McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program

Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Analyst Verified · Apr 20, 2023

McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program

McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University Program is a residency program specializing in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, located in Chicago, Illinois, directed by Whitney Liddy, MD and coordinated by Jennifer Malloy. The program accepts applications through October 1, 2027. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (312) 695-3222. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

Northwestern's otolaryngology residency is a top-tier academic program anchored at Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Illinois' No. 1-ranked hospital) and Lurie Children's Hospital, with a department ranked in the top 20 nationally for NIH funding in otolaryngology-related research. Clinical identity centers on subspecialty depth in chronic rhinosinusitis (one of the largest U.S. CRS programs with over 1,000 sinus surgeries annually), endoscopic skull-base surgery, head and neck oncology with a dedicated tumor bank and precision medicine initiative, and pediatric otolaryngology. The program supports four fellowships (rhinology, facial plastics, head & neck oncologic surgery, pediatric oto) and a formal Physician-Scientist Training program (Starzl Academy), alongside a 49-year-running resident research symposium, signaling deep institutional investment in academic and research trajectories. A small, highly selective cohort (four spots from ~60 interviewed) suggests the program values candidates with demonstrated scholarly output and fit within a research-forward, subspecialty-rich academic culture.

Who it fits

An applicant with substantive research experience (basic science, translational, or outcomes-based) and clear intent toward an academic or subspecialty fellowship career, drawn to a high-volume tertiary/quaternary referral environment.

Research intensity

Strong - research is deeply embedded via NIH-ranked funding, a formal physician-scientist training pathway, a longstanding resident research symposium, and explicit encouragement to highlight research interests in the application.

Career orientation

Academic Medicine

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