The sole consideration in developing the Rush University Medical Center/Cook County Hospital Integrated Surgical Residency was to provide the best possible educational experience for our resident trainees. Residents rotate at Rush University Medical Center, John H. Stroger, Jr. Cook County Hospital, and Rush North Shore Medical Center, Skokie, Illinois. The character, resources, and patient populations at these three hospitals are varied and extensive offering a unique opportunity for in-depth, broad-based training in all of the primary and secondary components of surgery.

Rush University Medical Center is one of the busiest clinical institutions in the Midwest with one of the largest surgical volumes in Illinois. The attending surgeons are not only skilled clinicians, but expert teachers. The John H. Stroger, Jr. Cook County Hospital is one of the busiest city hospitals in the United States, and has a fine teaching staff. Cook County Hospital organized the first trauma service that has served as a prototype for trauma units across the country. The clinical and scientific scholarship of its staff is widely recognized. The new John H. Stroger, Jr. Cook County Hospital opened in December 2002. Rush North Shore Medical Center is a thriving community hospital that provides additional training as an affiliated institution. Its skilled surgical staff is noted for excellence in clinical teaching and innovative minimally invasive techniques. Clinical and laboratory research is performed at each of these hospitals and residents are encouraged to take an active role in it.

The combination of these institutions provides a breadth of exposure to all areas of surgery and critical care that is difficult to match. Each institution, while similar in its dedication and commitment to surgical education, through its distinctive environment exposes residents to the unique aspects of a university hospital, a public inner city hospital, and a suburban general hospital. The faculty members at each one of these institutions are excellent clinicians, inspiring teachers, and productive researchers.

The majority of resident rotations take place at Rush and John H. Stoger, Jr Hosptial, which are across the street from one another, allowing for greater camaraderie and reduced travel times. For specific information on resident rotations, see the table below.

RESIDENT ROTATIONS
Rush University Medical Center (RU)
Stroger Cook County Hospital (CCH)
Rush North Shore Medical Center (RNS)
Rotation Overview by Year (PDF)

Research - One or more years for selected residents between PGY 2 and PGY 3 year

This schedule is approximate and subject to change based on resident complement.

OPERATIVE EXPERIENCE

The Operative Experience Table below outlines the average number of cases logged by residents completing their surgical program in 2007. A review of this table illustrates the broad exposure that Rush surgical residents receive.

Operative Experience
	ABS Minimum Required # of Cases	Rush Average Number of Cases per Resident (2007)
Skin, Soft Tissue and Breast	25	60
Head and Neck	24	41
Alimentary Tract	72	122
Abdomen	65	137
Liver	4	17
Pancreas	3	11
Vascular	44	68
Endocrine	8	40
Trauma
Operative	10	17
Non-Operative	20	49
Thoracic	15	18
Pediatric	20	30
Plastic	5	9
Laparoscopy
Basic	34	122
Complex	0	40
Endoscopy	29	54
Total Major Cases	500	873
Total Chief Cases	150	235
Total Major Cases as TA	-	52
Total Cases (Major + Minor)	-	1148