About

The University of Chicago Department of Surgery is one of the nation’s most distinguished and historically pre-eminent. We are comprised of 12 surgical subspecialty sections that include over 120 clinical and research faculty, 65 advanced practice providers, and 110 residents and fellows from diverse backgrounds.

The modern Department of Surgery was founded by Dr. Dallas Burton Phemister in 1928 with a vision of training surgeon-scientists who blended research with clinical practice. Indeed, of the seven original full-time faculty, Dr. Charles Huggins, received a Nobel Prize (1966) for his work on the hormonal influence on cancer, and Dr. Lester Dragstedt introduced vagotomy for the treatment of peptic ulcer based on decades of physiological research from his laboratory. The tradition of surgical research at the University of Chicago in fact began even earlier in the Physiology department in which surgeon and Nobel laureate (1912) Dr. Alexis Carrel developed the technique of vascular anastomosis, although Carrel’s reputation was later severely tarnished by his association with eugenics and the America-first movement.

Our commitment to discovery and innovation continues to this day. Collaborations among surgical specialties and across other academic units of the University of Chicago have resulted in many "firsts" for our Department, including the first living-related liver transplant, the first back-to-back triple organ transplantation, as well as many advances in minimally invasive and robotic surgery. The creativity of our faculty and trainees has led to wide-ranging promising new therapies from the laboratory bench to the patient's bedside. Our research and field work has launched programs in early childhood learning and created paradigm shifts in current thinking about surgical infection.

We are cultivating an inspiring and inclusive environment to further the tripartite mission of clinical practice, research, and education. Holding ourselves to the highest standards, our strategic vision emphasizes:

• Premier multidisciplinary clinical programs anchored in translational research and distinguished by leading-edge technology;
• "Chicago-style" training programs that embed simulation and immersive learning within a unique framework of ethics and professionalism;
• Agenda-setting research that addresses questions of fundamental importance and applied relevance with toolboxes extending beyond traditional biomedicine; and
• Stewardship of the Department and its legacy, leading by example to meet complex and dynamic challenges that face the University of Chicago Medicine and the needs of our local community.

Our patients, however, require more than our surgical expertise and advanced facilities provide—they seek to understand their condition and how we will care for them. We are committed to taking all the time necessary to answer every question our patients bring, because we believe that healing begins with understanding. 

Welcome to our Department. We invite you to explore these pages to learn more about our exciting programs.