History of surgical training in Kalamazoo.

This narrative reviews the history and evolution of surgical training in Southwest Michigan, particularly Kalamazoo, over the past 100 years. During this time, the de novo growth of medical treatment and the gradual and progressive establishment of medical and surgical training, paralleled with innovation, have shaped the clinical practices in Southwest Michigan. The surgical expertise that exists in Kalamazoo has made it one of the most important headquarters for surgical innovation, not only in the United States, but in the world. The surgical training program in Kalamazoo began in the 1960s, and this accredited general surgery residency program has graduated numerous successful surgeons. Currently this program is one of several training programs at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed), the only medical school in Southwest Michigan. Under the leadership of Dean Surgeon Dr. Paula Termuhlen and Chair Dr. Robert Sawyer, a bright future in surgical education, research, and innovation is highly anticipated. Expectations of future growth in this program will provide a significant pipeline for graduating physicians and surgeons for decades to come.