that they can take notes on each slide of
the PowerPoint lectures. Others prefer a pen and notebook, while still others use devices like
the iPad. It all depends on what works best for you. There’s secure, free UChicago wireless
internet all over campus, so a laptop can definitely be helpful and convenient for readily
accessing email and the internet at any place and time. However, as discussed above, there
are also plenty of computers on campus, so you don’t have to bring your computer with you
everyday. Paper copies of lectures and lecture notes are provided in notebook form for many
of the classes, and you can print out copies of the lectures for free in the fourth floor BSLC
computer lab.
If you’re in the market for a new computer, the University of Chicago provides a list of
packages and student discounts at itservices.uchicago.edu/groups/solutioncenter.
54 – Life at Pritzker

Religious and Spiritual Life
The University of Chicago and Hyde Park offers a variety of religious and spiritual
groups and networks, as well as many places of worship. The following is by no means a
comprehensive list of the religious groups available to students. For more comprehensive
information, go to spirit.uchicago.edu. A list of religious institutions in Hyde Park can be
found here: spirit.uchicago.edu/resources/local.shtml.
Chabad Jewish Center
www.chabaduchicago.com
“Chabad Jewish Center (1236 E. 57th St.) provides social, educational, recreational, and
religious programming, with Friday night dinners in a home-like setting with great friends,
superb food, and stimulating discussions. Classes on a variety of topics related to Judaism are
offered. Chabad also offers Birthright Israel trips and the Sinai Scholars Society.”
Contact: Yossi and Baila Brackman (chabad@uchicago.edu)
First Unitarian Young Adult and Campus Ministry
www.firstuchicago.org
“The First Unitarian Young Adult and Campus Ministry (at the First Unitarian Church at
5650 S. Woodlawn) exists to serve religiously liberal young adults through spiritual growth,
vibrant worship, and authentic fellowship. The group meets on the first and third Sundays of
every month at 6:00 p.m. for worship, fellowship, and community service.”
Contact: Andrew Greenlee (ya@firstuchicago.org), Nina Grey (ninagrey@aol.com)
Graduate Christian Fellowship (GCF)
ucgcf.org
“The Graduate Christian Fellowship at the University of Chicago is a community of
graduate and professional students devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ. We promote love,
prayer, service, and hospitality. We are pursuing growth and accountability in both our
spiritual and academic lives, integrating our faith with our academic disciplines and
vocations, and engaging our campus and colleagues with the good news of Jesus Christ.”
Contact: Jon Corbett (jcorbett@uchicago.edu)
Life at Pritzker – 55

Hindu Student Sangam
hindu.uchicago.edu
“The Hindu Student Sangam draws together Hindu students for prayers and discussion
(Sundays at 7:00 p.m. at the Hindu Prayer Room in Rockefeller Chapel’s Interreligious
Center), as well as hosting events for the major festivals of the Hindu tradition.”
Contact: Preetam Cholli (pcholli@uchicago.edu)
Muslim Students Association (MSA)
msa.uchicago.edu
“The Muslim Students Association provides a religious environment on campus for Muslim
students, connecting them to the diverse Muslim community in the wider university and
in Hyde Park. The MSA also aims to enhance understanding of Islam through community
service and social and academic events that engage students of all religious faiths. Friday
prayer (Salatul Jumaa) is held at 1:00 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. in Bond Chapel.”
Contact: Khalid Khayr (kwkhayr@uchicago.edu)
Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
ocf.uchicago.edu
“The University of Chicago OCF is a dynamic group of Orthodox Christians made up of
graduate and undergraduate students from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Every
Orthodox Christian, and anyone with an interest in Orthodoxy, is invited to attend our
meetings. We realize there is no Oriental Orthodox fellowship on campus, and welcome
Coptic, Ethiopian, Armenian, and Syrian Christians to join us.”
Contact: Elijah Mueller (frelijah@uchicago.edu)
Pritzker Christian Fellowship (PCF)
“The Pritzker Christian Fellowship (PCF) is a nondenominational Christian fellowship in
which medical students, physicians, and faculty can gather together to explore how their
faith relates to medicine. We seek to live faith-based lives in the medical profession, doing
God’s will and witnessing for Him.”
Contact: Anthony Aspesi (aaspesi@uchicago.edu), Joey Statz (jstatz@uchicago.edu)
56 – Life at Pritzker

Rockefeller Chapel
rockefeller.uchicago.edu
“Rockefeller Memorial Chapel, with its Interreligious Center, serves as the hub of spiritual
life at the University of Chicago, offering diverse religious events and ceremonies on a daily
basis, as well as regular interreligious gatherings. In particular, Rockefeller offers:
• Interreligious programs emphasizing integrative spiritual practice and community
action and citywide interreligious events.
• Sunday morning worship of the kind uniquely expressed in cathedral-like settings,
matching magnificence of stone with beauty of sound, and drawing upon world
musical settings of the historic liturgical texts of the Christian tradition; with the
Rockefeller Chapel Choir, the magnificent E.M. Skinner organ, and Laura Spelman
Rockefeller carillon.
• Dedicated prayer spaces for Hindu and Muslim students.
• Meditation spaces for Buddhists and others interested in experiencing meditation
and contemplative prayer.
• Restorative yoga and drumming circles and other programs designed to speak to all
the senses.
• Shared meeting space for student religious organizations.”
Contact: Elizabeth Davenport (ejld@uchicago.edu)
Secular Student Alliance
secular.uchicago.edu
“The Secular Student Alliance draws together atheists, agnostics, humanists, and other
freethinkers interested in the open, rational, and scientific examination of the universe, and
in ethics based on humanistic values. It holds weekly discussions, and hosts guest speakers;
and organizes regular social events, maintaining a fun, casual social setting for secular
students.”
Contact: Alex Novet (ssa.uchicago@gmail.com)
UChicago Buddhist Association
chicagobuddhist.org
“The University of Chicago Buddhist Association is a registered student organization at the
University of Chicago. Our members gather during the weeks of the quarter to meditate
together. Our intention is to provide ways to learn about meditation and to incorporate it
into our lives and schedules. Occasionally we host events with guest speakers as well, and
we try to make people aware of other places where they may receive instruction. Everyone
is welcome to join us, regardless of prior experience, religious beliefs, or position in the
University community.”
Contact: Ira Abrams (iraabrams@gmail.com)
Life at Pritzker – 57

Housing
Housing is one of the most important factors to consider in your move to Chicago and the
Hyde Park area. There are many different options when it comes to where you choose to live,
what kind of housing you are going to get, how many roommates you will have, if any, and
how much you are going to spend. Many of you might also be coming from far away and
may not have the chance to come to Hyde Park or Chicago to personally look at your place.
This section of Life at Pritzker will hopefully help you in your quest to find a place to live for
next year. In general, you will probably be choosing from one of the following options:
• Rent an apartment in a few-story walkup from a private owner
• Rent an apartment in a few-story walkup from a management company that owns
many buildings throughout Hyde Park
• Rent an apartment in a high-rise building
• Purchase your own apartment, house, or condominium
• Rent an apartment from University of Chicago Graduate Housing
• Live in on-campus housing (e.g. International House)
Your options in going about finding a place to live also vary greatly. Below are some possible
methods:
• Call or visit a management company or high-rise building to check for available
apartments
• Post and check for apartment openings on the housing Google Group that will be
available during the summer
• Check for apartments on the University of Chicago Marketplace (marketplace.
uchicago.edu)
• Check for apartments on the Chicago Craigslist (chicago.craigslist.org)
• Apply with the University of Chicago Graduate Housing office
• Find potential houses for sale through a real estate office
Remember: You can always contact any current Pritzker students if you want advice on how
to go about looking for and securing a place to live for next year. We all have had unique
experiences and one of us most likely has or had a situation similar to yours. If you don’t
know who to contact, email one of us and we can help direct you to someone we know.
If you’re looking for roommates or housing options, make sure you go to the MS15 Housing
Google Group: groups.google.com/group/pritzker-ms16-housing . Current or graduating
Pritzker students will often post information about available apartments, and other MS15
students looking for roommates will be there.
58 – Life at Pritzker

