Surgical Skills Curriculum Information

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What is the ACS/APDS Surgical Skills Curriculum and how is it organized?

The ACS/APDS National Surgical Skills Curriculum is being developed in three phases. Phase I includes basic surgical skills designed with first and second year residents in mind. The skills included in the Phase I curriculum were identified by the National Simulation Committee because they are important for junior residents and cross at least two specialties.

Phase I Modules

• Advanced Tissue Handling: Flaps, Skin Grafts
• Advanced Laparoscopy Skills
• Airway Management
• Anastomosis – Hand Sewn Gastrointestinal
• Anastomosis – Stapled Gastrointestinal
• Anastomosis – Vascular
• Asepsis & Instrument Identification
• Basic Laparoscopy Skills
• Catheritzation, Uretheral and Suprapubic
• Central Line and Arterial Line Insertion
• Chest Tube and Thoracentesis
• Colonoscopy
• Introduction to Inguinal Anatomy
• Knot Tying
• Laparatomy Opening and Closure
• Principles of Bone Fixation and Casting
• Surgical Biopsy
• Suturing
• Tissue Handling, Dissection, Wound Closure and Management
• Upper Endoscopy
• Wound Management

National Simulation Curriculum Committee

Sponsored by the American College of Surgeons and the Association of Program Directors in Surgery

Co-Chairs:

Gary L. Dunnington, MD
Professor and Chairman, Department of Surgery
Southern Illinois University
Springfield, Illinois

Helen MacRae, MD
Professor of Surgery
Director, Surgical Skills Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario  CANADA

Debra A. DaRosa, PhD
Professor of Surgery and Medical Education
Vice Chair of Education, Department of Surgery
Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Chicago, Illinois

Members:

Joseph Cofer, MD
Professor of Surgery
University of Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee

Gerald Fried, MD
Professor of Surgery and Gastroenterology
McGill University
Montreal, Quebec  CANADA

Karen Horvath, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
University of Washington
Seattle, Washington

Mary Klingensmith, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery
Washington University
St. Louis, Missouri

Ajit Sachdeva, MD
Director, Division of Education
American College of Surgeons
Chicago, Illinois

Lisa Satterthwaite, RPN
Manager, Surgical Skills Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital
University of Toronto
Toronto, Ontario

Neal Seymour, MD
Vice Chairman, Department of Surgery
Baystate Medical Center
Tufts University School of Medicine
Springfield, Massachusetts

Daniel C. Smith, MD
Chairman, Department of Surgery
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, Florida

James Valentine, MD
Professor of Surgery
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Nashville, Tennessee

Richard Welling, MD
Volunteer Assistant Professor
University of Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio

Revised July 1, 2009

Division of Education