Simulation in the CU Surgery Residency Program

Led by Dr. Paul Montero, Director of Simulation, Dr. Kristy Hawley, Director of Robotic Surgery Education and Devon Viart, Surgical Simulation Specialist, the CU Simulation Surgery Education Program provides residents with comprehensive, hands-on training outside of the operating room to residents to enhance technical skills and prepare them for success during residency.

Residents begin with clinical competency labs during their early years to develop foundational manual skills. They then progress to advanced hands-on simulation exercises, including faculty-led tissue labs on the robotic platform, and advanced skills training utilizing the Open Surgical Simulation system (OS3). Each year, residents returning from research years participate in a comprehensive tissue lab, allowing them to safety reacclimate to the operating environment. 

CU Anschutz is proud to be the only SAGES testing center in Colorado, giving residents the opportunity to practice on the same equipment used for the required fundamentals exams. The residency is also equipped with multiple simulators, including but not limited to: 

• GI Mentor platforms for endoscopy practice at multiple sites
• Laparoscopic training boxes to hone laparoscopic skills
• OS3 platform with realistic bleeding and trauma simulation
• Da Vinci Robotics surgery simulation platform

CU Anschutz is also home to the Center for Surgical Innovation (CSI), a state-of-the-art facility where residents can reserve space to continue their hands-on development. 

Our Simulation Team: