Page 2 - RossYou Day Mt Sinai Chicago November 2025 Program

Keynote Address: “Never Quit on a Hill”

Kenneth L. Wilson, MD, FACS
Medicine with Purpose. Leadership with Heart.

Dr. Kenneth L. Wilson is a Professor of Surgery at the University of Chicago Medicine, where he serves as Trauma
Medical Director within the Section of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. A board-certified trauma and critical
care surgeon, Dr. Wilson’s career reflects the integration of academic excellence, military leadership, and a
lifelong commitment to service. He is widely recognized for his expertise in trauma systems development and for
advancing both civilian and military trauma readiness through innovative training and partnership models.

Dr. Wilson earned his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine, completed his general surgery
residency at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, and pursued fellowship training in Trauma and Surgical
Critical Care at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. These formative experiences across varied and high-intensity
clinical environments shaped his philosophy of teamwork, resilience, and service under pressure - principles that
continue to guide his leadership at the University of Chicago.

A Colonel in the United States Army Reserve, Dr. Wilson has served multiple combat deployments in Iraq and
Afghanistan, experiences that have profoundly influenced his clinical practice and academic mission. Drawing
on this perspective, he helped create and now leads the Army Military-Civilian Trauma Team Training (AMCT3)
program, a landmark collaboration between UChicago Medicine and the U.S. Army. Since joining UChicago
Medicine, Dr. Wilson has been instrumental in the rapid expansion of its trauma and critical care services,
helping transform the institution into one of the busiest and most comprehensive trauma centers in the region. By
2020, the center cared for more than 4,400 adult and pediatric trauma patients, underscoring his impact on
access, quality, and coordination of care across the trauma continuum.

As Program Director of the Trauma Surgery Fellowship, Dr. Wilson is equally dedicated to education and
mentorship. He trains and inspires future leaders in trauma, emergency, and critical care surgery, emphasizing

clinical excellence, leadership under pressure, and ethical responsibility. His teaching excellence has been
recognized through numerous awards and enduring mentorship relationships.

Dr. Wilson’s scholarly work addresses trauma systems optimization, surgical outcomes, and the integration of
military principles into civilian trauma care. He is an active voice in discussions on violence prevention, health
equity, and the social determinants of trauma. Guided by a steadfast belief in preparedness, purpose, and
service, Dr. Wilson continues to shape the evolving landscape of trauma surgery - where science, compassion,
and readiness unite to save lives and strengthen communities.

RossMed Day 2