Considerations
If you are able to come to Chicago before
Orientation, it’s definitely worth your time to make
appointments to look at places you’re interested
in. Here are just a few things we suggest you think
about when trying to find a place to live.
Proximity to campus: One thing to consider
when trying to decide how close to campus to live
is your major mode of transportation to and from
campus. If you plan on biking regularly, the ride
from Regents to campus, which will probably be
the longest ride to campus in Hyde Park, takes ten
minutes at most. With a bike or car, essentially
everything in Hyde Park is quickly and easily
accessible. Proximity to campus is thus less of an
issue, except in winter if you bike and don’t plan on
cycling through the snow.
If you plan on walking or on taking the bus as your
main modes of transportation, proximity to campus
will probably be of more concern. There are two
buses, the 171 and 172 (see the “Transportation”
section for more details), that stop at various places
throughout Hyde Park and can take you straight to
campus, so living close to a 171 or 172 stop can be
useful. However, the buses only run every half hour
during midday, so you may have to wait a while
during those times or walk. Night-time shuttles start
at 6 p.m., so it’s also worth it to see if a shuttle route
goes by your apartment. Check out bus.uchicago.edu
for maps and schedules of all the relevant buses.
A courtyard at a typical Hyde Park walk-up.
Some houses along Kimbark Avenue. Hyde Park homes are an
eclectic mix of different styles of architecture.
Proximity to grocery stores, restaurants, and other businesses: Again, this is particularly
important if you don’t plan on having a car, or if you don’t plan on using your car a lot. It’s
helpful to look at how close your apartment will be to the major grocery stores and business
streets in Hyde Park. The main commerical areas are on 53rd, 55th, and 57th Streets, from
Woodlawn to Cornell Avenues. The two main grocery stores are Treasure Island, which is
located at 55th and Lake Park Avenue, and Hyde Park Produce, which is located at 53rd and
Kimbark Avenue.
Proximity to transportation downtown: Yet again, this is more relevant if you don’t plan
on driving a lot. You’ll definitely want to go downtown, and there are several ways to do so –
6 bus, Metra, 55 bus and red line. Living close to one of these stops can be really convenient.
Consult the “Transportation” section for more details!
Life at Pritzker – 59

Parking: If you plan to bring a car, this might be an important factor for you in choosing
a place. Most buildings only offer street parking, but some of the high rises may have a
parking garage for a fee. Be sure to inquire about this if it will affect your plans for bringing
a car.
What floor the apartment is on: You will find that apartments on the 2nd or 3rd floors will
cost a little more than ground level or garden level. This is because being on the upper floors
offers more security. This might be something to consider when looking at places.
Finding a Place
Private management and high-rise buildings make up the bulk of the housing in the
Hyde Park area. Private management can be both private owners of single buildings,
or management companies that own and take care of multiple buildings throughout
Hyde Park. In almost all cases, you will be signing a 9-month or 1-year lease that will
include a security deposit and a contract with rules and regulations for the lessor and the
lessee to follow. Your initial contact will come from a phone call or a walk-in visit to the
management. Your first task will be to find out if there are any openings and how much
they will cost. The next is to find out which day you plan to move to Chicago. During
Orientation, you will be pretty busy with activities so it’s best to give yourself at least 3 days
to settle down and get most of your things in order. If you have to buy furniture before you
arrive here, give yourself at least 1 week. You may want to consider moving in earlier or
finding a place that is pre-furnished (such as graduate housing).
Hopefully the following list of some of the management companies and apartment
complexes in Hyde Park will help you get started on your search.
Management Companies within Hyde Park
Blackstone Management
5413 S. Woodlawn Ave. | (773) 667-1568 | www.blackstonemanagement.com
MAC Properties
1364 E. 53rd St. | (773) 548-5077 | www.macapartments.com
Madison Hyde Park Apartments
1380 E. Hyde Park Blvd. | (773) 536-4300
McKey & Poague
1348 E. 55th St. | (773) 363-6200 | www.mandpoffice.com
Parker-Holsman
Wolin-Levin
1461 E. 57th St. | (773) 493-2525 | www.parkerholsman.com
1740 E. 55th St. | (773) 684-6300 | www.wolin-levin.com
60 – Life at Pritzker

Hyde Park High-Rises
Algonquin Apartments
1606 E. Hyde Park Blvd. | (773) 324-1213 | www.rentalgonquin.com
The Carolan
5480 S. Cornell Ave. | (773) 684-5400 | www.carolanapartments.com
The Flamingo
5500 S. Shore Dr. | (773) 752-3800 | www.flamingoapartments.com
Hyde Park Towers
5140 S. Hyde Park Blvd. | (773) 675-1195 | www.hydeparktowerapartments.com
Poinsettia Apartments
Regents Park
Twin Towers
5528 S. Hyde Park Blvd. | (847) 809-3914 | www.thepoinsettia.com
5050 S. Lake Shore Dr. | (773) 288-5050 | www.regentsparkchicago.com
Many Pritzker students live at Regents, a high rise on the lake with many amenities.
Regents is a little farther from campus and is priced competitively with other locations.
There is a 24 hour doorman, and it is near several useful bus stops – the 6 and X28
buses, which will take you downtown, the 172 bus, which will take you to campus, and
a night time shuttle.
1649 E. 50th St. | (877) 403-1914 | www.twintowerschicago.com
University Park Condo
The Versailles
1451 E. 55th St. | (773) 363-1440
5254 S. Dorchester Ave. | (773) 324-0200 | www.theversailles.com
The Windermere House
1642 E. 56th St. | (773) 548-5077 (ext. 3201) | www.macapartments.com
Several Pritzker students currently live here. It is comprable in price to Regents and
somewhat closer to campus. It is less than one block from the 171, 55, 6, and X28
buses. It is a smaller high rise than Regents, and it has lots of charm!
Graduate Student Housing
rs.uchicago.edu/graduate_housing
You can find graduate housing through the University’s REO (real estate operations) office.
Their website contains information on each of their units as well as a map of where they all
are in Hyde Park. As with all housing options, there are advantages and disadvantages. The
main advantage of living in a university-owned apartment is that you don’t need to purchase or
move any furniture if you choose a furnished apartment. These units come with pretty much
everything you need: a high quality futon/bed, bedside tables, a lamp, tables, chairs, and a
solid desk. This makes moving in one afternoon very possible. In addition, university-owned
apartments also have custodians who promptly respond to any maintenance issues that arise.
These services definitely come in handy when you’re in a pinch for time. One big advantage
of these apartments is that all the work of finding an apartment is done for you, based on a
questionnaire you fill out about your preferences. If you’re coming in from far out of state, this
comes in handy because you’ll be sure to get a quality apartment without much work on your
part.
Life at Pritzker – 61

Pritzker Student Housing Profile
Pritzker students have many different living arrangements. Some live with their families or
significant others, some choose to live outside of Hyde Park, and even more choose to live in
Regents! Here we’ve compiled some data about where Pritzker students live, who they live with,
and how much they pay for rent each month.
Number of Students
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Zero
Most Pritzker students
pay about $500 - $700
for monthly rent, and it’s
fairly easy to find a place
in this price range. No
matter your budget, you
should be able to find an
apartment that meets your
needs.
62 – Life at Pritzker
How many people do
Pritzker students live with?
One Two ree
Number of Housemates
Number of Students
20
15
10
5
0
$400-
$499
Four or more
$500-
$599
$600-
$699
Most Pritzker students live alone or with
one or two roommates. There is one Pritzker
student who lives in a Hyde Park housing
co-op called Qumbya. They have three
houses in the Hyde Park area. If you’re
interested in this type of living arrangement,
check out www.qumbya.com.
About 47% of the MS14 class lives in
Regents Park. About a third of the class
lives elsewhere in Hyde Park, and about
20% live in other parts of the city. Of the
non-Hyde Parkers, most live in South Loop
or downtown, though there are Pritzker
students living in other neighborhoods like
Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville.
How much do Pritzker students
pay each month for rent?
$700-
$799
$800-
$899
$900- $1000- $1100-
$999 $1099 $1199
$1200-
$1299
$1300-
$1399
Rent per Month
$1400-
$1499
$1500-
$1599
$1600-
$1699
$1700-
$1799
$1800-
$1899
$1900-
$1999
$2000
or more

Owning a Home
Owning rather than renting can be a great option for some medical students. Pritzker
students come from all walks of life – some have taken time off to work, experience life, get
married, or have a family. We all have different needs and expectations when it comes to how
we want to live and what we want to call home the next four years. Maybe you’re thinking
about purchasing your own place.
Why might you want to buy a house or condo?
• It can be a good long-term investment.
• You have to live somewhere, so why pay rent when you can pay the same amount or
a little bit more for a place of your own?
Why might you not want to?
• If, for example, water leaks into your downstairs bedroom ceiling, you’ll need to get
someone to check out the problem.
• You have to pay your own utilities.
• There is a litany of little concerns that comes with owning a home: property taxes,
home association fees, bug control, heating, general upkeep, and more. If you don’t
want to take on the responsibility of these things or the many others that may arise,
then renting may be the more attractive option.
• The initial upfront cost of owning is more painful than renting.
• Buying a house is a big commitment, and you may want to move around and
experience different neighborhoods or living environments.
If you are interested in buying a place, don’t feel that you have to buy right away. A few of
our classmates waited to buy later in their first year of medical school. If you are not from
Chicago, you may not want to purchase a home in a neighborhood that you know nothing
about. After all, this is a long-term investment and you want some time to scope out a
place that is really to your liking. Being from out of town, there may not be enough time
to do that before classes start. On the other hand, you may be so involved in classes and
extracurricular activities during the academic year that there might not be enough time to go
on a house search. Also, buying a house later means less time to maximize your investment
for the initial costs.
Life at Pritzker – 63

