Training Sites

Loyola University Medical Center

The Loyola University Medical Center is a quaternary-care medical center located in Maywood, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago. The heart of the medical center campus, Loyola University Hospital, is a 547-licensed-bed facility with a Level 1 Trauma Center.  

Loyola Cardiovascular Surgery is a leader in minimally invasive coronary and valvular surgery, thoracoabdominal aortic surgery, lung and heart transplant, as well as mechanical circulatory support. Our fellows learn to incorporate advanced technology into their surgical practice, including endovascular grafting, percutaneous valve implantation, off-pump revascularization, and the Convergent procedure. With a robust heart and lung transplant experience, our fellows gain extensive experience with ECMO and mechanical support devices.

While on the Loyola Thoracic Surgery service, fellows develop comfort tackling complex benign and malignant pathology with minimally invasive approaches (VATS, robotic-assisted, laparoscopic, advanced interventional endoscopy and bronchoscopy, SABR). Fellows will also learn to harness numerous adjuncts to facilitate both minimally invasive and open procedures, including augmented reality, fluorescent imaging, robotic bronchoscopy, and Cytalux localization. 

Edward Hines, Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital

The Hines VA Hospital, a 471-bed hospital on the VA medical campus located immediately adjacent to the Loyola University Medical Campus, serves as a tertiary referral center for Chicagoland veterans. The recently renovated operating rooms, intensive care units, and wards handle complex cases, including minimally invasive procedures utilizing its three DaVinci Robotic platforms (two Xi and one Si).

The Hines VA is an invaluable component to our fellowship program. During their time at the VA on the combined Cardiothoracic Surgery service, fellows have the opportunity to not only care for our nation’s veterans, but are expected to compile what they have learned about surgical technique, clinical decision making, and practice management in an environment where they are allowed carefully supervised autonomy, as they lead the Cardiac and Thoracic surgical teams. Patients often present with advanced pathology, contributing to a complex case-mix comprised of the full spectrum of Cardiac Surgery and minimally invasive robotic Thoracic Surgery. 

Endeavor Health Edward Hospital

Edward Hospital is a 368-bed community hospital located in the southwest suburb of Naperville. In January 2025, the 3-story, 71,000 square-foot Cardiovascular Institute opened, significantly expanding inpatient and outpatient cardiovascular care.

Edward Hospital offers a high-volume and clinically rigorous two-month cardiothoracic surgery rotation centered within its renowned Cardiovascular Institute. Fellows are provided with hands-on exposure to a diverse case-mix, ranging from complex coronary artery bypass and valve repairs to advanced robotic-assisted and minimally invasive thoracic procedures, with an emphasis on expanding the benign and malignant esophageal clinical experience. 

Advocate Children’s Hospital

The Advocate Children’s Hospital, located on the medical campus of Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, is one of the largest providers of pediatric services across the Chicago area. Consistently ranked in the top 25 in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery, the Advocate Children’s Hospital features a state-of-the-art dedicated 16-bed pediatric cardiac ICU, as well as a 61-bed neonatal intensive care unit. The pediatric cardiovascular surgical team consists of three congenital heart surgeons, three dedicated nurse practitioners, and a nationally recognized cardiac anesthesia and intensive care team.

During the one-month rotation with the congenital heart team, fellows scrub the full spectrum of complex repairs of congenital malformations, and are involved in the pre- and post-operative care of their patients. Given the robust volume of surgical cases, case requirements of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery are easily satisfied during the rotation. 

Elective Rotation

Depending on the fellow’s clinical interests, an additional rotation can be taken as an elective on the Loyola Thoracic Service during the latter half of their second year.