It is operated by The International College of Surgeons and features exhibits dealing with various aspects of Eastern and Western medicine.

"[4] The museum is housed in a 1917 mansion designed by Howard Van Doren Shaw as a replica of the Petit Trianon at Versailles.

The house was originally built for Chicago socialite Eleanor Robinson Countiss Whiting who died in 1931.

The Coutiss family where the sole owners of the house[5] until the International College of Surgeons acquired the building in 1950.

[5] In addition to displaying medical artifacts the museum owns, since 1998, hosted a number of contemporary art exhibitions in an effort to broaden its appeal to visitors.