Technical skill is fundamental to the development of surgical competency. Continuing advances in all therapeutic modalities (including minimal access techniques) along with changes to the professional work environment have placed new demands on surgical education and the development of proficiency in technical skill. Given these challenges, surgical trainees and educators continue to seek up-to-date and comprehensive educational resources on technical skill in surgery. The objectives for this Web-based resource is as follows:

1. Organize and disseminate knowledge and research on technical skills in surgery
2. Provide links to surgical skills centers and on-line resources
3. Initiate communication and collaboration between institutions.

The target audience is the surgical education community, including but not restricted to medical students, surgical residents, faculty surgeons, and directors of surgery programs in North America and around the world. It is hoped that this resource will also serve as a base for future continuing professional development endeavours in the area of technical skills.

Medical education centers might find this Web site useful as a resource for selecting methods or models of instruction and assessment of technical skills, including for example, a basis for comparison among simulators or training platforms.