The Surgical Coaching Program: Developing a One-on-One Technical Curriculum for Junior Neurosurgical Residents

Evolving constraints on resident operative autonomy require development of efficient resident training curricula outside the operating room (OR). We introduce a one-on-one technical curriculum for junior neurosurgical residents (Surgical Coaching Program, SCP)¹ and report resident and faculty perspectives of the program's utility in its pilot year.

Eight procedures were identified by faculty to pilot the curriculum. One coach per session was selected from the neurosurgical faculty at our institution. Six of the pilot sessions utilized cadaveric specimens and/or an operating microscope in a dissection laboratory, and 2 sessions were performed in an empty operating room. Faculty and resident surveys were collected after each session to understand their perceptions of the SCP.

The pilot year of the SCP received positive feedback from both residents and faculty. All faculty reported increased resident confidence by the end of their session, and those who worked with residents in the OR after the session reported increased resident confidence in the OR. All faculty either trusted the residents more after the session or had no change in the level of trust.

We present a structured, one-on-one technical curriculum for junior neurosurgical residents and report its effectiveness in enhancing confidence, operative autonomy, and faculty-resident trust. While other institutions may have utilized dissections for neurosurgical resident education, this is the first structured one-on-one curriculum formally described in the neurosurgery literature. This report serves as a platform for fostering new, innovative approaches to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of neurosurgical training.