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Dixon B. Kaufman, MD, PhD |
The department of surgery has a long tradition of vigorous support of scientific investigation leading to new knowledge that may be applied to surgical treatment of disease. The tradition continues today as evidenced by the broad scope and depth of the research effort in the department throughout the McGaw Medical Center, including the research endeavors at The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Children's Memorial Hospital,Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and Evanston Northwestern Healthcare.
Research activities in the department include an array of both clinical and basic science studies. The department offers unique opportunities to investigate various aspects of G-I physiology, surgicaloncology, vascular biology, transplant immunobiology, cardiovascular surgery, and pediatric surgery. Furthermore, a large number of faculty members of the University, both at the Medical School and on the main campus in Evanston, are nationally and internationally recognized investigators in the major areas of biomedical research. Therefore, surgical investigators enjoy tremendous opportunities for collaboration and useful exchange of ideas with researchers in other departments.
Surgical faculty members who direct the research laboratories are a critical reason for the success of the program because they provide clinically relevant perspectives to the research as well as valuable mentorship to surgical residents. Most surgical residents spend a two-year research fellowship in the laboratory working with established surgical faculty investigators. Medical students also have the opportunity to work in the research laboratories through the summer research program directed by the dean's office.
Currently, funding from the federal government, industry grants, and other private sources supports more than 90 research programs across the department. This results in an exciting and friendly research environment leading to the scholarly pursuit of surgical knowledge ofthe highest quality.
