Resident Involvement
Our residency program fosters a culture of collaboration, leadership, and innovation by actively engaging residents in shaping their educational experience. Residents participate in three resident led committees—Wellness, Engagement, and Education—that promote community, support, and continuous improvement. Residents actively participate interviewing both resident and faculty candidates to ensure the collective resident voice is heard in decision making as the department grows.
Educational enrichment is further supported through a faculty-led journal club, a resident-driven radiology didactic series, resident as teacher series, and involvement of cultural Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) sessions, which foster reflective learning and inclusive dialogue. Residents contribute to a DEI newsletter, amplifying diverse perspectives and initiatives.
Opportunities for direct interaction with leaders are abundant, including resident roundtables with all named visiting lecturers, and quarterly town halls—both resident-only and with leadership—to discuss program updates and concerns. Additionally, each PGY class meets 5–6 times annually with administration to provide feedback on rotations and the overall structure of the program.
This dynamic environment empowers residents to take ownership of their training, influence program development, and cultivate leadership skills that extend beyond the operating room.
Wellness Committee
The Wellness Committee is dedicated to fostering a culture of balance, connection, and resilience within the Northwestern General Surgery Residency. We support the physical, emotional, and social well-being of our residents through thoughtfully curated initiatives, including our annual resident retreat, social gatherings, community service events, and wellness-focused programming. By promoting camaraderie, encouraging healthy habits, and celebrating milestones together, we create a vibrant, inclusive environment where residents thrive both personally and professionally.
Initiatives and Accomplishments:
- Intern welcome event
- Annual resident retreat
- Holiday party, which includes a silent auction of wellness-related items that has raised over $2,500 for Acclivus, a non-profit organization focused on community health and violence prevention in Chicago, over the past two years
- Free group fitness classes (Barry’s Bootcamp)
- Community service events
- Resident wellness bin (includes essential items for residents while on call/working)
- Happy hours
- Resident snacks
- Chief gifts
Engagement Committee
The Engagement Committee is dedicated to building and sustaining meaningful connections among current residents, alumni, and prospective trainees. We aim to foster a lifelong, supportive network committed to developing and advancing the next generation of exceptional surgeons.
Initiatives and Accomplishments:
- Resident Mentor Families: Placement in a cross-class resident family
- Alumni Network: Work with the department in maintaining an alumni network for events and fellowship outreach including sponsoring talks by alumni
- Recruitment: Helping recruit the next classes of stellar residents
Education Committee
The Education Committee is committed to advancing resident surgical education through a comprehensive and innovative approach. We work with program leadership to improve and develop new learning opportunities for residents in simulation-based and didactic training, clinical knowledge, as well as preparation for board exams and intern introductory skills and engagement. We are dedicated to cultivating residents as effective educators and leaders and in improving medical student education in the foundations of surgery. We are also committed to advancing education research and fostering trainee development through mentorship, leadership training, and professional growth initiatives. Our goal is to ensure a dynamic, inclusive learning environment that inspires clinical excellence, academic curiosity, and provides residents with the tools to succeed in surgical residency and beyond.
Initiatives and Accomplishments:
- Simulation Curriculum and didactic training re-development
- Residents as Teachers Curriculum
- Surgical Olympics
- Oral Boards Preparation (Mock Orals!)
- ABSITE Prep
- Intern Bootcamp and Intern School
- Thursday morning curriculum development
- Medical Student Education
- Career Development - lecture/small group series focused on post training career development topics