Department of Surgery and Surgical Specialties | College of Medicine Rockford | University of Illinois College of Medicine

Department Overview Heading link

Department Chair Fazlur Zahurullah, MD, MBA, FACS, FAAOA

The Department of Surgery and Surgical Specialties encompasses the broad specialty of surgery along with anesthesiology and emergency medicine.

This is a large academic surgery department dedicated to education since its inception in 1972. It has steadily grown during the past four decades. Our strength is in the ever-increasing number of volunteer and part-time faculty who are extremely generous in sharing their knowledge, expertise, experience and practice facilities for education. They are highly committed to educate the future physicians of this city, state and county.

Our educational programs are designed to offer a strong foundation of basics at the junior level and build further on this foundation at more senior levels. A multitude of educational and skills training activities are aimed toward producing well-educated, compassionate and caring physicians with excellent clinical skills, judgment, technical abilities and attributes of professionalism. As one progresses from junior to more advanced levels, opportunities become available for elective assignments in specialties. Many of our faculty are also engaged in research and, therefore, opportunities may be available to get involved.

Department Mission Heading link

Preparing MD students

The primary mission of the Department of Surgery and Surgical Specialties is to provide a foundation of learning experiences and a supportive environment in which third- and fourth-year medical students can acquire an understanding of basic principles of surgical diagnosis and treatment for:

General surgery
Surgical sub-specialties
Anesthesiology
Emergency medicine

This foundation is designed for all medical students, regardless of the discipline they may ultimately select. The department supports students as they develop the skills necessary to become lifelong independent learners as well as the skills and attitudes expected of a physician.

MD program info

Preparing the next generation of doctors

Another component of our educational mission is to provide surgical exposure and experience to the trainees of the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford Family Medicine Residency Program.

Family Medicine Residency info

Contributing to the big picture

A secondary mission is to develop research into clinical surgical care and educational methodology, followed by the dissemination of innovative findings. Our research benefits the campus, the college, the university and the community at large. Above all, research will benefit our patients.

More research at Rockford

Specialties Heading link

We are particularly eager and excited to counsel, guide and assist those who want to pursue a career in any one of the many specialties under our oversight.