How to Find a Home
Unless you have a great deal of experience in real estate and have a lot of time to scope out
potential properties on your own, it will probably be helpful to work with a real estate agent.
Here are a few local companies that may be of service (this is by no means an exhaustive list):
• @Properties: www.atproperties.com
• Bloom Realty Inc.: (773) 667-4000
• Coldwell Banker: (773) 451-1200 | www.coldwellbankeronline.com
• MetroPro: (773) 667-1000 | www.metroprorealty.com
• ReMax: (773) 388-8600 | www.illinoisproperty.com, www.lizshomes.com
• Keller-Williams: www.kw.com
Once your agent has created a list of properties based on your preferences (distance from
campus, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, private parking, association fees, etc.),
you can fly into Chicago for a weekend to check out each property.
As with renting, you don’t have to live in Hyde Park. Although many students place a big
emphasis on convenience, there are also great options outside of Hyde Park if you don’t
mind commuting.
Financing
Working with a loan officer from a mortgage broker to secure a loan for your purchase is one
approach. These loan officers are knowledgeable about many different loan programs from
various banks and will work to secure you a loan that fits your financial situations. However,
their service usually comes with additional closing costs. Always ask upfront what their fees
are.
One alternative is to use a loan officer’s expertise. You can do some research on your own.
Try calling a few big name banks like Wells Fargo, Country Wide, Bank of America, etc. You
may be able to minimize your closing costs and find a phenomenal loan program. It’s always
to your advantage to explore all available options, not just the ones the loan officer provides
you.
Closing
In general, you have about 30 days from signing a purchase contract to closing on the
house. It’s very important to stay on top of things to make sure that the loan officer or the
bank agent securing your loan is doing his or her job in a timely manner. Also, give yourself
enough time to move in, purchase furniture, and settle down before classes start.
64 – Life at Pritzker

Transportation (as of June 2012)
Getting Around Hyde Park
Owning a Car
Choosing to bring a car to campus will depend on your own preferences. It definitely is
possible to live in Hyde Park without a car by using CTA bus routes and University shuttles
to get around. However, bringing a car to medical school may be more convenient and could
also make it easier to live outside of Hyde Park.
Parking
Parking in Hyde Park is free in residential areas and metered in commercial areas until 9:00
p.m. No permits are required anywhere in Hyde Park. The availability of street parking
varies depending on the time of day, and parking spots in residential areas tend to fill up
at night. Parking is more difficult on streets around the high-rises on the east side of Hyde
Park. During the summer, make sure to watch out for street cleanings and repairs to ensure
you are not ticketed for parking illegally. Snow in the winter also makes street parking a
challenge.
Parking on the street near campus is difficult during business
hours, but is easier during the early morning and late evening.
You can get a quarterly parking pass at several garages, the
closest to campus being the Ellis Garage on the corner of Ellis
and 55th. The fee is $80/month. You can reach the parking
office by calling (773) 702-8969 Monday—Friday, 8:00
a.m.—3:00 p.m., or by visiting safety-security.uchicago.edu/
transportation/parking. The office is located at 5525 South Ellis
Avenue, Room 171.
Walking
Chicago is consistently ranked a top big city in the U.S. for
walking. There are many walkable destinations throughout the
city and the 18.5 mile Lakefront Path connects many areas of
the city.
Biking
Chicago has a reputation for being one of the best large cities
for biking and is ranked 10th best in the country by Bicycling
Magazine (2011). The city has 110 miles of on-street bike lanes,
more than 30 miles of marked shared lanes, and many miles of off-street paths (including
the 18.5 mile Lakefront Path). In addition, there are more than 12,000 bike racks around
the city and sheltered bike parking areas at CTA train stations.
Tips for Walking Safely
• Plan your way in advance. Choose
well-traveled routes.
• Use discretion when talking with
strangers, even if they are offering
you help or assistance.
• When possible, try to travel with
friends, whether it is daytime
or evening.
• Avoid deserted areas. Do not cut
through parks, alleys, and vacant
lots at night.
• Don’t let a conversation on your cell
phone or the use of headphones
make you unaware of your
surroundings.
• Don’t openly carry or work on your
computer while walking
Life at Pritzker – 65

For more information about these resources, check out
the Chicago Department of Transportation Bike Map
(www.cityofchicago.org/cityinfo/cdot/bikemap/keymap.
html?/keymap.html) for bike info and bike route maps.
Another good source of information is the Chicagoland
Bicycle Federation, a nonprofit organization devoted to
getting more people on bikes. Find out more at www.
activetrans.org.
Busing
CTA
Three daytime routes are operated by the Chicago
Transit Authority (CTA). You can ride the #170, #171,
and #172 bus for free by showing your Student ID
when boarding. For more information about the bus
routes and schedules, visit bus.uchicago.edu or www.
transitchicago.com.
CTA #170 bus
Where: Counter-clockwise around the Midway from
59th/Harper via 59th, Cottage Grove, 60th, Stony Island
and 59th back to Harper
When: Weekdays 5:30 a.m.—9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m.
How often: Every 10 minutes
CTA #171 bus
Where: Shoreland Hall to the central campus
When: Weekdays 7:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.; Sunday 8:00
a.m.—6:00 p.m.; during summer (mid-June – August) weekdays only
How often: Every 5-10 minutes on weekdays, every 30 minutes on weekends
CTA #172 bus
Where: From 51st St. just east of S. Hyde Park Blvd. to the central campus
When: Weekdays 7:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.; during summer (mid-June to August) weekday rush
periods only; Saturday and Sunday 8:00 a.m.—6:00 p.m.
How often: Every 6-15 minutes on weekdays, every 30 minutes on weekends
There is also a University of Chicago Hospitals Express Route (CTA # 192) that connects
the Medical Center to two downtown commuter train stations in Chicago: Union Station
and Northwestern Station.
University of Chicago Evening Bus Service
The University of Chicago operates four routes of free evening bus service throughout
the Hyde Park and Kenwood neighborhoods. Most buses operate on 10- or 20-minute
schedules and depart from the front of the Regenstein Library. Drivers will stop on signal
66 – Life at Pritzker
Tips for Bike Theft Prevention
• Always lock your bike’s frame and wheels
with a high-quality, modern U-lock (with a
disc/flat key).
• Remove all detachable items like lights,
bags and quick release parts and take
them with you.
• Lock to a bike rack, or firmly affixed (bolts
covered in concrete) parking meter or sign
pole – these are the most secure places.
• Always lock your bike, even if you’re just
leaving it for a moment.
• Always lock through the frame and a
wheel. Add a cable, cable lock, or second
U-lock to lock the second wheel.
• Beware of locking to “sucker poles” that are
loosely bolted down and can easily
be removed.
• Avoid locking to private property. Store
your bike inside if space is available.
• Lock your bike when keeping it in a garage
or on a porch.

to pick up and/or drop off passengers along any
of the established routes. You may need your
Student ID to board the bus at stops other than
Regenstein. Routes for the summer quarter are
different from those in the autumn, winter, and
spring quarters.
These are a convenient, free, and safe way to
get home. Use them rather than taking the
risk of walking around late at night. For hours
and maps, go to bus.uchicago.edu. Additionally,
visiting uchicago.transloc.com allows you to track
the location of the University buses.
Midway Shuttle
This shuttle operates along the Midway
Plaisance, west on 59th Street to Cottage
Grove and east on 60th Street to Stony Island,
Monday—Friday (except University holidays).
It runs every 20 minutes 5:30 a.m.—3:30 p.m.
and 6:00 p.m.—6:30 a.m. At all other times, it
operates only from Cottage Grove to Woodlawn.
For more information, call (773) 702-6257.
Umbrella Coverage
Offered by the University of Chicago Police Department, a patrol car will accompany
you on your way to your destination if you ever feel uncomfortable in your surroundings.
Request the service by calling either 123 from a campus phone or (773) 702-8181 from a
non-campus phone. For more details, please refer to the personal safety section of this book.
Going Downtown
When heading downtown, you have several transportation options, including the CTA,
bicycling, and weekend University shuttles. Other options include the Metra, driving, and
taking a taxi.
General CTA Fare Information
University of Chicago Evening Bus Service:
North, East, South, and Central Routes
During the academic year, the evening routes run as
follows:
• Monday–Thursday: every 10 minutes from 6:00
p.m.—8:00 p.m., then every 20 minutes from 8:00
p.m.—2:00 a.m. (last run 1:40 a.m.)
• Friday: every 10 minutes from 6:00 p.m.—8:00
p.m., then every 20 minutes from 8:00 p.m.—3:00
a.m. (last run 2:40 a.m.)
• Saturday: every 20 minutes from 6:00 p.m.—3:00
a.m. (last run 2:40 a.m.)
• Sunday: every 20 minutes from 6:00 p.m.— 2:00
a.m. (last run 1:40 a.m.)
During summer and academic breaks, the evening routes
run every 20 minutes from 6:00 p.m.—1:00 a.m. (last run
12:40 a.m.).
CTA fare is determined by the type of payment you use. You can use fare cards or cash.
Cash can be used on buses only. One ride costs $2.25 and no transfers are issued. You’ll need
dollar bills or coins to pay the exact fare, because change is not returned.
If you use a fare card on a CTA bus, $2 is deducted. If you ride a CTA train, $2.25 is
deducted. In both cases, you are issued two transfers that allow you to get two more rides on
buses or trains within the CTA system within two hours of your initial ride. The first transfer
costs 25¢ and the second transfer is free. Transfers help when you need to take more than
one bus or train to get to your destination.
Life at Pritzker – 67

