Founded over 100 years ago, Saint Francis Hospital in Evanston is a 200-bed teaching institution serving patients from Chicago’s far north side and northern suburbs. There are more than 400 physicians on staff providing care for a diverse patient population that includes 78,000 outpatient visits, 9,000 admissions, 8600 operative cases and 34,000 ER visits per year. Saint Francis has been designated as a Level 1 Trauma Center. It is also a chest pain and primary stroke center.

The surgical experience is broad and comprehensive and includes general, advanced laparoscopic, peripheral vascular surgery and endoscopy. Currently, a variety of advanced laparoscopic surgeries are being performed as well as aortic stent grafting, carotid surgery, and therapeutic endoscopy which all form part of the resident operative experience.

We have a unique exposure to geriatric care that provides an opportunity to manage multiple and complex medical and surgical disease processes in this elderly population. Nearly one-half of the hospitalized patients are greater than 70 years old. This experience highlights the identification of the physiologic and pathophysiologic changes which occur with aging and will concentrate on those surgical problems presenting in this age group. This will include recognition of the sometimes subtle presentation of specific disease states such as ischemic bowel, GI bleeding, and a variety of neoplastic conditions.

A rotation in Anesthesia provides intubation and invasive monitoring experience while a breast center offers training in stereotactic and ultrasound guided breast biopsy. These minimally invasive techniques combined with an active endoscopy program provide valuable outpatient procedural experience for the residency.

The conferences at Saint Francis include daily Morning Report as well as a weekly Morbidity and Mortality and Trauma Conference. A monthly pathology conference highlighting cases which have been operated by those service team members in the prior 4 weeks’ time is well received.

Surgery residents rotating at Saint Francis will have a unique opportunity to work alongside their colleagues in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine. Additionally, Transitional Residents rotate with the surgical team on a continuing basis. This interaction facilitates patient care and also fosters mutual respect among various healthcare givers in an integrated learning system. Medical students rotating from The University of Illinois, Chicago provide continued questioning of the status quo as well as an educational stimulus to learn.

There are a variety of support services available to the residents at the hospital. This includes a full-service library with the most up-to-date journals and texts, both hardcopy and on-line available 24 hours a day. Parking in an enclosed garage is provided without charge as well as meals and adequate call rooms. Surgical residents rotating at Saint Francis will work closely with the attendings and within the 80-hour weekly timeframe guidelines.

Residency Program at Saint Francis Hospital