The Scope E-Newsletter June 2009

Faculty and resident physicians successfully completed the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) exam Feb. 27, offered for the first time at the UT Graduate School of Medicine in the Medical Simulation Center. FLS certification is a new requirement for the American Board of Surgery for general surgery residents graduating in 2010 and thereafter.

Completing the exam were

UT Graduate School of Medicine Faculty:
Brian Daley, MD, Professor, Division of Trauma/Critical Care, and Associate Program Director, General Surgery Residency Program
H. Sperry Nelson, MD, Professor and Chief, Division of General Surgery
James Lewis, MD, Assistant Professor, Division of Surgical Oncology

General Surgery Residents:
Dustin Smith, MD
Cynthia Talley, MD
John Milligan, MD
Sabina Siddiqui, MD
Christy Lawson, MD
Fernando Aycinena, MD

OB/GYN Resident:
Kelli Luttrell, DO

"FLS simulates laparoscopic skills needed in the operating room and alleviates anxiety of learning these skill sets in the operating theater. FLS is a critical tool for early learning and helps build the confidence of surgeons at all levels," said Dr. Lewis.

FLS is designed to teach the physiology, fundamental knowledge and technical skills required in basic laparoscopic surgery. The cognitive section of the two-part proctored exam assesses the understanding and application of the basic fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery, emphasizing clinical judgment and intra-operative decision making. The manual skills section intends to reflect the hand-eye coordination and psychomotor skills unique to laparoscopic surgical maneuvers. FLS permits learning and practice in a completely safe environment, taking the learning out of the operating room and into the lab, minimizing patient risk.