Educational Activities

While the operating room, the patient wards and the surgical clinics remain the most important sites for cognitive and technical skills acquisition, we have developed a robust curriculum in the classroom setting to enhance our trainee education. We come together as a program each Thursday morning starting with Department of Surgery Grand Rounds followed by a didactic teaching session or simulation lab. Each of these sessions are designed to dive deep into a particular aspect of cardiothoracic surgery led by the CT faculty. 

Additional program learning opportunities include monthly journal club, combined learning conferences with cardiology, GI and pulmonary. Each surgical service also has dedicated weekly clinical conferences to enhance trainee education. Some examples include: Indications, Structural Heart, Heart Failure, Morbidity and Mortality, Multidisciplinary Tumor Board Conferences.

Simulation Lab

Operative simulation is critical to the technical development of a Cardiothoracic surgeon. Faculty at the University of Rochester were instrumental in creating a national approach to surgical simulation in resident education resulting in the creation of the “STS Boot Camp" (formally known as the TSDA Boot Camp) which brings together trainees and faculty from across the country for an intensive CT surgery simulation weekend. As a result, we have a robust and mature simulation program for our trainees which includes a monthly Sim Lab where we practice our skills as a team. We also encourage independent technical skills practice for each trainee during those down time moments. We have invested in simulation technology including a DaVinci robotic simulator, an endoscopic and an endovascular simulator. 

Monthly Sim Lab Schedule

• Coronary Anastomosis
• Endoscopy (Bronchoscopy, EGD, EBUS …)
• Tracheal Resections and Reconstructions
• Minimally Invasive Lung Resection
• Aortic Root Replacement/Enlargement 
• Minimally Invasive Aortic Valve Surgery
• Cadaver Lab 
• Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement
• Aortic Arch Replacement
• Esophagectomy
• POEM

Cardiothoracic surgery is developing a national approach to utilize simulation in an organized fashion for resident and fellow education. Through the Grateful Donors Program at the University of Rochester Medical Center we have purchased a computerized high-fidelity Ramphal pig heart simulator and developed a course to enhance skills.   These skill sets are essential for the everyday performance of cardiothoracic surgery and the care of post-op patients. Simulation represents the most important change in traditional curricula allowing trainees to develop and master new skills outside the pressured environment of the OR or ICU.