Dr. Samuel Karunakara Appavu, MD

Samuel K. Appavu received his medical degree from Madras Medical College, University of Madras, India. He performed his internship and residency in surgery at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois from 1970-1976. He also performed a fellowship training in surgery at the Lahey Clinic Foundation (which was in Boston at that time) where he trained in hepato-biliary, pancreatic and endocrine surgery under internationally known surgeons.

Upon completing his training, Dr. Appavu joined Cook County Hospital as an attending surgeon in the divisions of burn surgery, general surgery, trauma and vascular surgery. In 1978 he was appointed the Chairman of the Division of Surgical Critical Care. In addition to his clinical surgical practice, he was also the teaching faculty for medical students, and surgical residents at Cook County Hospital and at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago. In 1984 he initiated a fellowship training program in Surgical Critical Care at Cook County …Hospital for doctors who have completed a general surgery residency. Rising through the ranks of Assistant Professor and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Chicago where he was also the attending surgeon and Surgical Intensive Care Unit Director, he is currently the Professor and Chairman of the Department of Surgery at the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford.

During his tenure at Cook County Hospital and the University of Illinois-Chicago, Dr. Appavu served in many roles including that of the President of the medical staff.

Dr. Appavu is certified in surgery and in surgical critical care by the American Board of Surgery. He is also certified in surgery by the Royal College of Surgery of Canada. He is a fellow of four colleges: The American College of Surgeons, The Royal College of Surgeons of Canada, The American College of Critical Care Medicine and The American College of Chest Physicians. He also belongs to numerous national and international medical organizations and societies. His areas of research include surgical critical care and general surgery with over 100 publications/presentations nationally and internationally.

Dr. Appavu has a broad base of surgical expertise. His areas of special interest in surgery include hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery, surgery of the spleen and adrenal glands and laparoscopic surgery. His areas of special interest in critical care include care of the critically ill surgical patient encompassing mechanical ventilation, hemodynamic monitoring and management of shock states among others. His areas of research include shock states, sepsis and perioperative myocardial infarction. Dr. Appavu's other interests include travel, motor home camping and instrumental music.

Dr. Appavu lives in Rockford and his children are grown and are in college.

"My personal philosophy is to offer my patients the best options for their care, have them make their own decisions about their treatment and to care for them with compassion, and with respect for the honor and dignity of human life."