SURG200: Pre-Clerkship Surgical Orientation

SURG200 is a structured pre-clerkship orientation course that introduces medical students to foundational surgical knowledge, procedural skills, and operating room culture. The course emphasizes safe practice, deliberate skill acquisition, and early exposure to surgical thinking prior to clinical rotations.

Core Activities Include:

• Surgical instrument identification and safe handling

• Principles of asepsis, sterile technique, and operating room workflow

• Knot tying and basic suturing techniques (simple interrupted, running, vertical mattress)

• Basic tissue handling and ergonomics

• Introduction to surgical energy devices and stapling concepts

• Fundamentals of wound closure and dressing application

• Introductory bedside procedures (e.g., basic procedural setup, checklist use)

• Orientation to simulation-based learning and feedback models

The course provides a low-stakes, high-yield environment that prepares students for surgical clerkships while reducing cognitive overload during early clinical exposure.

Agnew Surgical Society (Student-Led Surgical Skills Track)

The Agnew Surgical Society functions as a student-led surgical education wing within STRIVE Lab, designed for medical students with a strong interest in pursuing surgical careers. Under faculty and simulation educator mentorship, students engage in deeper, longitudinal skill development beyond the formal curriculum.

Advanced Skills and Activities Include:

• Advanced suturing techniques (subcuticular closure, layered closure, complex knots)

• Laparoscopic fundamentals using box trainers

• Selected FLS tasks (peg transfer, pattern cutting, intracorporeal and extracorporeal knot tying)

• Tissue-based procedural practice

• Peer-to-peer teaching and near-peer mentorship

• Career-oriented skill preparation for surgical clerkships and sub-internships

This model fosters autonomy, leadership, and early technical mastery while cultivating a community of motivated learners committed to surgical excellence.

Access to STRIVE Lab Resources

Medical students participating in SURG200 and the Agnew Surgical Society have structured access to STRIVE Lab facilities, with additional opportunities for supervised and independent practice aligned with educational needs and faculty availability.