CU Robotic Surgery Education Program

Empowering the Next Generation of Robotic Surgeons

Led by Dr. Kristy Hawley, Director of Robotic Surgery Education, the CU Robotic Surgery Education Program delivers comprehensive, longitudinal training in robotic surgery for all general surgery residents. Designed to cultivate safe, efficient, and technically proficient surgeons, the program integrates simulation, clinical experience, and academic enrichment into a structured, progressive curriculum.

Residents begin with mandatory online training modules and foundational workshops in robotic docking and instrumentation. They then advance through hands-on simulation exercises, faculty-led tissue labs on the robotic platform, and advanced skills training, culminating in dual-console operative experience. Resident progress is monitored through an online robotic application, which compiles an electronic portfolio of case experience, technical development, and operative performance.

Simulation training includes both fundamental and advanced modules on the robotic simulation console, with milestone evaluations conducted by faculty to assess proficiency in robotic control, procedural execution, and intraoperative safety. Concurrently, residents participate in robotic surgery journal clubs and structured didactic sessions to strengthen evidence-based decision-making and clinical knowledge.

To earn certification, residents must complete at least 30 robotic cases—performing more than 50% of each—demonstrate competency across robotic milestones and fulfill all online and simulation training requirements. The program fosters interdisciplinary collaboration by engaging faculty across robotic specialties, including surgical oncology, colorectal, cardiothoracic, transplant, and bariatric surgery.

By combining innovation, technical rigor, and a commitment to educational excellence, the CU Robotic Surgery Education Program prepares residents to lead with confidence in the evolving field of robotic surgery.

Dr. Kristy Hawley, MD, MPH
CU Director of Robotic Surgery Education
General Surgery Residency Program

Dr. Kristy Hawley, MD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Director of Robotic Surgery Education for the General Surgery Residency Program. She completed a two-year fellowship in Acute Care Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Maryland. At CU, Dr. Hawley leads a comprehensive robotic surgery curriculum that includes structured simulation training, journal clubs, and longitudinal case tracking. She is responsible for curriculum development across all levels of general surgery training and coordinates faculty involvement from multiple robotic surgical specialties to ensure cross-disciplinary education. As the founder of the institution’s Robotic Acute Care Surgery Program, Dr. Hawley performed the first robotic emergency cholecystectomy at the Anschutz Medical Campus and continues to integrate innovation, safety, and cost-efficiency into surgical education and clinical practice.

Links to CU Robotic General Surgery Articles:

CU Robotic Curriculum Examples

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.