Robotic Surgery Training in Medical School

[kko7373]

I am a high school student conducting research in Frisco, Texas. As part of my methodology, I am seeking to collect survey responses from medical students to better understand their perspectives on robotic education. This feedback would be invaluable in shaping the direction of my essay and refining my analysis.

I’ve included a link to my survey below. It should only take about 5 minutes.

Exploring Robotic Surgery Training: A Survey for Medical Students

Hello! I am a high school student conducting research on how medical schools prepare students for robotic-assisted surgery. This survey aims to understand your experiences, training opportunities, and confidence levels regarding robotic surgery. Your participation is voluntary, and all responses...

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[DOVinciRobot]

Nobody does robotic surgery training in medical school.

 

[EthylMethylMan]

I played with the DaVinci trainer for about 30 seconds one time as an M3. That’s probably how it goes for most students.

 

[kko7373]

I played with the DaVinci trainer for about 30 seconds one time as an M3. That’s probably how it goes for most students.

Thank you for your comment! I’d love for you to complete the survey and share your experiences—or even if you haven’t had much experience, that’s valuable information too. I'm trying to gauge whether additional training or resources might be helpful in medical school, and your input would make a big difference.

 

[kko7373]

Nobody does robotic surgery training in medical school.

That’s perfectly fine—I'm not looking for current robotic surgery training programs in medical schools. Instead, I’m researching whether medical students would find such training beneficial. My project aims to explore their perspectives and identify if there's a perceived gap that could be addressed in future curricula.

 

[LucidSplash]

That’s perfectly fine—I'm not looking for current robotic surgery training programs in medical schools. Instead, I’m researching whether medical students would find such training beneficial. My project aims to explore their perspectives and identify if there's a perceived gap that could be addressed in future curricula.

The problem with your premise here is that it’s at the wrong level. Future pediatricians and EM docs and oncologists etc don’t need any robotics training. There is no utility to adding this to a medical school curriculum. Basic suturing techniques are taught on the basic surgery rotation that everyone is required to complete and is far more appropriate to the level of generalized training. Formal robotic training occurs in surgical residencies and fellowships for the appropriate specialties.

Do you want only current medical students or former/graduated medical students (AKA residents and attendings) to answer the survey?

 

[DOVinciRobot]

That’s perfectly fine—I'm not looking for current robotic surgery training programs in medical schools. Instead, I’m researching whether medical students would find such training beneficial. My project aims to explore their perspectives and identify if there's a perceived gap that could be addressed in future curricula.

I appreciate the early interest and enthusiasm in publishing and helping improve curricula. As mentioned above, the premise is too early in the training pathway. Medical school is designed to produce a generalist who will then become an X type of physician after a residency

Unfortunately, there is zero utility in any sort of robotic surgery training for medical students.

 

[kko7373]

The problem with your premise here is that it’s at the wrong level. Future pediatricians and EM docs and oncologists etc don’t need any robotics training. There is no utility to adding this to a medical school curriculum. Basic suturing techniques are taught on the basic surgery rotation that everyone is required to complete and is far more appropriate to the level of generalized training. Formal robotic training occurs in surgical residencies and fellowships for the appropriate specialties.

Do you want only current medical students or former/graduated medical students (AKA residents and attendings) to answer the survey?

I appreciate your insight! My research is focused on understanding perceptions of robotic surgery training across different levels of medical education. I recognize that formal robotic training typically occurs in surgical residencies and fellowships. I’m interested in whether there’s value in earlier exposure, even at the medical school level. Additionally, I am interested in how well surgical residents are prepared to use robotic systems before becoming an attending. My survey aims to gather perspectives from both current medical students and those who have completed training (residents and fellows). Would love to hear your thoughts—do you think early exposure could provide any benefits, even if not as formal training? I have adjusted my survey to include residents too.

 

[kko7373]

I appreciate the early interest and enthusiasm in publishing and helping improve curricula. As mentioned above, the premise is too early in the training pathway. Medical school is designed to produce a generalist who will then become an X type of physician after a residency

Unfortunately, there is zero utility in any sort of robotic surgery training for medical students.

I appreciate your response and have adjusted my survey to include training at the residency level.

 

[LucidSplash]

I appreciate your insight! My research is focused on understanding perceptions of robotic surgery training across different levels of medical education. I recognize that formal robotic training typically occurs in surgical residencies and fellowships. I’m interested in whether there’s value in earlier exposure, even at the medical school level. Additionally, I am interested in how well surgical residents are prepared to use robotic systems before becoming an attending. My survey aims to gather perspectives from both current medical students and those who have completed training (residents and fellows). Would love to hear your thoughts—do you think early exposure could provide any benefits, even if not as formal training? I have adjusted my survey to include residents too.

No I do not think “early exposure” would be beneficial at the medical student level for the stated reasons. It is VERY much cart before the horse. Early medical education is focused on diagnostic and exam skills and early procedural skills like the basics of placing lines, suturing simple incisions and closing skin. I do not think that robotics training would a) lead to more student interest in surgery or b) meaningfully significantly better skills on entering a surgical residency.

The robot is great because it is pretty user friendly and easy to learn to use, especially for people who grew up playing video games. The training modules themselves (transferring rings to different pegs, tying knots etc) are helpful to those who already know the anatomy and surgical procedure and are going to learn to do it with the robot. The robot is definitely more intuitive to use than even basic laparoscopic surgery in some cases because of the jointed arms, especially in confined spaces like the pelvis. Earlier student exposure to playing the training module games doesn’t help with learning surgery, just learning how to use the tool. But before you can use the tool effectively you need to know the surgery.

There is only so much time in medical school and this would be a waste of resources and time for the majority of students IMHO.

Residents and fellows have not completed training. They are in training. They have completed medical school. Attendings have completed training and medical school. Do you want perspectives from fully trained doctors or just those who are still at the student or the training level?

 

[DOVinciRobot]

Additionally, I am interested in how well surgical residents are prepared to use robotic systems before becoming an attending.

This is a better question, and being investigated at a national level. I have heard from our PD that SAGES and Intuitive are developing a form of Fundamentals in Robotic Surgery similar to the FLS program and it’s being discussed whether or not to make it mandatory to graduate surgical residency, again similar to FES and FLS.

Most training programs these days incorporate robotic surgery and it’s almost standard now to graduate qualifying for robotic certification, at least in general surgery. Overall skill level varies and will be program dependent.

Again, there is zero utility in robotic surgery simulation or instruction at the medical school level.

 

[voxveritatisetlucis]

Lmao we barely get to close most cases

On particularly busy days you may stand there for 8 hours with the attending not saying one word to u

 

[Smurfette]

I learned robotics AFTER finishing formal training.
Pretty much all residents in surgical fields these days are going to learn robotics as it is easier to learn operations on this platform in some ways than compared to straight laparoscopy. The newer surgeons struggle with classic open cases due to lack of exposure and development of open skills including how to use retractors and assistants. On the flip side, there are definitely also some older generation surgeons who struggle with minimally invasive procedures.
Do I think early exposure to robotics helps later on? no.

 

[GoSpursGo]

Moving to pre-med