• Trauma only
• Critical Care only
• Trauma & Critical Care
• Acute Care Surgery
• Advanced Practitioner
• Burn Surgery

• Duration: 4 week minimum
• Positions available: 5
• Salary:
• Program Director: Juan Rodriguez, MD, FACS / Department Chair: Mallory Williams, MD, MPH, FACS, FICS, FCCP, FCCM

Last updated: January 26, 2026

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Founded by Drs. Robert J. Freeark and Robert J. Baker, the Cook County Trauma Unit at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County is recognized as America’s first comprehensive trauma center dedicated exclusively to the care of the acutely injured patient. Established in 1964 and designated as the nation’s first trauma center in 1966, the program originated at Cook County Hospital, the predecessor to Stroger Hospital.

The Cook County Trauma Unit provides comprehensive trauma surgery, surgical intensive care, burn care, trauma prevention, and rehabilitation services. The program has an international reputation for leadership in the management of penetrating trauma and sponsors the oldest and largest civilian–military partnership with the U.S. Navy, supporting trauma readiness for three Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System (ERSS) teams. The unit also houses the region’s leading Burn Center and maintains an active role in pre-hospital services, trauma education, and policy development.

The trauma center is among the busiest in the nation, with more than 5,000 admissions annually, 25 to 30 percent of which involve penetrating injuries. Facilities include a dedicated 15-bed trauma resuscitation area, a 12-bed Trauma Intensive Care Unit, a 10-bed step-down unit, and ward beds. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary trauma team providing continuous management from initial resuscitation through operative care and rehabilitation. The service is staffed by seven full-time attending surgeons specializing in Trauma, Burn, and Critical Care.

The Cook County Trauma Unit maintains a strong educational mission. The Trauma Clerkship is a well-established program for senior medical students, offering intensive clinical exposure to trauma, burn care, and trauma critical care. Education is supported by a structured didactic curriculum and participation in the Cook County Trauma Educational Curriculum (CCTEC), which emphasizes core trauma principles and procedural skills to prepare students for residency training across surgical and non-surgical disciplines.

How to apply

[email protected]  - (312) 864-2751 (phone)

Qualifications: Medical students must have successfully completed all required third-year core clerkships prior to consideration for the trauma elective. Completion of the Cook County Trauma Educational Curriculum learning modules is required before the start of the rotation. Module access and instructions will be provided upon approval for the rotation.

Interested applicants should contact the Trauma Education and Residency Program Coordinator, Rona Ragbeer, MBA, for additional information. Trauma rotations are a minimum of four weeks in duration. Rotation opportunities are available year-round, with up to five students accepted per four-week rotation block.

Contact

Rona Ragbeer, MBA
Trauma Education and Residency Program Coordinator
Cook County Trauma and Burn
[email protected]

Program Leadership

Department Chair: Mallory Williams, MD, MPH, FACS, FICS, FCCP, FCCM
[email protected]

Trauma Clerkship Program Director: Juan Rodriguez, MD, FACS
[email protected]

Location

1950 W Polk St
Chicago, IL 60612
Website

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