[Course system of the Working Group for Gastro-intestinal Surgery Davos]

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Training
• Gastro-intestinal Surgery

Context:

• Technical skills training is vital for advanced surgical education.
• Surgical training is increasingly transitioning from operating rooms to dedicated training laboratories.
• The Working Group for Gastro-intestinal (GI) Surgery (AGC Davos) initiated a pivotal skills course in 1984.

Purpose:

• To describe the long-standing and impactful gastro-intestinal (GI) surgical skills training course in Davos.
• To emphasize the sustained quality and evolution of the training program over 27 years.
• To advocate for the inclusion of such specialized training within the core surgical curriculum.

Summary:

• The Davos GI skills training course, established in 1984, has trained over 5,000 residents.
• The course maintains high standards and quality, adapting to modern surgical techniques.
• High demand, indicated by exceeding capacity annually, underscores the need for this specialized training.

Impact:

• Alumni of the Davos course are actively contributing to surgical education as instructors.
• The sustained success and demand suggest the model's effectiveness and relevance.
• The course's structure and content provide a valuable benchmark for surgical skills curricula.