After our department successfully navigated the unpredictable and unchartered waters of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, I wondered at the beginning of 2021 what the pandemic would have in store for our department. Would its long and looming shadow make our course more challenging or would our department continue to propel forward in new and exciting ways? I'm proud to say it's the latter. The pandemic allowed us to expand how we could deliver care, not just in physical spaces but in virtual ones, too. For us to grow responsibly, we've used data thoughtfully to identify communities that would benefit from our expert, compassionate care. Our expansion of bariatric and medical weight management services into Oak Lawn is a perfect testament to this approach. In addition to getting out to more Chicago communities to support our patients, we've broadened the ways we've connected with them virtually. Telemedicine appointments continue to offer patients a convenient way to connect with their care teams. Instead of driving many miles, patients have access to our friendly, blue-chip care with just a few clicks. Meanwhile, we offered a slate of women's and men's health webinars that brought pertinent, pragmatic information right into patients' living rooms. We also leveraged the virtual delivery of numerous CME events spanning the gamut of divisions within our department. Educating the current and next generation of surgeons is vital for our continued growth and success, and I couldn't be more pleased by our department's dedication to peer-to-peer learning, discovery and growth. Amid this flurry of activity, our department achieved high marks both individually and collectively. Many of our colleagues had their research published in esteemed clinical journals, while others were recognized with well-deserved promotions and appointments. Several members of the department enjoyed the plaudits of their peers when named top doctors by Chicago magazine. Meanwhile, as a testament to our robust recovery from the pandemic, our patient visits outpaced fiscal year expectations by 17%. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without our spirit of collaboration and pursuit of excellence. Included in this year's annual report are just a few of the accomplishments that speak to how we cultivate cutting-edge research, foster a robust learning environment and practice at the forefront of clinical care. I hope you enjoy learning more about our work and our team. My best wishes to you,
Alfonso Torquati, MD, MSCI, FACS
Helen Shedd Keith Professor of Surgery Chair, Department of Surgery
Letter from the Chair
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