Surgery 101 Boot Camp – Completed

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PVNet hosted an elite 12-day, hands-on surgical training program for ambitious high school and college students. Taught by a practicing cardiothoracic, vascular, and general surgeon, the program combined in-depth lectures with intensive lab sessions using simulated models, giving students a rare opportunity to train like surgeons before college.

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Over three weeks, students explored a broad spectrum of surgical theory and practice, developing both technical skills and professional confidence. Each session began with a focused lecture on anatomy, pathology, and surgical decision-making, followed by guided wet-lab practice replicating real operating room techniques.
 

Highlights of the training included:

• Week 1:

  • Learned surgical knot-tying fundamentals and instrument handling.

  • Performed tracheostomy and cricothyroidostomy procedures.

  • Studied stomach and intestinal anatomy, practicing stomach cancer resection, gastroenterostomy, and hiatal hernia repair.

  • Explored esophagogastric diseases, culminating in an Ivor-Lewis esophagogastrectomy simulation.
     

• Week 2:

  • Mastered colon surgery techniques, including sigmoid colon resection with primary anastomosis, Hartmann procedure, and colostomy.

  • Performed cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) and appendectomy.

  • Conducted right colon resection with ilio-colic anastomosis.

  • Practiced small bowel resection and ileostomy procedures.
     

• Week 3:

  • Studied vascular anatomy and diseases while practicing Carrel vascular anastomosis (end-to-end and end-to-side) and creating arteriovenous grafts for vascular access.

  • Simulated aortic injury and ruptured aneurysm repairs.

  • Practiced carotid endarterectomy with patch angioplasty.

  • Completed vascular bypass procedures, including axillo-femoral and femoral-popliteal bypass.
     

By the end of the program, students had completed a rigorous sequence of surgical simulations mirroring real-world operations, building dexterity, problem-solving ability, and an understanding of the precision required in surgery.
 

This program is now complete, and PVNet looks forward to offering similar opportunities in the future.​

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