Newswise — Richard P. Gonzalez, MD, has been named director of the division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Burns at Loyola University Health System.

Dr. Gonzalez was recruited to Loyola from the University of South Alabama where he was Professor of Surgery, Director of Trauma & Surgical Critical Care.

“Richard Gonzalez will help to further reinforce Loyola’s reputation as the only Level 1 trauma center in Illinois that is accredited by the American College of Surgeons,” said Paul C. Kuo, MD, MS, MBA, chair of the Department of Surgery at Loyola University Medical Center and director of the Oncology Institute. “Dr. Gonzalez will offer inspiration and strong leadership within the trauma and surgical department and exceptional world-class care to our patients."

Dr. Gonzalez received his medical degree from the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed a surgical residency at the University of Illinois Metro Group and also at the University of Florida, Jacksonville. He earned his bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois, Urbana.

Dr. Gonzalez has been on staff at the University of South Alabama since 1998 and has held many leadership positions, most recently serving as Director of the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgical Services. The University of South Alabama is one of three designated level 1 trauma centers in the state of Alabama and is also a designated level 1 trauma center for the State of Mississippi. Board certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Surgery – Surgical Critical Care. Gonzalez is also a certified instructor in advanced trauma life support. He has been a full-time trauma and critical care surgeon for 24 years.

Dr. Gonzalez is a member of many medical professional organizations, including the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma, American Trauma Society and Chicago Surgical Society. He is also a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma.

Dr. Gonzalez serves on the manuscript review committees of the Journal of Trauma, Journal of the American College of Surgeons, Journal of Surgical Education and American Surgeon. He has served as principal investigator on many grant & funded research, including the Study of Rural Vehicular Trauma for the Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. He has authored more than 75 manuscripts, abstracts and study chapters.