There are three types of fare cards: the CTA Transit Card, the
Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus. You can purchase and
add value to Transit Cards at train stations. The Chicago Card
and Chicago Plus Card can be ordered online at www.chicagocard.com
or by mail for an initial purchase fee of $5. These cards
can be registered to protect against loss or theft, and the Chicago
Card Plus allows you to automatically add value via credit card
when the balance runs low. Be sure to check the date on the
back of your card every so often: the Transit Card expires after
one year and the Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus expire
after 4 years. For more information about the CTA, check www.
transitchicago.com.
CTA Buses that go Downtown
CTA #6 Jackson Park Express
A quick, cheap way to get downtown, the Jackson Park Express follows Lake Shore Drive
north to downtown, then makes several stops on Michigan Avenue up to Wacker Drive.
It follows a similar route back to Hyde Park, taking State Street south instead of Michigan
Avenue. A one-way ride takes approximately 30 minutes.
Where to catch it: Stony Island Avenue (between 67th Street and 57th Street), South Hyde
Park Boulevard (between 56th Street and East Hyde Park Boulevard), Lake Park Avenue
(from East Hyde Park Boulevard to 47th Street)
When to catch it: The #6 Jackson Park Express starts running early; the last bus back to Hyde
Park leaves the Loop at 1:00 a.m.
CTA #X28 Stony Island Express
The Stony Island Express follows Lake Shore Drive to downtown, runs north on Michigan
Avenue to Adams Street, west on Adams Street to Union Station, and then back to Michigan
Avenue along Jackson Boulevard. It returns south to Hyde Park via Michigan Avenue and
Lake Shore Drive. It runs south to 103rd Street along Stony Island Avenue.
Where to catch it: Stony Island Avenue (between 103rd Street and 57th Street), South Hyde
Park Boulevard (between 56th Street and East Hyde Park Boulevard), Lake Park Avenue
(from East Hyde Park Boulevard to 47th Street)
When to catch it: The #X28 Stony Island Express runs on weekdays only. It starts running in
the early morning; the last bus to Hyde Park leaves Union Station at 7:50 p.m. There is no
service between about 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Buses run every 10 minutes.
Biking
Downtown is about 7.5 miles from Hyde Park on the Lakefront Path. In addition, you can
take your bike on CTA trains on weekends and at non-peak times during the week.
South Loop Shuttle Service
On Friday and Saturday evenings, between 9:00 p.m. and 3:30 a.m., a University shuttle
operates hourly from 57th and University to the Roosevelt Road transit station near
downtown Chicago, and makes the return trip to campus one-half hour later. The shuttle is
non-stop. Dates of operation follow the academic calendar.
68 – Life at Pritzker
Unlimited Riding Passes
You can buy passes that allow unlimited
riding on all CTA buses and trains for the
following periods and amounts: 1-day,
$5.75; 3-day, $14; 7-day, $23; and 30-day,
$86. These passes cannot be shared or
recharged. Passes can be bought at several
locations, including certain CTA train
stations, Walgreens, CVS, and Regenstein
Library.

Metra Commuter Rail
Metra offers commuter train service between various suburbs and downtown. Metra’s Electric
line, which runs right through Hyde Park, is best for reaching the outer city limits and the
suburbs. The main depot (Millennium Station) is at Randolph Street/South Water Street and
Michigan Avenue. The Metra is the fastest way to get to the Loop. A ride to the Loop takes
about 15 or 20 minutes. A ticket from Hyde Park to the Loop costs $2.35 if you buy your
ticket at the train station. Fares can also be purchased on the train, but you’ll pay an extra fee
of $2 if an agent was on duty at the station when you boarded. Students who use the Metra
frequently can buy 10-ride passes or monthly passes at a discounted rate. A $5 weekend pass
offers unlimited rides on both Saturday and Sunday. Up to three children (11 and under)
travel free with an adult. You can find more information and a detailed schedule online at
www.metrarail.com.
Cars
Driving in Chicago isn’t too difficult, but it’s good to be aware of local traffic patterns, driving
laws, and parking availability. Rush hour lasts most of the morning and begins again at 3:00
p.m., sometimes continuing as late as 7:00 p.m. For traffic updates, listen to the radio (AM 780
does a traffic report every 10 minutes) or check out the interactive map of traffic congestion on
the website of the Gary-Chicago-Milwaukee Corridor Transportation Information Center at
www.gcmtravel.com.
Illinois law requires you to have proof of auto liability insurance coverage in your car. Chicago
residents are also required to have a city sticker on their front windshield to legally park on the
street or in any city-owned parking facility. These can be purchased at the City Clerk Office.
Also be aware that talking on your cell phone while driving is illegal in Chicago. You must use
a hands-free device if you need to use your phone while driving.
Parking availability throughout the city can vary depending on where you are going and what
time of day it is. Expect high prices in garages in and around the Loop. Street parking in
various neighborhoods is fairly easy to find during the day, but may become harder to find in
the evening. In most areas of the city, the rate is $1.50 per hour. For more information about
street parking in Chicago, go to www.chicagometers.com.
If you don’t own a car but would like the convenience of driving every now and then, you
could consider using a car sharing program. Zipcar (www.zipcar.com) offers student discounts
on membership fees, and I-GO (www.igocars.org) is a Chicago-based non-profit alternative.
There are many cars available around Hyde Park through either company, and rental rates
range from approximately $6.50-12 per hour and include insurance and gas.
Taxis
Taxis can be hailed from the street in most areas of the city, but in Hyde Park it is usually easier
to call in advance and arrange for a cab to pick you up (allow about 20 minutes). If you do
call ahead, you can pay by credit card. In Chicago, you pay the amount shown on the meter,
plus any tolls. The meter should start at $2.25, then increase $1.80 for every mile, plus 20¢
for every 36 seconds of time elapsed. You’ll get charged extra for additional passengers, but
not for baggage. An additional $1 gas surcharge may apply. Tipping is customary. Car seats for
children are available. The main cab services are Yellow Cab (312) TAXICAB and Checker Cab
Life at Pritzker – 69

(312) CHECKER.
Getting To and From the Airports
Midway Airport is on the southwest side of Chicago about 30 minutes from Hyde Park.
O’Hare is located in a northwest suburb of Chicago and is at least an hour from campus
without traffic. Transportation options to the airports include:
Omega Airport Shuttle: (773) 734-6688, www.omegashuttle.com (transportation from Hyde
Park to the airport)
Continental Airport Express: (888) 284-3826, www.airportexpress.com (transportation to
the Loop from the airport)
Public Transportation
To Midway: From Hyde Park take the #6 or #28 to get downtown. From there, take the
Orange Line (stops along Wabash). Taking the #55 Garfield bus is a faster option but not
recommended during the evening hours.
To O’Hare: From Hyde Park take the #6 Jackson Park Express bus to the Blue Line train
and continue to the airport.
Taxi: Fare from O’Hare to Hyde Park will run over $50. Fare from Midway to Hyde Park
will cost around $30.
Pritzker Students and Transportation
Number of Students
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Yes
70 – Life at Pritzker
Do you own a car?
No
20
15
10
5
0
How much do you pay for
parking each month?
$0-$50
$51-$150
$151 or more

