Our History

The Rockford Surgical Service was founded in 1950 with a vision of bringing the highest quality specialty surgical service to northern Illinois. For almost fifty years the growth and innovation of modern surgery has been paralleled by the expansion of that vision into what has become the largest provider of specialty surgical services in the area.

The group's dedication to continue the recruitment of highly trained surgeons from the best medical centers in the country has supported its philosophy of blending academic excellence with personally focused care. Our board certified specialists blend a background in general surgery supplemented by additional training or experience in the fields of cardiac, peripheral vascular, thoracic, trauma, head and neck, endocrine, colon and rectal, laparoscopic and breast surgery. This training and commitment has supported the development of the trauma, cancer, cardiac care, and peripheral vascular centers that now serve this entire region. Most recently a whole new era of minimally invasive surgery is dawning, and Rockford Surgical Service has grown to include new surgeons who have added expertise in laparoscopic abdominal and thoracic surgery, as well as minimally invasive cardiac surgery.

The Rockford Surgical Service gratefully acknowledges the physicians, nurses and support-staff of Rockford and the surrounding communities, without whose support and encouragement these endeavors would not have been possible.

Milestones of our practice                                      

1950       R. Glenn Smith, M.D., begins practice.
              Miles J. Gullickson, M.D., begins practice.
              Rockford Surgical Service founded by RGS and MJG with
              Office in Rockford Trust Building in practice of general surgery.
1954       Charles S. Ballinger, M.D., begins practice in general surgery.
1957       RSS office re-located to Rockford Professional Building.
1961       Edward H. Sharp, M.D., begins practice of cardiothoracic
              and general surgery.
1964       EHS performs first cardiac catheterization at St. Anthony Hospital.
              EHS, RGS, and MJG, perform first open heart procedure
              at St. Anthony Hospital.
1967       Warren W. Babcock, M.D., begins practice in general
              and head and neck surgery.
1969      William D. Cox, M.D., begins practice of cardiothoracic surgery.
1971      WDC performs first open heart surgical procedure
             at Swedish American Hospital.
             The Trauma Center organized at St. Anthony  Hospital by EHS.
             Regional Paramedic Training Program begins at St. Anthony Hospital.
             MJG named First Chairman of Department of Surgery
             at University of Illinois College of Medicine
             at Rockford
1972      Burn Unit started at St. Anthony Hospital by RGS and EHS.
1973      Brent L. Horsley, M.D., begins practice of cardiothoracic surgery.
1976      Raymond E. Hoffmann, M.D., begins practice of general surgery.
             BLH and WDC perform first open heart surgical
             procedure at Rockford Memorial.
1978      EHS named Chairman of Department of Surgery 
             at University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford  
1980      James W. Girardy, M.D., begins practice of general surgery.
1982      Neil E. Brogren, M.D., begins practice of general surgery.
1983      Thomas J. Stieglitz, M.D., begins practice of cardiothoracic surgery.
1985      Leslie P. Edgcomb, M.D., begins practice of
             general and vascular surgery.
1989      Stephen J. Bradley, M.D., begins practice of general
             and head and neck surgery.
1994      Baron D. Harper, M.D., begins practice of cardiothoracic surgery.
             Marc Whitman, M.D., begins practice of general surgery.
             Jeffrey A. Barteau, M.D., begins practice of general surgery.
1996      REH serves as President of Illinois State Medical Society.
1997      Darin J. Miller, M.D., begins practice in general surgery
             John C. Myers, M.D., begins practice in cardiothoracic surgery.
             James W. Girardy M.D. appointed to Board of Directors at OSF
             Health Care Systems, 1997-present
1998      Lawrence P. Prabhakar M.D. begins practice of general
             and colon and rectal Surgery
             David M. Cheng M.D. and Baron D. Harper M.D. perform
             first off-pump coronary artery bypass procedure
             in Rockford, IL 
2000      Leslie P. Edgcomb, M.D., performs first Endograft
             for abdominal aortic aneurysm at Swedish American Hospital.
             Baron D. Harper, M.D. Appointed Medical
             Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center.
             John C. Myers, M.D. Appointed Medical Director of Regional Heart Center
             Swedish American Hospital.
2003      James P. Lochner, Jr., M.D. begins practice in cardiothoracic surgery.
             Thomas L. Carter, Jr., M.D. begins practice in cardiothoracic surgery