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

Background: 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.

Methods: 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.

Conclusions: 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.