Personal Safety
Pritzker students coming to campus often have concerns about safety in Hyde Park. Hyde
Park is an urban neighborhood, and crime does occur in Hyde Park just as it does elsewhere
in the city. However, crime rates in Hyde Park are actually lower than many other parts of
the city, including northern neighborhoods like Wicker Park and Wrigleyville that are often
perceived to be safer. Some of the South Side neighborhoods around Hyde Park do have
higher crime rates, so keep this in mind if you’re traveling through or visiting these areas.
The University of Chicago Police Department and the Chicago Police Department have
taken many steps to keep Hyde Park safe, but it is important to be cautious and keep basic
safety rules in mind.
The University of Chicago Police Department
The University of Chicago Police Department (UCPD) operates 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, on campus and throughout the Oakland, Kenwood, Hyde Park, and Woodlawn
neighborhoods. They patrol north to 39th Street, south to 64th Street, east to Lake Shore
Drive, and west to Cottage Grove Avenue. The UCPD
and the Chicago Police Department (CPD) work
together by monitoring each other’s calls within the
University Police coverage area. University Police
headquarters is located at 5555 South Ellis Avenue.
University police officers work to safeguard all members
of the University community, including students, faculty,
and staff working and living in the area. They are welltrained
and dedicated, and they are expected to behave
courteously and professionally to citizens at all times.
If you require assistance, please call the University Police
at 123 from any campus phone, call (773) 702-8181
from a cell phone, or use any one of the more than 135
emergency phones located throughout Hyde Park (for
an online map of these locations, visit commonsense.
uchicago.edu/phone-map.html) These phones, easily
identifiable by their white covers, will connect you
immediately with the University Police dispatcher,
who is in constant radio contact with officers on foot
and vehicular patrol. University police officers respond
quickly to emergency calls— normally within three
minutes.
You do not have to press charges or pursue legal action
because you have filed a report with the police. If you
Tips for Staying Safe
• University buildings have locks— never prop
these doors open.
• If your building has an intercom, use it: never
buzz in anyone you don’t know.
• Avoid walking alone, especially late at night.
Instead, use the University’s buses or Safe
Ride service.
• Be aware. Know where you are and who’s
around you. In Hyde Park, know where the
emergency phones are on your route.
• Act alert and confident.
• Make sure to lock your apartment, car, and
bike.
• Don’t leave your computer or backpack
unattended when studying in libraries or cafes.
• Carry a whistle and be part of the WhistleStop
program.
• Take a self-defense class. Call the Resources
for Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) at (773)
702-7200 to find out what classes are being
offered.
• Don’t advertise that you’ll be away on
facebook, twitter, or voicemail.
Life at Pritzker – 71

do press charges, use the South East Chicago Commission (SECC). The SECC provides
information without charge to victims and witnesses in all phases of the criminal justice
system. The SECC staff can be reached during regular business hours at (773) 324-6926 or
through the University Police at night.
Resources for Protecting Yourself
Umbrella Coverage: If you ever feel uncomfortable in your surroundings and would like a
police escort, you may request a patrol car to accompany you to your destination. You may
request this by calling the University Police dispatcher at 123 from any campus phone or at
(773) 702-8181 from an off-campus phone.
WhistleStop: Blowing a whistle brings help when you need it. You can get a whistle at
the dispatch center (5555 S. Ellis Ave.) for $2. Free whistles will also be available during
orientation and at the front desk in BSLC 104.
Late Night Shuttles: The University offers evening shuttles for students to use rather than
walking at night. See the “Transportation” section for details about routes and hours.
Hospital Shuttle Route: The hospital shuttle runs between the Medical Center and Drexel
Parking Lots between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday excluding holidays.
Available on an on-call basis only. Call (773) 702-6262 to arrange for a pick-up.
Resources During an Emergency
If you are a victim of a crime: Call the University Police immediately! Timely reports
are important. If you are the victim of a crime or if you see a crime or suspicious activity,
dial 123 from any campus phone, or use one of the emergency phones throughout the
neighborhood. Off campus, dial (773) 702-8181 for the University Police or 911 to reach
the Chicago Police.
If you are injured or the victim of a sexual assault, go to the Mitchell Hospital Emergency
Room (901 E. 58th St.). Tell them you’re a student.
University Support Line: (773) 834-HELP, a University support line, is an answering
service that will connect callers with a range of resources on and off campus. 834-HELP
is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Resources also may be obtained online at help.
uchicago.edu.
Deans-on-Call: The Dean-on-Call is the University official responsible for coordinating the
University’s response to student emergencies. The Dean-on-Call may be reached by calling
(773) 834-HELP or by calling the University Police. The Dean-on-Call and a specially
trained Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The
University Police will contact the Dean-on-Call if they learn of a serious incident involving a
student. They will also get in touch with one of the Pritzker deans if you’d like.
72 – Life at Pritzker

The Deans-on-Call receive training in how to respond to emergency situations and are kept
informed about services available to students through the various offices on campus. In
addition, they meet on a regular basis to review their response to crisis situations.
Learn About Safety
Common Sense is a university publication filled with tips and information about protective
services, safe means of transportation on and off campus, and how to live in a big city. It can
be found online at commonsense.uchicago.edu.
Resources for Sexual Violence Prevention (RSVP) holds educational sessions throughout
the year on sexual assault and rape. For more information, visit rsvp.uchicago.edu, call (773)
702-7200 or visit 5801 South Ellis Avenue Room 1A.
Safety Awareness Alerts are posted on bulletin boards around campus to let students know
about recent crimes or crime patterns. You can receive these alerts via email by visiting
listhost.uchicago.edu and clicking on “Safety Awareness.”
Resources for Protecting Your Belongings
Bicycle Registration: You can register your bike with the Chicago Police Department by
going to the dispatch center at 5555 South Ellis Avenue to get a numbered ID sticker.
Jumper Cables: If you find yourself with a dead battery call (773) 702-8181 and an officer
will bring you a set of jumper cables. They cannot, however, use the squad car to jump your
car.
Laptop STOP Tags: This tag, which is glued to the laptop case and is difficult to remove,
leaves an etched stolen property inscription and phone number for recovery. Call (773) 702-
8190 for details.
Life at Pritzker – 73

Weather in Chicago
Chicago has a continental climate that has cold, snowy winters, mild springs, hot, humid
summers, and cool, but relatively short, autumns.
100
80
60
40
20
0
Jan.
Summer
Feb.
average
monthly
highs
Mar.
When you arrive in August,
the highs will generally
be in the 80s and it will
be moderately humid.
Occasionally, the high will
peak above 90°F. Chicago
also has a number of
thunderstorms that last
briefly during the summer,
and this season is also the
rainiest.
74 – Life at Pritzker
Weather in Chicago
Apr.
average
monthly
lows
May
June
July
Aug.
Sep.
Oct.
Nov.
Dec.
Med students spend a summer day at the beach. There are beaches
in Hyde Park as well as farther north in the city.

Winter
Winters in Chicago tend
to not be colder than other
cities in the Midwest and
highs will usually be in the
upper 20s and lows in the
teens. There are on average
15 days in which the
temperature drops below
0°F during the winter.
The average snowfall is 38
inches, but much of this
results from numerous
light snowfalls of 2 inches
or so. Every few years,
Chicago usually experiences
a blizzard, which will
produce 10 or more inches.
You may need to get some
new clothes for the winters,
so be sure to get a warm
coat and wear plenty of
layers. If you’re coming
from a warm climate and
need to buy a new coat, it’s
a good idea to wait until
you’ve moved to Chicago.
It will be easier to find an
adequately warm coat in
Chicago as opposed to a
warmer locale. In addition,
it is a good idea to get a
pair of waterproof shoes
or boots because sidewalks
can become icy during the
winter and there is a lot of
slush after snowstorms.
Students bundled up at the Midway Plaisance Ice Rink, located
just a few blocks south of the University.
Students frolick outside during Snowpocalypse, a storm that hit
Chicago in February 2011 and dumped over 20 inches of snow
in 22 hours.
Life at Pritzker – 75

