The University of Florida Department of Surgery hosts a robust surgical skills training curriculum for residents. Most skills and simulation training is held in our state of the art University of Florida Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation, right on our clinical campus. Residents benefit from small group sessions with a high faculty/resident ratio and dedicated space to practice surgical skills at three different locations on our campus.
Intern Surgical Skills Bootcamp
Incoming residents participate in our Surgical Skills Bootcamp, an intensive series of skills lab sessions intended to equip new surgical residents with the basic technical skills needed to succeed during the first year. Interns, guided by faculty and senior residents, develop competency in knot tying, basic and advanced suturing, clamping and ligation, and laparoscopic skills.
The program provides residents with knot tying kits, suture kits, and custom intern skills supply kits to ensure interns have all the supplies they need to refine skills at home. Laparoscopic kits are available for check out in the Surgical Education Office.
Interns are able to earn extra cases and time in the operating room by demonstrating competence in each area.
Junior Resident Surgical Skills Curriculum
Weekly skills sessions provide ample opportunity for junior residents to refine surgical skills and learn new techniques in a small group setting with in-person faculty guidance. Click here to review our current skills curriculum schedule.
Surgical Olympics
Junior residents participate in our Surgical Olympics twice a year. These friendly competitions allow residents to compete against one another to demonstrate technical skills competence, speed, and finesse. Winners are presented with bronze, silver, or gold medals at department-wide sessions and earn bragging rights for the rest of the semester!
Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM)
The program offers Advanced Trauma Operative Management once annually to rising senior residents to help them prepare for the role of Trauma chief. This course consists of one half-day didactic session followed by an intensive lab session where residents repair penetrating injuries to the chest and abdomen. Upon completion, residents will receive ATOM certification. To learn more about ATOM, visit https://atomcourse.com/.
Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET)
Rising chief residents participate in Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET), a one-day cadaveric course focused on surgical exposures in the neck, chest, abdomen, pelvis, upper extremities, and lower extremities. Upon completion, residents will receive ASSET certification. To learn more about ASSET, visit https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/trauma/education/asset.