Sumner L. Koch, MD

Dr. Sumner L. Koch, born in 1888 in Cavalier, North Dakota, was a pioneering figure in early hand surgery and wound care. After earning his medical degree from Northwestern University, he served as a surgeon with the U.S. Army’s 12th General Hospital in France during World War I. Following the war, he practiced alongside renowned physicians Drs. Kanavel, Mason, and Allen at Northwestern Medical School. His lasting impact was felt through the establishment of the Hand Clinic and burn service at Cook County Hospital, where he developed foundational principles of wound care that continue to influence modern surgical practice. He was CSSH’s first president from 1947-1948. He established the Sumner L. Koch Award in 1988. This award is presented to the author(s) of the presentation at the annual meeting of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand judged to have "the greatest future clinical application to the practice of hand surgery."

Sumner L. Koch Award Winners

Past CSSH /ASSH Presidents

Michael Mason

1951-1952

Dan Nagle

2010-2011

John Bell

1972-1973

Terry Light

2004-2005

Jennifer Moriatis Wolf

2022-2023

List of Past CSSH Presidents

We extend our sincere thanks to each past president for their dedicated leadership and lasting contributions to the mission of the The Chicago Society for Surgery of the Hand.

Matthew Bernstein, MD

Prasant Atluri, MD

Brian Murphy, MD

David Kalainov, MD

Thomas Kiesler, MD

Taizoon Baxamusa, MD

Scott Sagerman, MD

Roderick Birnie, MD

Thomas Wiedrich, MD

Leon Benson, MD

Richard Thomas, MD

2022-2024

2020-2022

2018-2020

2016-2018

2014-2016

2012-2014

2010-2012

2008-2010

2006-2008

2004-2006

2002-2004

Michael Vender, MD

Michael Bednar, MD

David Tulipan, MD

Daniel Nagle, MD

Daniel Mass, MD

Michael Jablon, MD

John Showalter, MD

Jules Shapiro, MD

Terry Light, MD

James Ahstrom, MD

2000-2002

1998-2000

1996-1998

1994-1996

1992-1994

1991-1992

1990-1991

1989-1990

1988-1989

1987-1988

Served as President

Name