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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
Emergency Undocking in Robotic Surgery: A Simulation Curriculum
Published on: May 20, 2018
A structured conference program improves competency-based surgical education
Janak A Parikh1, Marcia L McGory, Clifford Y Ko
1Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, BOX 95-6904, 72-160 CHS, 10833 Le Conte Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-6904, USA.
Background:
Work hour restrictions and new educational standards pose substantial challenges for modern residency programs. We present results from an institutional effort to improve resident education using a competency-based conference program.
Methods:
The conference program is a weekly 3-hour mandatory block of protected time including a formal lecture series and a modular series tailored to resident level. A comprehensive survey was administered to all general surgery residents before (2005) and after (2006) implementation of the new conference program and included specific items related to the 6 competencies.
Results:
Scores for 16 competency-related items all showed statistically significant improvement. We also found improvements in residents' perceptions of the faculty. Overall, the new conference program was rated positively by 98% of residents.
Conclusions:
Implementation of a structured conference program resulted in significant improvement in residents' evaluation of their education in the 6 competencies and improved their perceptions of the faculty.