Overview of the Surgical Residency Program

Mission
The goal of the Rush University/Rush University Medical Center/Stroger Cook County Hospital integrated surgical residency program is to allow each resident to fulfill al of his or her potential and have a successful career in whatever surgical endeavor he or she chooses to pursue. Graduates of this program are competent to enter the independent practice of surgery, compete for any postgraduate fellowship they desire or continue on in an academic career. The program continues the tradition of its host institutions in training the surgical leader of tomorrow.

Accreditation
The Rush University/Rush University Medical Center /Stroger Cook County Hospital integrated surgical residency program is fully accredited by the Surgery Residency Review Committee of the ACGME to train and graduate eight categorical residents each year. Our program has acknowledged expertise in all areas of surgery and provides residents with graduated supervised responsibility in the clinical practice of general surgery and surgical subspecialties. Furthermore, the combination of the strong traditions of these long-standing teaching institutions with the fresh energy and vitality of a newly integrated program serves to enhance the surgical resident's experience.

History
Rush Medical College was chartered on March 2, 1837, exactly 10 years before the first general hospital in Chicago, Cook County Hospital, opened. Rush was started in 1843 by a surgeon, Dr. Daniel Brainard. Dr. Brainard also founded Cook County Hospital utilizing Rush Medical College faculty. In 1956, Presbyterian Hospital and St. Luke's Hospital merged to form Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center. In 1971, the medical center formally merged with Rush Medical College to become Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center/Rush University. The Medical Center officially changed its name in September 2003 to Rush University Medical Center.

The first chairman of the Department of General Surgery was Dr. Harry Southwick, succeeded in 1985 by Dr. Steven Economou. Dr. Richard Prinz has been the chairman and program director since 1993. The integrated surgical residency began with its first complement of residents the following year.