Everyday Essentials
Grocery Stores
Hyde Park Produce
www.hydeparkproduce.com
1226 E. 53rd St. (Kimbark Plaza)
Hyde Park Produce has a good selection
of fresh produce, a deli, a large selection of
organic products, and an extensive range
of imported foods. Open until 8:00 p.m.
during the week and 6:00 p.m. on Sundays.
Treasure Island
www.tifoods.com
55th and Lake Park Blvd.
In addition to the grocery store, there is
a post office located in the basement of
the store. Open until 10:00 p.m. everyday
except Sunday, when it closes at 9:00 p.m.
Market in the Park
5050 S. Lake Shore Dr.
Located in the basement of Regents Park,
this market has all of the essentials, frozen
foods, and an extensive selection of Indian
foods.
Village Foods
1521 E. Hyde Park (Village Center)
Their selection is smaller, but the prices are
reasonable and they are open late.
Harper Foods
1455 E. 55th St.
Another market with the essentials.
CVS
1228 E. 53rd St.
Walgreens
1554 E. 55th St., (773) 667-1177
76 – Life at Pritzker
Banks
Bank of America
1439 E. 53rd St., (773) 667-0408
Chase Bank
1204 E. 53rd St., (773) 241-5110
Citibank
5812 S. Ellis Ave., (312) 269-8222
Fifth Third Bank
1420 E. 53rd St., (773) 256-3400
Harris Bank
5493 S. Cornell Ave., (773) 241-5100
Hyde Park Bank & Trust Co.
1525 E. 53rd St., (773) 752-4600
1311 E. 57th St., (773) 752-4600
Maroon Financial Credit Union
5525 S. Ellis Ave., Suite C, (773) 702-7179
ATMs
Bank of America
1228 E. 53rd St. – Inside CVS Pharmacy
Chase
1204 E. 53rd St. – Chase Bank
5815 S. Maryland Ave. – Mitchell Hospital
55th and Lake Park Ave. – Walgreens
Citibank
5812 S. Ellis Ave. – Near Ellis Hospital
entrance, right across from the bookstore

Hyde Park Bank and Trust
1526 E. 55th St. – Treasure Island
Cell Phone Service
Sprint
1406 E. 53rd St., (773) 753-2020
Verizon Wireless
5506 S. Lake Park Ave., (773) 947-2000
T-Mobile
1451 E. 53rd St., (773) 752-6015
AT&T
5426 S. Lake Park Ave., (773) 256-1000
Gas Stations
Hyde Park BP
5130 S. Lake Park Ave., (773) 493-5200
Hyde Park Mobil
1330 E. 53rd St., (773) 643-1715
Copying and Printing
FedEx Kinko’s
1315 E. 57th St., (773) 643-2424
UPS Store
1507 E. 53rd St., (773) 288-3173
Office Depot
5420 S. Lake Park Ave., (773) 643-7474
Buying and Selling Used Goods
Insurance Companies
Allstate
1507 E. 53rd St., 2nd floor, (773) 955-7400
1743 E. 55th St., (773) 363-4718
Insure One South, Independent Insurance
Agency
1416 E. 53rd St., (773) 955-7893
State Farm
1400 E. 47th St., (773) 538-5758
1525 E. 53rd St., Room 727, (773) 955-3133
1424-28 E. 53rd St. Suite 310, (773) 643-
6200
Postal Services
Jackson Park Post Office
956 E. 58th St., (800) 275-8777
Lake Park Station Post Office
1510 E. 55th St., (800) 275-8777
UPS Store
1507 E. 53rd St., (773) 288-3173
FedEx
1315 E. 57th St., (773) 643-2424
If you’re in the market for something used, check out Marketplace (marketplace.uchicago.edu), an online forum run
by the University where all students, undergraduate and graduate, can post items that they are selling. One plus is
that if you find something you like, it will likely be located somewhere within Hyde Park, so you won’t have to go
far to pick up your goods. Marketplace is also a great resource for finding apartments.
In addition, there are a lot of great deals on Chicago Craigslist (chicago.craigslist.org).
Life at Pritzker – 77

Family Information
Among the defining qualities of Pritzker students is their diversity. Every year, student
parents and married students make up a significant portion of the incoming class. These
students often have questions about what services are available to their loved ones.
Services Available to Student Families
Health Insurance
Among the benefits your spouse/registered domestic partner or dependents qualify for
include the University Student Health Insurance Plan. You can also visit studenthealth.
uchicago.edu for more information.
Family Access to University Facilities
Spouses can get library cards for access of libraries, but cannot borrow materials.
They can also join the athletic facility for the reduced fee of $110 per year. Children under
13 can use the athletic facilities for free, as long as they are accompanied by a parent who is
a full-year pass holder. There are family swim hours at the Ratner Athletics Center; for more
information, please visit athletics.uchicago.edu.
Spouses are not able to use University computing facilities unless they are registered
students, faculty or staff.
Parenting and Childcare
University of Chicago Family Resource Center
grad-affairs.uchicago.edu/services/frc1.shtml
Located at Ida Noyes, this center offers a welcoming space where families from the university
community can access resources, information, and supportive programming and services.
The Family Resource Center offers email access, a playroom for kids, private space for
nursing and changing a baby, and weekly classes. The center is available at no charge to
families, but you must register first. Contact Brooke Noonan, Center Director at brookec@
uchicago.edu.
Also available on the Family Resource Center website is a Parent Resource Guide (scroll to
the bottom of the page to find the link) that contains valuable information about childcare,
cultural activities, University resources, schools, transportation, health care, and housing. It
also contains a listing of Hyde Park childcare centers.
78 – Life at Pritzker

On-Campus Childcare Coordinator
hrservices.uchicago.edu/lifework/life/child/resources.shtml
The coordinator maintains a list of members of the University community who are interested
in providing childcare full- or part-time, and also serves as liaison between the University
and Action for Children.
Recreation
There are abundant resources available for families to spend recreational time in Hyde Park,
including parks, zoos, museums, and art exhibits; for more information, visit chicagolife.
uchicago.edu/city.
When Your Family Visits
Several area hotels offer discounted rates for people on University business; they are listed on
the Web at travelnet.uchicago.edu. Hotel rooms fill up quickly in Chicago, so it’s best to make
reservations early.
There aren’t many hotel options in Hyde Park. The Ramada Inn, located at 4900 South
Lake Shore Drive, has received mixed reviews, so it’s probably worth considering staying
downtown instead. Another option is International House, located on campus, which offers
rooms for travelers. Visit ihouse.uchicago.edu or call (773) 753-2270.
Life at Pritzker – 79

Balancing Your Life at Pritzker
As a medical student, take the time to pursue other interests and participate in a wide variety of
activities. The pass/fail system is in place so that you don’t have to stress out about getting every
single point on your exams. Instead of spending 5 hours to get a 90% instead of an 80% on an
exam, use that time to volunteer, read a book, watch TV, or talk with your friends. Medicine is
a long journey, and it’s important to tend to your personal affairs and keep in contact with your
loved ones.
Explore Chicago
Whether you like art, sports, music, theater, shopping, fine dining, museums, or anything
else, you can find it in Chicago. There are many transportation options that make it easy to
get around the city. Try to enjoy some of these activities at least once a week or invite friends
and family to Chicago and enjoy them together. Remember, as a student, you really have more
flexibility in your schedule than those who are working 8-5 every weekday.
Students at the annual post-anatomy boat cruise. Sudents at 2012 Winter Formal, also known as Prtizker
Prom.
Become Active at the University
If you don’t want to go far, look for activities around the University. For example, there is a
student group called Doc Films that screens a $5 movie everyday. Grab their schedule at the
beginning of the quarter so that you can find out when your favorite movies are playing. There
is also The Pub on campus where medical students sometimes meet up. In addition to a good
selection of beer, there is typical pub food and games. Social Rounds takes place every Friday
in the hospital student lounge, and this is another place where you can relax, chat, and hang out
with classmates. If you are interested in sports, consider forming or joining an intramural team.
Whatever sport you play, there are probably other classmates who are interested as well. It’s a
great way to bond with your classmates and get some exercise at the same time.
80 – Life at Pritzker

Pritzker students at a Halloween Party in Regents. MS15s love weekly potlucks! Enjoying the weather at an
ourdoor potluck.
Maintain Relationships
Call or email your friends, family, and significant others as often as you can. They are there
to support you and give you a fresh perspective on life, even when things at school get busy.
Along the same lines, make sure to spend time with your classmates outside of class.
Eat Right and Sleep Well
Maintaining your health is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It will make you
feel better, give you more energy, and improve your concentration. Take a walk, swim some
laps, or ride your bike as a break from studying. Medicine is a long journey and you want to
be able to enjoy every moment of it.
The MS15 IM football team.
The MS14/15 IM innertube water polo team.
Life at Pritzker – 81

CHICAGO

The City
Chicago is full of great restaurants, bars, coffeeshops, concerts, museums, and more. Take
some time to explore some of Chicago’s many neighborhoods to see what each has to offer.
We’ve listed a few MS14 favorites below that you can use as a jumping off point.
Hyde Park
As you’ll soon find out, Hyde Park is a great neighborhood with a number of restaurants,
cafés, and other sites to visit.
Restaurants
Harold’s Chicken ($)
Fried chicken that is good and cheap.
La Petite Folie ($$$) www.lapetitefolie.com
Nice French restaurant.
Medici on 57th ($$) www.medici57.com
Italian food with an attached bakery. A Hyde Park classic.
Morry’s Deli ($) www.morrysdeli.com
This place has great pastrami and corned beef sandwiches.
Piccolo Mondo ($$) www.piccolomondo.us
Decent Italian with some Spanish food options.
Pizza Capri ($$) www.pizzacapri.com
Really good pizza with a large selection of toppings.
Rajun Cajun ($) www.rajunrestaurant.com
Creative combination of soul and Indian food.
Valois Cafeteria ($) www.valoisrestaurant.com
Another Hyde Park classic that serves diner food.
Z&H ($) www.zhmarketcafe.com
Excellent sandwiches along with typical coffeeshop drinks.
Bars and Nightlife
University of Chicago Pub ($) studentactivities.uchicago.edu/services/pub.shtml
A good selection of beer and serves pub food. In Ida Noyes Hall. Be sure to buy a
membership at the beginning of the year when it is cheaper.
Woodlawn Tap (Jimmy’s) ($)
Dive Bar on 55th that is a hangout for almost everyone in Hyde Park.
Life at Pritzker – 83

