Traumatology Fellowship at Cook County Health
Cook County Health offers a one-year Advanced Traumatology Fellowship within the Department of Trauma & Burn at Cook County Health. This high-acuity, non-ACGME-accredited program is designed for advanced clinical training, academic development, and leadership preparation in trauma and burn care.
The fellowship provides immersive exposure to complex trauma and burn pathology within a nationally recognized urban public health system.
About Cook County Health and Stroger Hospital
John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital ( formerly Cook County Hospital) is a renowned urban public teaching hospital founded in 1835 and continues to provide excellence in medical education and patient care.
Key attributes:
• Longstanding national reputation for hands-on clinical training
• Historically significant training site for a large portion of U.S. physicians
• Serves a diverse and medically complex patient population
• Wide scope and high-volume environment emphasizing procedural competence and clinical decision-making
Cook County Health Department of Trauma & Burn
Program Highlights
Fellow Role and Experience
• One-year intensive fellowship focused exclusively on trauma and burn care
• Graduated responsibility with direct attending mentorship
• Leadership opportunities with residents and medical students
• Participation in trauma activations, operative cases, and multidisciplinary care coordination
• Structured academic engagement including conferences, case review, and quality initiatives
• Clinical research and academic mentorship
Trauma
Trauma Fellowship Application Process
The Trauma Fellowship is a one-year, high-acuity, non-ACGME–accredited program designed to provide advanced clinical, operative, and academic training in trauma surgery at a high-volume Level I trauma center.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria:
• Completion of an ACGME-accredited General Surgery residency by the fellowship start date
• Board eligibility or board certification in General Surgery
• Completion of an ACGME accredited surgical critical care fellowship
• Board eligibility in surgical critical care
• Eligibility for medical licensure in the State of Illinois
• Authorization to work in the United States at the time of application
• J-1 visas cannot be accepted at this time.
Application Materials
A complete application must include:
• Curriculum Vitae
• Personal Statement outlining career goals and interest in trauma surgery
• Three letters of recommendation, including one from the General Surgery Program Director
• Medical school diploma and residency completion documentation (upon request)
Application Submission
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Selected applicants will be invited for interviews, which may be conducted virtually or in person.
Physicians must be eligible for employment in the U.S. without visa sponsorship. We currently are unable to support physicians requiring visa sponsorship. H1B visa holders are eligible to apply.
Selection Process
Applications are reviewed by the Trauma Fellowship leadership team. Selection is based on clinical performance, academic potential, leadership capability, and alignment with the mission of the trauma program.
Final offers are extended following completion of interviews and internal review.
Contact Information
For application questions or additional information, applicants should contact:
Trauma Education & Residency Program Coordinator Department of Trauma & Burn
Email: [email protected]
Core Clinical Responsibilities
Core Meeting and Education Requirements
Elective Training Opportunities
Required Courses
Research and Academic Activity
About the Fellowship
The Sumner Koch Burn Unit at Cook County Health hosts two burn fellowship positions annually.
The Burn Surgery fellowship at CCH is a non-accredited one-year program intended to train young physicians in the care of the burn injured patient.
The Burn Service at Cook County Health / Stroger Hospital provides structured, hands-on exposure to the comprehensive care of burn patients across inpatient, operative, and
outpatient settings. The program is designed to build a strong clinical foundation in burn management, with emphasis on resuscitation, wound care, surgical intervention, and longitudinal follow-up.
Core components of the experience include:
• Daily burn rounds with attending physicians
• Weekly burn-focused didactics
• Morbidity and mortality conferences
• Biweekly outpatient burn clinic
• Operative experience
• Burn unit and ICU exposure
About the Sumner Koch Cook County Burn Unit
• Early Origins (1960s): The burn unit was established alongside the trauma unit in the early 1960s by Dr. William Shoemaker, a pioneer in surgical critical care who recognized the need for specialized environments to treat high-acuity injuries.
• Comprehensive Care Integration: In 1966, the hospital officially founded the first comprehensive trauma unit in the U.S., which included the burn center as a core component. This model integrated pre-hospital services, surgery, and rehabilitation into a single continuum of care.
• Influential Leaders: Dr. Karl Meyer, the hospital’s medical superintendent from 1914 to 1967, is credited with transforming the facility into a world-class teaching center that developed “one of the finest burn units” during his tenure.
Today’s Cook County Burn Unit:
• 6-bed burn unit
• 14-bed burn wound care unit
• Dedicated trauma and burn outpatient clinics
• Over 1,000 burn evaluations each year
• More than 400 inpatient burn admissions
Two positions available
PG 2 and above are eligible to apply
Burn Director
Stathis Poulakidas, MD, FACS
[email protected]
Inquiries and Applications:
Interested applicants should submit a current CV via email to: Rona Ragbeer, MBA Trauma Education & Residency Program Coordinator [email protected]
Applicant Qualifications
• Graduate of an accredited medical school
• Successful completion of USMLE Step 1 and Step 2
• Eligible for USMLE Step 3
• Three letters of recommendation
• 1–2 years of surgical training preferred but not required
• Demonstrated interest in burn care
Paige Burnia, MD (SCC 24-25, Trauma 25-26), Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Jesse Coleman, DO (SCC 23-24, Trauma 24-25), Pacific NW University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Anne Erickson Souza, MD (SCC 24-25), Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Andrew Feyh, MD (SCC 23-24, Trauma 24-25), Marshall University School of Medicine
Julian Henderson, MD (SCC 23-24, Trauma 24-25), Eastern Virginia Medical School
Amanda MacQuoid, MD (SCC 24-25, Trauma 25-26), Texas A&M University College of Medicine
Clark Murray, MD (SCC 22-23, Trauma 23-24), University of Miami School of Medicine
Ryan Schutt, DO (SCC 21-22, Trauma 22-23), Des Moines University
Daniel Tenorio, MD (SCC 22-23), Drexel University School of Medicine
Jaime Umberger, DO (SCC 22-23, Trauma 23-24), Lincoln Memorial University Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Andrew Weaver, MD (Trauma 23-24), Ross University School of Medicine
James Wycoff, DO (Trauma 22-23), A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
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