Our History
Our History
Embedded Files
The Cook County Hospital Trauma Unit was the first of its kind in U.S. history.
Founded in 1966 at Cook County Hospital (the predecessor to John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital), the Trauma Unit was the first comprehensive trauma unit established in the U.S., providing prevention and pre-hospital services, critical care and surgery, rehabilitation and extensive follow-up care. Today, the Cook County Trauma Unit is one of the busiest in the nation.
Beginning in the only space available: an unused dining room was repurposed into the first Trauma Unit established in the U.S.
The Trauma Unit was the brainchild of Dr. Robert Freeark and Dr. Robert Baker, inspired by specialty hospitals in Austria located in strategic intervals off motorways to treat victims of car crashes utilizing techniques developed in combat zones and mass-casualty experiences. For the first time, a dedicated surgical, medical and nursing team, with specialized training, were brought together in a designated area to always be available to treat critical cases.
By the 1970’s, Cook County’s Trauma Unit became the model for other hospitals and through the leadership of Dr. John Barrett led to the creation of the local and state EMS systems. Over the last five decades, the Trauma Unit has made important contributions to “resurrection medicine”, saving lives that may have previously been lost due to car accidents and violent injuries.
Learn more about our founding and community impact in Cook County Health’s article on the Trauma Unit’s 50th Anniversary.
Fellowship History
Fellowship History
The Cook County Trauma Unit (CCTU) is widely recognized as the birthplace of the first true clinical trauma fellowship in the United States. Officially founded in 1987, the fellowship built upon a rich legacy of trauma leadership, surgical excellence, and groundbreaking shock research.
Even before the fellowship was formally established, several pioneering surgeons served in what functionally became fellowship roles. Notably, Constantinos “Dino” Chiliimindris (1968) and Fred Rogers (1982) played essential roles in shaping trauma care at County. Fred Rogers was the first to complete both a clinical trauma fellowship and a dedicated trauma research fellowship, establishing a dual model that would influence the structure of the program for years to come.
Between 1982 and 1987, three out of 45 surgical residents (7%) from County pursued trauma fellowships elsewhere. Recognizing the need to formalize advanced trauma training in-house, the department created a dedicated program that would quickly become a national leader.
Dr. Kimberly Nagy, MD, FACS, is a key figure in the fellowship’s history. She completed both a Trauma Research Fellowship (1993) and a Clinical Trauma Fellowship (1994) at Cook County. Her research, conducted under Dr. Marcel Martin and Dr. John Barrett, focused on the impact of hypertonic saline in both hemorrhagic and septic shock. This work reinforced CCTU’s reputation as a hub for shock research, a tradition dating back to Dr. John Barrett’s early career at Tulane and supported by the legacy of Dr. William Shoemaker, who became the third full-time CCTU faculty member in 1967 and served as Director of Surgical Research.
Dr. D. John Fildes, another cornerstone of County's trauma history, is believed to be the second trauma fellow, having trained at CCTU from 1988 to 1989. His contributions, along with those of his predecessors and successors, helped solidify the program’s national standing.
The fellowship has been led by a distinguished line of program directors whose leadership helped shape trauma care and education for generations of surgeons:
Dr. John Barrett
Dr. Marcel Martin
Dr. D. John Fildes
Dr. Kimberly Nagy
Dr. Matthew Kaminsky
Dr. Andrew Dennis
Today, the Cook County Trauma Fellowship remains rooted in this tradition of innovation, research, and clinical excellence, continuing to train the next generation of leaders in trauma surgery.
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