Cove Lounge ($) www.thecovelounge.com
Another dive bar in Hyde Park.
Falcon Inn ($)
Cheap beer, friendly service at yet another dive bar in the neighborhood.
Other
Powell’s Books www.powellschicago.com
Cheap books, friendly atmosphere, and general awesomeness.
Seminary Co-op Bookstore semcoop.booksense.com
A labyrinth of books.
57th Street Books semcoop.booksense.com
This place is the non-academic alter ego of the nearby Seminary Co-op.
Court Theatre www.courtheatre.org
Classic theatre production from a professional company. Directors have a city or national
reputation. Discount ticket prices for students the day of the show.
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House www.gowright.org
Tours daily at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. Call for admission prices and ask for student discounts. If
you have never seen one of his designs, at least walk by.
Downtown/Loop
The Loop refers to the center of the city and everything within the ‘L’ (elevated train)
tracks that circle much of the neighborhood, plus a couple of blocks north, south and west.
Some essentials to see in this area include the public art, the Theater District with its iconic
marquees, and the skyscrapers, which include some of the forerunners to the modern office
building.
Restaurants
The Gage ($$$) www.thegagechicago.com
Gastropub.
Giordano’s ($$) www.giordanos.com
Chicago deep dish pizza.
Taza ($)
Inexpensive Middle Eastern food.
Lakeview/Wrigleyville
Lakeview, and two of its essential areas—Wrigleyville and Boystown—has all kinds of zones,
commercial and otherwise, each with its own appeal.
Bars and Nightlife
Goose Island ($$) www.gooseisland.com
Good place to have pre- or post-Cubs game drinks. Also serves pub food.
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Uncle Fatty’s Rum Resort ($$) www.unclefatty.com
With its “tiki bar” atmosphere, frozen drinks, drinking games, and beach decor, going to this
bar is an adventure.
Galway Bay ($)
Typical dive bar with cheap drinks.
Restaurants
HB Restaurant ($$) www.homebistrochicago.com
New American.
Tango Sur ($$)
Argentine steak house.
The Art of Pizza ($)
Best Chicago-style deep dish pizza, even better than Giordano’s or Lou Malnati’s.
Coffeeshops
Intelligentsia ($) www.intelligentsiacoffee.com
Locally roasted coffee that is some of the best in the city.
Lincoln Park
The Lincoln Park neighborhood enjoys an abundance of historic, cultural, architectural,
recreational, culinary and scenic pleasures. Some of the city’s best beaches, including
Fullerton and North Avenue, are along the namesake Park as well.
Bars and Nightlife
Joe’s Sports Bar ($$) www.joesbar.com
This place often has live music and always a great atmosphere. There also are $2 Pitchers on
Tuesday Nights!
Delilah’s ($) www.delilahschicago.com
Cool punk rock bar with a huge selection of whiskey.
McGee’s ($$) www.mcgeestavern.com
Typical sports bar that is also an Ohio State bar.
Restaurants
Mon Ami Gabi ($$$) www.monamigabi.com
Nice French bistro with a romantic atmosphere.
Boka ($$$) www.bokachicago.com
Michelin-starred restaurant that serves new American food.
Franks ‘n Dawgs ($$) www.franksndawgs.com
Great specialty hot dogs and really good truffle french fries. Features a monthly-rotating
specialty dog made by a guest chef.
Life at Pritzker – 85

Coffeeshops
Noble Tree ($) www.nobletreecoffee.com
Three-level coffeeshop with plenty of space and a nice atmosphere.
Lincoln Square
This once was the commercial heart of Chicago’s sizable German community, and there
are reminders here and there. The DANK-Haus, on Western just south of Lawrence, is a
combination museum-cultural center that offers language courses and celebrates German
heritage. Most of the German restaurants are gone, but the center of the neighborhood is
home to a wide variety of restaurants and shops.
Restaurants
San Soo Gab San ($$)
Korean.
Over Easy Café ($$) www.overeasycafechicago.com
Traditional American.
Tank Sushi ($$) www.tanksushi.com
Sushi bar.
Bars and Nightlife
Lincoln Karaoke ($$) www.lincolnkaraoke.com
Karaoke.
Ravenswood Pub ($) www.ravenswoodpubchicago.com
Sports bar.
Hüettenbar ($$)
Good selection of German beers.
Logan Square
In a city renowned for its boulevards, Logan Square is a neighborhood with four of them in
its own National Historic District.
Restaurants
Boiler Room ($$) www.boilerroomlogansquare.com
Good thin crust pizza with a nice selection of beer and cocktails.
Longman & Eagle ($$) www.longmanandeagle.com
High-end gastropub ranked by GQ as one of the 10 best new restaurants in America. Also
recently received one Michelin star.
90 Miles Cuban Café ($) www.90milescubancafe.com
Good Cuban food.
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Bars and Nightlife
The Whistler ($$) www.whistlerchicago.com
Violet Hour-quality cocktails that are more reasonably priced. Also a good music venue with
live music and DJs performing.
Quencher’s Saloon ($$) www.quenchers.com
Diverse beer selection at reasonable prices plus free popcorn!
Green Eye Lounge ($) www.greeneyelounge.com
Great neighborhood bar.
Pilsen
This is a living neighborhood that has evolved over generations, from Irish and German
to Czech and Polish to predominantly Mexican, alongside a pocket—called Heart of
Chicago—that clings to its Italian roots. It begs to be explored, from galleries and shops to
carts selling tamales to bright-colored murals.
Restaurants
Nuevo Leon ($) www.nuevoleonrestaurant.com
Excellent and inexpensive Mexican food.
Honky Tonk BBQ ($$) www.honkytonkbbqchicago.com
Barbecue.
Taquería El Milagro ($)
Good Mexican food.
Bars and Nightlife
Simone’s Bar ($$) www.simonesbar.com
Good cocktails, bar food, and wide selection of beers.
Skylark ($) www.skylarkchicago.com
Dive bar with inexpensive drinks. Free jazz performances on Mondays.
Martin’s Corner ($)
Fun dive bar with board games.
Other
Knee Deep Vintage ($$) www.kneedeepvintage.com
Thrift store with eclectic selection of clothing and housewares. Check out their monthly
midnight sales featuring discounts and complementary beverages.
River North
Once a factory zone, then a low rent haven for artists, River North has become a district
with many of Chicago’s finest restaurants, a number of art galleries, and our rival, Feinberg
School of Medicine.
Life at Pritzker – 87

