Find information about education facilities for the Department of Surgery at IU School of Medicine, including the Surgical Skills Center.

collage of photos showing trainees practicing various surgical skills at tables and operating room beds

Surgical Skills Center

The Department of Surgery’s surgical skills center has served as a hub for hands-on learning, equipped with cutting-edge simulation tools that support learners at every level, from students to practicing surgeons. In this low-stakes, high-tech environment, trainees refine their technical skills through structured, deliberate practice that enhances performance and patient safety.

Our commitment is clear: to develop exceptional surgeons equipped with the skills, knowledge and attitude required to deliver the highest standard of care across Indiana and beyond.

Contact Us

For questions regarding the Surgical Skills Center, please reach out to us via email at surglab@iu.edu.

Please note: The Skills Center is in the process of moving to the Medical Education and Research Building. Please contact the lab by email or phone at 317-274-7350 with any questions.

Email the center

trainees practice surgical skills in a simulation

Simulation Curriculum

Guided by Department of Surgery faculty, skills center coordinators and fellows, trainees receive real-time feedback as they develop and refine their skills across all areas of surgical simulation.

View curriculum

faculty and residents train in a surgical skills lab

Resident Access to Simulators

Surgery residents have 24/7 access to a range of simulators, including:

FLS and ATLAS trainer boxes.
3-D Med laparoscopic common bile duct exploration system.
Limbs & Things endoscopy training system.
Surgical Science GI Mentor Express.
Two Intuitive da Vinci robotic consoles with SimNow, robotic vision cart and patient cart for physical and tissue-based simulation.

Cardiothoracic Six year Integrated Program

Cardiothoracic Surgery Training

Residents and fellows have access to the Chamberlain Group Heart Case during scheduled Wednesday simulation sessions. Individual practice sessions can be set up with the center with appropriate supervision and notice.

two residents participating in hands skills lab with Dr. Mary Lester

Plastic Surgery Training

Residents and fellows participate in several faculty-led Wednesday cadaveric sessions each year, covering head and neck, abdominal and back flaps, upper and lower extremity flaps and hand reconstruction.

Vascular Surgery Training

Residents and fellows can engage in specialty-specific labs annually.

American College of Surgeons Fellowship Program

The Department of Surgery offers a two-year surgical education research fellowship for general surgery and integrated subspecialty trainees. Accredited by the American College of Surgeons as an Education Institute, the fellowship provides hands-on training in surgical simulation and the design, implementation, and evaluation of multidisciplinary curricula.

Fellows:

Lead independent research projects from concept to publication
Gain national and international collaboration experience with education, simulation, and research centers
Present their work at major conferences, including Surgical Education Week and the ACS-AEI Simulation Summit in Chicago

Under the leadership of E. Matthew Ritter, MD, MHPE, director of the surgical skills center, and Dimitrios Stefanidis, MD, PhD, fellowship director, the skills lab curriculum is fully integrated into all Department of Surgery residency and fellowship programs, with scheduled sessions throughout the academic year. Trainees observe, practice, and assess their performance in a structured environment.

The Surgical Skills Center:

is a designated Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons test center.
administers Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery and Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery exams.

Throughout the program, fellows benefit from expert mentorship, peer collaboration, and access to a broad network of leaders in surgical education.

National Surgical Initiatives

In addition to weekly sessions for interns and monthly sessions for residents, the center supports third- and fourth-year medical student clerkships, as well as continuing medical education programs featuring advanced techniques across surgical disciplines. These initiatives include: