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

• Duration: 1 year
• Positions available: 3
• Salary: $85,773
• Program Director: Andrew Dennis, D.O, FACS, FACOS

Last updated: July 10, 2026

---

Advanced Comprehensive Traumatology Fellowship

Cook County Health Trauma & Burn

Train where American trauma surgery began and where modern trauma systems were operationalized.

Cook County established the nation’s first civilian Trauma Unit in 1966. The program became a model for translating battlefield principles into organized hospital based trauma systems and continues to function today within one of the most complex urban trauma environments in the United States.

Cook County / Stroger Hospital is an ACS verified Adult Level I Trauma Center, a state verified Pediatric Level I Trauma Unit, and home to one of the busiest burn centers in the nation. Located on the west side of downtown Chicago, the institution operates within a highly integrated citywide trauma ecosystem that includes EMS, public safety agencies, and multiple academic medical centers.

The Advanced Comprehensive Traumatology Fellowship is a one year program designed for surgeons seeking mastery across the full spectrum of modern injury care. Training spans the entire continuum of trauma care from the prehospital environment and point of injury through resuscitation, operative intervention, critical care, rehabilitation, and trauma system leadership.

Fellows train alongside high volume rescue surgeons and assume active clinical responsibility in complex, high acuity environments. The program emphasizes operational competence, decision making under pressure, and leadership within multidisciplinary trauma systems.

The Department of Trauma functions as a free-standing department within Cook County Health and includes divisions in critical care, burn, education and research, and administration.

Clinical service lines include trauma resuscitation, surgical critical care, burn care, inpatient trauma services, and outpatient follow up.

Department managed clinical infrastructure includes:

15 bed Trauma and Burn Resuscitation Unit
12 bed Trauma ICU
6 bed Burn ICU
14 bed Burn Step Down Unit
General medical floors

The clinical volume is high, the case mix is complex, and fellows are expected to function as senior decision makers within a multidisciplinary trauma team.

Training emphasis is strategically tailored to the fellow’s career trajectory.

Exposure to the operational components of regional trauma systems including:

EMS governance and system leadership
Triage system development
Operational planning and resource allocation
Performance improvement and quality oversight
Mass casualty and surge management

Fellows work directly with EMS physician leadership and public safety partners across the Chicago trauma network.


High volume operative exposure including:
Airway management
Vascular trauma
Genitourinary trauma
Orthopedic trauma
Obstetric and gynecologic trauma
Complex soft tissue injury

Significant exposure to penetrating trauma.
Burn Surgery Experience
Comprehensive burn management across resuscitation, operative care, and ICU management within a high-volume burn program.


Training in trauma system management including:
ACS Committee on Trauma verification processes
State trauma designation
Registry driven quality improvement
Morbidity and mortality leadership
Trauma outreach and system integration


Simulation based training in trauma leadership, medical direction, and operational command environments.


Opportunities to teach residents from 18 rotating specialty programs totaling more than 250 trainees annually.



Fellows participate in educational programs with the Chicago Fire Department and Chicago Police Department, strengthening the first link in the trauma care chain.


Partnership with the United States Navy through the Cook County Military Combat Sustainment Collaboration.


Operational exposure to large scale public events occurring throughout Chicago including national conventions, NASCAR events, and major sporting events.


Instructor certification pathways available in:

PHTLS
TCCC
ATLS
ASSET
ABLS

How to apply

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

Qualifications: Applicants must submit the following:

Current Curriculum Vitae

Three letters of recommendation including:

One Surgical Critical Care Program Director
One General Surgery Program Director

Board eligibility or certification in General Surgery
Board eligibility or certification in Surgical Critical Care

Current medical licensure status

Program Leadership

Andrew J. Dennis, DO, FACS, FACOS
Program Director

Juan Rodriguez, MD, FACS
Associate Program Director

John Ruggero, DO, FACS, FACOS
Associate Program Director

Program Website
https://www.cookcountytrauma.org/home

Application materials should be submitted electronically to:

Rona Ragbeer
Trauma Education and Residency Coordinator
[email protected]

(312) 864 2751

Research opportunities

Fellows participate in operationally focused research designed to improve trauma and acute care delivery. Projects are aligned with real clinical gaps and system performance priorities rather than theoretical academic exercises.

Structured mentorship supports fellows through:

Study design and methodology
IRB preparation and regulatory navigation
Data acquisition and statistical planning
Abstract development and conference presentation
Manuscript preparation and journal submission

Scholarly productivity including peer reviewed publication and national presentation is strongly encouraged.

Location

1950 W. Polk Street
Chicago, IL 60612

This information is provided by the party posting the listing and is solely responsible for its content. EAST is not responsible for the accuracy of the listing.