Restaurants
Café Ibérico ($$) www.cafeiberico.com
The best Spanish restaurant in Chicago.
Wildfire ($$$) www.wildfirerestaurant.com/chicago
Traditional American with good steaks.
Xoco ($$) www.rickbayless.com
Rick Bayless’ inexpensive restaurant. Great Mexican tortas. Visit Frontera Grill next door if
you have the chance.
Bars and Nightlife
The Kerryman ($$) www.thekerrymanchicago.com
Irish pub.
LaSalle Power Co. ($$) www.lasallepowerco.com
Three-level bar and dance club.Check out English next door if you like LaSalle.
Funky Buddha Lounge ($$) www.funkybuddha.com
Another dance club.
Wicker Park/Bucktown
In Wicker Park, shops selling trendsetter clothing and cool shoes share blocks with tattoo
parlors and stores selling recycled music and clothing and even games. Restaurants, like
everything else near the North/Milwaukee/Damen axis, are an eclectic mix.
Restaurants
Big Star ($$) www.bigstarchicago.com
Taco bar with a large selection of beer, tequila, and whiskey. Country theme with outside
seating in the summer.
Handlebar ($$) www.handlebarchicago.com
New American with an emphasis on cycling and bike advocacy. Vegan options available.
Earwax Cafe ($$) www.earwax-cafe.com
Diner food with vegan options available.
Bars and Nightlife
Rainbo Club ($)
Laid-back dive bar with cheap drinks.
Violet Hour ($$$) www.theviolethour.com
Excellent cocktails and quiet atmosphere. No signage, so can be difficult to find. It is right
across the street from Big Star.
Debonair Social Club ($$) www.debonairsocialclub.com
Good place to dance. Go Mondays when cover is free if you RSVP.
The Map Room ($$) www.maproom.com
Perfect for beer lovers, this place has over 200 varieties.
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Coffeshops
Wormhole Coffee ($) www.thewormholecoffee.com
Cool coffee shop with an 80s theme (even has a Delorean parked inside) that serves locally
roasted Metropolis Coffee.
Filter ($)
Large coffee shop with lots of comfortable couches.
Ipsento ($) www.ipsento.com
Cozy café with unique drinks. The signature “Ipsento” drink has coconut milk, honey, and
cayenne.
Other
Myopic Books www.myopicbookstore.com
Excellent bookstore with large selection of books.
Other Neighborhood Gems
Hot Doug’s ($) www.hotdougs.com
Best hot dogs in Chicago. In Avondale.
Kuma’s Corner ($) www.kumascorner.com
Great burgers with a heavy metal theme. Also in Avondale.
Metropolis Coffee ($) www.metropoliscoffee.com
Nice coffee shop in Edgewater. Metropolis is the other prominent roaster in Chicago.
Lao Sze Chuan ($$)
Excellent Chinese food and an expansive menu. Located in Chinatown.
Music Venues
Chicago is a great place to hear all types of live music. The following is a list of venues that
regularly book bands and comedians. It’s tough to describe in a line or two what kind of acts
each venue books, so it’s best to check the venues’ websites to get a feel for their genres. If
you like indie music, another good resource is Oh My Rockness (chicago.ohmyrockness.com),
a website that compiles shows from many Chicago venues into one place. Venues listed with
an underline are the Editors’ top picks.
Aragon Ballroom www.aragon.com
Neighborhood: Uptown
Larger venue featuring bigger acts.
Beat Kitchen www.beatkitchen.com
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Bottom Lounge www.bottomlounge.com
Neighborhood: West Loop
Congress Theater www.congresschicago.com
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Chicago Theatre www.thechicagotheatre.com
Neighborhood: Loop
Larger venue featuring bigger name bands
and comedians.
Double Door www.doubledoor.com
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Smaller venue featuring live acts and DJed
dance parties.
Empty Bottle www.emptybottle.com
Neighborhood: Ukranian Village
Smaller venue featuring an eclectic mix of
emerging names in a variety of genres.
Life at Pritzker – 89

The Hideout www.hideoutchicago.com
Neighborhood: Noble Square
Chicago’s Most Loved Small Venue. Small
venue featuring a variety of acts ranging
from jazz performances to indie rock to
electronic.
House of Blues www.hob.com
Neighborhood: River North
Lincoln Hall www.lincolnhallchicago.com
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Mid-sized venue that books a mix of indie
rock and electronic acts.
Logan Square Auditorium
www.lsachicago.com
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Martyrs’ www.martyrslive.com
Neighborhood: North Center
Metro www.metrochicago.com
Neighborhood: Lakeview (Wrigleyville)
Generally books mid-sized indie bands.
Millenium Park (Pritzker Pavilion)
explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium.html/
artandarchitecture/jay_pritzker_pavilion.html
Neighborhood: Loop
Free concerts during the Spring and
Summer, including the Downtown
Sound Series (NPR-approved indie rock),
performances by the Chicago Symphony
Orchestra, and inexpensive concerts by wellknown
bands.
Park West www.parkwestchicago.com
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Smaller venue that will book comedians in
addition to bands.
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Riviera Theatre
www.jamusa.com/Venues/Riviera/
Neighborhood: Uptown
Larger venue.
Schubas www.schubas.com
Neighborhood: Lakeview
Intimate venue that is great all around.
Subterranean www.subt.net
Neighborhood: Wicker Park
Small venue known for Thursday Reggae
nights.
Smart Bar www.smartbarchicago.com
Neighborhood: Lakeview (Wrigleyville)
Next door to Metro. A dance club that has
well-known electronic DJs perform.
UIC Pavilion www.uicpavilion.com
Neighborhood: University Village
Larger venue that attracts big-name acts.
United Center www.unitedcenter.com
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Large stadium venue.
Vic Theatre www.victheatre.com
Neighborhood: Lakeview

Museums
Adler Planetarium www.adlerplanetarium.org
Located on the Museum Campus in the South Loop.
Shedd Aquarium www.sheddaquarium.org
Located on the Museum Campus in the South Loop.
Art Institute of Chicago www.artic.edu/aic
Located in the Loop and has a large and diverse collection. Best Impressionist collection outside
of France and one of the best art museums in the U.S.
Field Museum of Natural History www.fieldmuseum.org
Located on the Museum Campus in the South Loop. The famous T-Rex Sue is here and the
traveling exhibits often are interesting.
Musuem of Contemporary Art www.mcachicago.org
Contemporary art museum that has excellent temporary exhibits.
Chicago History Museum www.chicagohs.org
Located on the Near North Side.
Museum of Science and Industry www.msichicago.org
The largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, and located right in Hyde Park.
Boat Tours
Chicago Architectural Foundation caf.architecture.org
Wendella Sightseeing Boat Tours wendellaboats.com
Theaters
American Theatre Company www.atcweb.org
Small theatre company with good mix of new and classic plays. Student discounts.
Auditorium Theatre www.auditoriumtheatre.org
Internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful and functional theaters in the world.
Chicago Opera Theater www.chicagooperatheater.org
Schubert Theater www.schubert.com
Broadway shows and other large stage productions.
Steppenwolf Theatre www.steppenwolf.org
Other
Chicago Symphony Orchestra www.cso.org
Second City www.secondcity.com
Improvisational comedy troupe that has many graduates who are part of SNL.
Life at Pritzker – 91

Pritzker City Favorites
Not sure where to start exploring? The graph below shows the favorite neighborhoods of the Pritzker MS14 class.
Number of Students
15
12
9
6
3
0
Boystown
92 – Life at Pritzker
Downtown
/e Loop
Hyde Park
What’s your favorite
neighborhood in Chicago?
Lakeview
Lincoln
Park
Lincoln
Square
Pilsen
South
Loop
Streeterville
Wicker
Park
Wrigleyville

Chicago Online Resources
Here are a few websites we’ve put together for your edification. Hopefully, they’ll prove
helpful as you get to know the City of Chicago.
City Information
City of Chicago www.cityofchicago.org
A website run by the city that has information on everything ranging from the city’s
museums and their free days to information on the various forms of public transit in
Chicago.
Transit Chicago www.transitchicago.com
Maps and schedules for the city’s bus routes and L (elevated train) service, both of which are
operated by the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority).
Chicago Current Events and Activities
Gapers Block www.gapersblock.com
Gapers Block is a Chicago-centric web publication providing information on news, events
and other interesting stuff around town. Gapers Block wants you to slow down and check
out your city!
Chicagoist chicagoist.com
Chicagoist has grown to become the most popular local blog in the Windy City. It is
dedicated to documenting the Second City and all its quirks.
Chicago Reader www.chicagoreader.com
The Chicago Reader is Chicago’s largest free weekly newspaper, nationally recognized as
a leader in the alternative press. Known for its in-depth coverage of Chicago politics and
culture, the Reader explores and exposes news, events and issues that affect city living.
Do312 do312.com
Do312 is a website and social networking community built around all of the amazing events
– like live music, street festivals, and other cultural happenings – going on in and around
Chicago every day.
Windy City Rock www.windycityrock.com
Chicago music news.
Life at Pritzker – 93

Oh My Rockness chicago.ohmyrockness.com
Chicago indie music news and concert lists.
Chicago Mixtape www.chicagomixtape.com
Sign up to receive a free weekly playlist from Chicago bands playing during the week. It’s a
great way to keep track of the local music scene.
Hyde Park Info
Hyde Park History www.hydeparkhistory.org
More information on Hyde Park, for you history buffs.
The Underground Hyde Park Map maps.evanmiller.org
This is the website to discover Hyde Park. In addition to featuring optimal nap locations, it
also directs you to the best bus routes. It also knows which shops are open at the time you
are viewing it.
Campus Dish www.campusdish.com/en-US/CSMW/univofchicago
Menus, dining hall hours, and information on how to put money onto your University ID
for use in the snack bar and dining halls.
Hyde Park Progress hydeparkprogress.blogspot.com
“Hyde Park Progress is a blog devoted to promoting reasonable economic improvement in
Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. It is a forum for members of the community who want
to end the artificial isolation of Hyde Park from the larger economy of the city. It calls for
the improvement of neighborhood retail and commercial amenities, safety, and liveliness.”
94 – Life at Pritzker