Ohio State delivers nationally recognized surgical skills lab for resident physicians and surgeons

Several faculty members recently instructed seven participants at the inaugural, day-long course “Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma” (ASSET) at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Participants worked to obtain certification for advanced surgical skills and specialized trauma training. 

The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center is going through the process to become a satellite location that routinely delivers this course, which is offered through the American College of Surgeons (ACS).  

Carrie Valdez, MD, says this cadaver-based skills laboratory will run two times each year for both internal and external personnel. She serves as assistant professor of Surgery and is the trauma medical director at the medical center.  

The ASSET course provides resident physicians and surgeons with an overview of key surgical exposures in five anatomical areas: the neck, the chest, the abdomen and pelvis, and the upper and lower extremities. Faculty members guide participants through hands-on exercises and clinical practice. Key components of the course teach participants to:  

• Show the technical ability to expose important structures that may require acute surgical intervention to save life or limb.  
• Gain confidence in performing anatomic exposures independently. 
• Demonstrate key anatomical exposures for the care of injured and acutely ill surgical patients. 

A great deal of planning and resources went into developing this course, which was proctored by Michael Cripps, MD, from UCHealth University of Colorado, a key requirement to launch. ASSET has the potential to be quite a draw for the region as many academic medical centers need this type of training. Our next course will be in November. Contact Lisa Pugh, site coordinator, to receive upcoming information concerning the course.