SURGICAL SKILLS LAB 

Together with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and the American Society of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), Easton Hospital’s surgical skills lab offers didactic and psychomotor skills training which begins in the PGY-1 year.  Under the direction of Dr. Artun Aksade, Bariatric and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon, surgical residents at all levels are fully trained and monitored both in the skills lab and the Operating Room throughout their five years of surgical training.

 PGY-1 Surgical Residents:

The Surgical Skills Education for PGY-1 Surgical residents is a diverse, didactic, and simulator-assisted.  Prior to gaining “hands on” clinical practice, PGY-1 interns must pass through a series of structured tasks that are designed to assure that each has acquired a sufficient fund of knowledge and a technical skill set to conduct themselves in laparoscopic, endoscopic, and open surgical  procedures. 

There is also a wide range of educational materials that the residents will be required to complete. Various clinical scenarios are integrated into this curriculum to broaden the resident’s exposure to patients.  PGY-1 residents are required to:

   1)      Review and complete all Fundamental of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) Modules.  

   2)      Review and complete the American College of Surgeons Surgical Skills curriculum which includes:

·               Module 1 - Knot Tying

·               Module 2 - Suturing

·               Module 3 - Tissue Handling, Dissection, Wound Closure, Wound Management

·               Module 4 - Advanced Tissue Handling, Flaps, & Grafts

Each resident must meet with Dr. Aksade to discuss the modules and to perform the knot tying and suturing tasks associated with the modules.  Residents can expect immediate feedback from Dr. Aksade with regard to technical skills. 

3)      Complete the “The Fundamentals of Surgery Curriculum” which is a web-based curriculum through the American College of Surgeons.  The modules included in this curriculum are highly interactive simulated cases.   

 All residents:

Residents in years PGY-2 through PGY 5 are required to review and complete all Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery modules and skill sets to prepare for FLS certification in their Chief year.  Certification in the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery is required for application to the American Board of Surgery.  Throughout your five years of training, you will participate in monthly training sessions that will help you achieve this requirement.  The Surgical Skills Curriculum is as follows:

SURGICAL SKILLS LAB CURRICULUM