Curriculum

First-year residents rotate in general surgery, surgical oncology, vascular and bariatric/minimally invasive surgery services as well as night float at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago. During this time, residents manage preoperative and postoperative patient care, function as first assistants in major surgical procedures and as surgeons based on their ability. In addition, they gain experience in surgical intensive care, including placement of chest tubes, central and arterial lines. Nearly all central lines placed in the hospital are performed by general surgery first-year residents.

Second-year residents begin rotating at outside hospitals. These rotations include:

• Pediatric Surgery — Ascension Saint Alexius Women and Children’s Hospital
• Trauma & Surgical ICU — Mount Sinai Hospital
• Surgical ICU — Northwestern Memorial Hospital

The remaining months are spent on general surgery services at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago, as well as one month on Anesthesiology and one month on Endoscopy.

Third-year residents begin to serve as service chiefs for general surgery services at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago and Swedish Hospital (formerly Swedish Covenant Health). Operative autonomy and case volumes are significantly increased during this year. Outside rotations during third year include:

• Endocrine Surgery — Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Thoracic Surgery — Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Transplant Surgery — Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Vascular Surgery — Ascension Alexian Brothers

The fourth-year resident serves as a service chief for general surgery at Ascension Saint Joseph - Chicago and Swedish Hospital (formerly Swedish Covenant Health). Outside rotations during the fourth year include:

• Surgical Oncology — Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Colorectal Surgery — Northwestern Memorial Hospital
• Trauma Surgery — Mount Sinai Hospital
• Vascular Surgery — Ascension Alexian Brothers
• An elective month is also offered

The fifth-year resident spends the year as the chief surgical resident covering general surgery, surgical oncology, vascular surgery and bariatric/MIS. While under the supervision of the Chairman of the Department of Surgery and other key surgical staff members, the chief surgical resident serves as a junior attending and is responsible for the day-to-day management of the major surgical teaching service, all preoperative patient evaluations, surgical procedures, follow-up care and answering consultations. A high volume of robotic surgical cases enables all graduating chief residents to be certified in da Vinci™ Robotic Assisted Surgery. Additionally, the chief resident helps organize and acts as an instructor of surgical education programs.

Throughout the five-year residency program, residents play a vital role in educating third-year medical students from the University of Illinois at Chicago.