General Surgery Residency Training & Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

The senior (PGY 3-5) skills lab curriculum has been designed based on the universally accepted American College of Surgeons/Association of Program Directors in Surgery Surgical Skills Curriculum for residents. Specifically we have chosen to address the core competency of technical skills by allowing our residents access to 6 advanced procedures to be completed on live pig models in the NCASE operating room. Specifically included are: 1) laparoscopic ventral hernia repair; 2) Laparoscopic Sigmoid resection; 3) Laparoscopic Nissen Fundoplication; 4) Vascular anastamosis; 5) Laparotomomy opening and closure; and 6) Laparoscopic/Open Splenectomy. The general surgery residency incorporates an extensive surgical skills curriculum that is adapted from the ACS/APDS Phase I and II skills curriculum and is currently in its 5th consecutive year. This curriculum incorporates didactic and simulation components and is divided into PGY1, PGY2 and PGY3-5 phases. The PGY2 curriculum focuses on basic, broad reaching skills such as ultrasound and biopsy skills, tissue handling, advanced laparoscopy, anastomotic techniques and trauma evaluation/skills. (See PGY 2 Sample Curriculum) The PGY1 curriculum introduces these basic skills by in the residents first year of training, with the PGY2 curriculum designed to bring the residents to proficiency in these skills. Both the PGY1 and 2 curricula utilize a wide variety of simulators spanning from simple explant tissue models and box trainers to higher fidelity phantoms and virtual reality simulators (i.e. GI Mentor II, used in the PGY 1 and 2 endoscopy modules). The modules are led by a dedicated faculty leader and teacher and typically are spread out over 2 sessions ( two weeks apart), that allows for adequate individual and mentored practice and skill retention. All PGY1 and 2 residents are required to pass a verification of proficiency (VOP) at the end of the curriculum. The second year fellows’ course is designed to provid