Surgical Education
In 2003 the Surgical Education Center (SEC) was established at the University of California, Irvine Medical Center. The Surgical Skills Lab was opened in 2010 and as part of the SEC facility has been continuously certified as a Level 1 Education Center by the American College of Surgeons. This surgical skills facility is dedicated to providing the highest quality surgical education to improve skills and familiarity with new techniques and instrumentation for surgeons, residents, fellows, nurses, O.R. staff and allied health professionals.
The orthopaedic residents and fellows at the University of California, Irvine has enjoyed numerable opportunities to participate in anatomical and surgical skills labs at the facility. These labs are arranged during the grand rounds protected time to ensure maximum participation. Throughout each academic year, a curriculum is developed that will encompass all orthopaedic specialties and focuses on both surgical anatomy as well as specific procedures. Residents, fellows and attending surgeons also have the opportunity to use a wide variety of surgical instrumentation through the generous support of our industry partners. Additional training in other surgical skills, such as suturing, is part of the annual training that occurs in the beginning of the year for all junior residents.
Specific to the hand fellowship program at UCI, a five day program focused on skill development in the use of microvascular surgical techniques occurs every year. Additional to this week long program, the fellows may schedule additional lab time to increase their competency and comfort in this arena.
Striving for the united goal of resident education, our lab manager has assisted with development, coordinating and managing labs for other departments here at the medical center upon request. While this lab is maintained and run by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the lab is available for use by medical device companies for educational, developmental and representative team trainings.
