University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Program

Program Identity & Fit

This is a university-affiliated neurosurgery residency based at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, a tertiary care referral center in Peoria, IL, offering a broad operative case mix spanning cranial, spinal, and vascular pathology supported by advanced radiosurgical technology (Gamma Knife, Varian Trilogy, CyberKnife). The program emphasizes strong hands-on operative exposure and a "pro-resident" clinical culture with dedicated ancillary support intended to protect resident time for learning and case volume rather than administrative tasks. A CAST-accredited spine fellowship available as a PGY-7 year signals a subspecialization pathway built into the training structure, and the small, closely-knit faculty-resident environment suggests an emphasis on direct mentorship over large layered hierarchies. Institutional research infrastructure (Research Services, Center 4 Health Research, CTSA partnership) exists and is accessible, but nothing in program-specific materials indicates a research mandate for neurosurgery residents, positioning research as available and supportive of academic output rather than central to program identity.