Vijay K. Maker, M.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S(c)
Program Director in Surgery
UIC, Metropolitan Group Hospitals Residency in General Surgery
Professor of Surgery and Family Practice

Our five-year ACGME accredited general surgery residency provides the highest quality of surgical education leading to American Board of Surgery Certification in general surgery within an environment designed to encourage clinical and basic scientific investigational experience. The program’s main objective and focus is to teach clinical excellence in patient care that is rooted in the principals of cognition and meta-cognition. Excellence is taught on the basic six core competencies of patient care, medical knowledge, practice based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication, professionalism, and systems based practice, with a seventh competency of technical supremacy. The Program puts tremendous value on constantly developing objective tools to measure every aspect of surgical excellence as we believe that “what cannot be measured, cannot be improved.” Residents as well as the faculty are measured on the same metrics and continue to help each other to excel. With the wealth of surgical and scientific knowledge arising daily, a major emphasis is put on learning the tools of lifelong learning. This is accomplished by self directed learning, faculty and resident directed didactic sessions, and compulsory learning objectives. Our program uses SCORE guidelines, among others, to create a post graduate level adjusted 5 year curriculum.

The surgical training in the UIC Metropolitan Group Hospitals Program and our affiliated teaching hospitals provides a potential inpatient population of over 1,000 and outpatient visits well over 100,000. The strength of our program is the wide breadth and great volume of general surgery performed at the various institutions with general surgeons and specialists. These combined hospital facilities allow each surgical trainee to obtain a large operative experience early in the training program and to develop independent responsibility in the pre and postoperative care of a variety of surgical patients. Most residents upon completion of their chief resident year have performed well over 1,000 major operations. Over 80% UIC/MGH surgical graduates enter subspecialty fellowships following completion of their general surgery training. Recent graduates have matched for fellowships in surgical oncology, vascular surgery, minimally invasive surgery, colorectal surgery, trauma and critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric and plastic surgery. Many of the residents graduating from this program have pursued academic careers.

Last, but not the least, the program is blessed with a city of world class status. Chicago is a city of unsurpassed beauty sitting like a jewel on Lake Michigan and the home to world-class arts, music, architecture, theatre, professional and college sports, and museums. Running, biking, health clubs, and internationally renowned restaurants are within walking distance from all four MGH hospitals so that you may rejuvenate your spirits to work and study at an excelled pace.