The road to becoming a certified robotic surgeon

Surgical educators are challenged with introducing new technologies into general surgery training. There has been a rapid and widespread adoption of the robotic surgical system with a lag in the development of a comprehensive training and credentialing framework. A literature search on robotic surgical training techniques and benchmarks were conducted to provide an evidence-based road map for the development of a robotic surgical skills for the novice robotic surgeon. A structured training curriculum is suggested incorporating evidence-based training techniques and benchmarks for progress. This usually involves sequential progression from observation, case assisting, acquisition of basic robotic skills in the dry and wet lab setting along with achievement of individual and team-based non-technical skills, modular console training under supervision, and finally independent practice. There is a need for a standardized curriculum for training and assessment of robotic surgeons to proficiency, followed by high stakes testing for certification. A standardized process for certifying the skills of a robotic surgeon has begun to emerge.