Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, located on the Loyola University Health Sciences campus in Maywood, Illinois, is a private Jesuit Catholic medical school with a distinctive mission rooted in service, justice, and holistic patient care. The school trains physicians through the Jesuit principle of cura personalis — care for the whole person — and has strong clinical training through Loyola University Medical Center, one of the largest and busiest hospitals in the Chicago metropolitan area. Stritch is known for its commitment to primary care, family medicine, and underserved community health.
What makes it different
Loyola Stritch is a Jesuit Catholic medical school with a clearly articulated cura personalis (care of the whole person) philosophy that integrates spiritual, ethical, and community dimensions into medical education. The school operates adjacent to one of the Chicago area's busiest Level I trauma centers and has particular strengths in family medicine, primary care, and community health. Loyola consistently ranks highly for producing physicians who enter primary care and practice in underserved communities.
Course & teaching
Integrated curriculum. 4-year MD. The Stritch curriculum integrates early patient contact from Year 1, with primary care and community medicine experiences across all four years. Clinical rotations at Loyola University Medical Center, Hines VA, and network affiliate sites across the Chicago suburbs. A Primary Care/Health Systems track is available. The school also operates a service-learning program connecting students to underserved Chicago-area communities.
Research strengths
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (MD) has notable research strength in Cardiovascular disease, Cancer, Infectious disease, Health equity, Primary care outcomes research.
Interview
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine (MD) interviews via Traditional one-on-one or panel interviews with faculty and students. Loyola Stritch School of Medicine uses a traditional interview format on the Maywood campus adjacent to Loyola University Medical Center. Applicants typically participate in two individual or panel interviews of 30–45 minutes each, with faculty physicians and occasionally a current student. Interviewers probe motivation for medicine, Jesuit mission alignment (service orientation, cura personalis, care for the whole person), community service experience, and professional narrative. The day includes a tour of Loyola University Medical Center — a major Level I trauma center — and informal interactions with current students. The Jesuit values of service, justice, and intellectual humility are explicitly woven into the interview evaluation framework.
Intake
Approximately 170 students per year.
At a glance
Founded in 1909, based in Maywood, IL. Programmes offered: Primary Care, Family Medicine, Trauma Surgery, Oncology, Community Health.
