Message from the Chair of Surgery

Welcome from the Chair of Surgery

Elliot L. Chaikof, MD, PhD

Since its origins in the 1860s under the leadership of David Williams Cheever, MD (1831 - 1915), the Department of Surgery at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has been a preeminent center of surgical care, training, and research. In this tradition, we continue to rededicate ourselves each and every day to providing innovative care of the highest quality, developing next-generation therapies for the surgical patient through basic and clinical investigation, and preparing future leaders who will be inspired to invent the future of American surgery.

We believe that the challenge to any surgical training program is to understand the value of individual freedom, nurture intellectual diversity, appreciate flexibility, and promote originality. We believe in fostering the development of imaginative master surgeons and surgeon-innovators who will cross boundaries to identify new solutions to current and future challenges.

For 150 years, a foundation of excellence in the Department of Surgery at BIDMC has been nurtured and sustained by a variety of outstanding leaders of Harvard Medical School. Our duty has always been to create a supportive, nurturing, and collaborative environment that encourages each and every member of our community to think differently and challenge the status quo so that modern medical miracles continue to happen.

Elliot L. Chaikof, MD, PhD
Chair, Department of Surgery
Surgeon-in-Chief
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery
Harvard Medical School