Simulation

Surgical Simulation at MUSC: Designed for Resident Success

Simulation is essential to modern surgical education. The mission of our surgery simulation curriculum is to cultivate the technical and cognitive skills development of our bright surgical trainees in an environment optimally focused on their education. The goal of simulation training is to improve quality of delivered care and patient safety, while empowering the capable surgeons of tomorrow. Our curriculum is tailored per resident level to ensure our residents feel prepared for the cases they will be participating in on a daily basis, before they walk into the operating room.

Douglas Cassidy, M.D., Director of Surgical Simulation for the MUSC General Surgery Residency Program, leads a cutting-edge initiative to integrate simulation-based training into surgical education. His expertise in surgical simulation—shaped by fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital and the Association for Surgical Education—drives a curriculum focused on improving technical skills, communication, situational awareness, and team dynamics.

Surgery sim lab

In October, 2024, Dr. Cassidy joined MUSC just as the department unveiled a newly renovated state-of-the-art Surgical Simulation Center, strategically located next to the resident workspace. Open 24/7, this dedicated space ensures residents have easy, round-the-clock access to:

  • Laparoscopic, robotic, and endoscopic surgical trainers
  • Microsurgery tools and open surgical equipment
  • The main OR da Vinci Simulator
  • Certified testing for SAGES FLS and FES
  • Space for classroom and small-group learning

“Accessibility is key,” says Cassidy. “Our residents work long hours—having everything right here, whenever they need it, makes all the difference.”

With strong institutional support and a focus on convenience and high-quality training, MUSC’s Surgical Simulation Center is redefining how residents prepare for real-world surgery.

Residents will have the opportunity to practice skills related to open surgery, laparoscopy, and robotics. There is a mix of non-anatomic and ex-vivo tissue labs. The MUSC Simulation Center is an official FLS testing center.  We also offer curriculum and training in flexible endoscopy to prepare residents for FES certification and the opportunity to achieve a certification in robotics through a graduated curriculum completed both through simulation, online didactics, and console cases.