Development of a Two-Week Dedicated Robotic Surgery Curriculum for General Surgery Residents

Robotic surgery has seen exponential growth over the past several years. However, there is no standardized training program implemented nationwide. Thus, there is a challenge in how to measure surgical proficiency and how to train future surgeons.

In this study, all PGY3 general surgery residents from the University of Chicago residency program were assigned the curriculum. The curriculum consisted of seven sections: instrument mastery, simulation curriculum, suturing, inanimate drills, laparoscopic/open comparisons, surveys, mentor sessions, and exposure in the operating room. It was administered via a 2-week dedicated robotic rotation.

With the inevitable integration of robotic surgery in the operating room, it has become imperative to prepare future surgeons. However, learning curves and a resistance to voluntary compliance have halted progress. Thus, providing mastery-based training and protected time away from clinic duties is paramount. This curriculum aims to reduce these barriers and provide a standardizable training curriculum.