FROM PAGES TO PIXELS: A GLOBAL CALL TO REDESIGN SURGICAL EDUCATION FOR THE MODERN ERA hema.siri3@gmail.com

366-08

FROM PAGES TO PIXELS: A GLOBAL CALL TO REDESIGN SURGICAL EDUCATION FOR THE MODERN ERA

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India

Oral or Poster

Surgical training has not kept pace with the transformative changes occurring in operative practice. As we enter an era of robotics, fluorescence imaging, and AI-guided surgery, anatomy is no longer confined to textbooks but encountered dynamically in the operating theater. We aimed to assess how well surgical education is adapting globally to this shift.

A cross-sectional, multi-institutional survey was conducted among surgical trainees in India and the United Kingdom, across various specialties and training levels (2–10 years in field of surgery or other related fields). The questionnaire assessed usage of surgical videos, awareness of peer-reviewed video journals, and engagement in video-based learning or editing.

Among 212 respondents, 92.4% (n=196) could not name a single peer-reviewed video-based surgical journal, while 94.3% (n=200) reported relying on YouTube videos—primarily the night before surgery—for operative preparation. 52% had never edited a surgical video, despite recognizing its educational value. Across both countries, trainees expressed a strong need for formal video-based curricula, mentorship in surgical video creation, and access to curated video libraries. There were no significant regional disparities, indicating a global shortfall.

Our study reveals a striking disconnect between the sophistication of modern surgical practice and the stagnation of surgical education. As operative anatomy becomes increasingly visual and complex, repeated exposure to structured, video-based microlearning enhances long-term memory and procedural recall. To prepare surgeons for modern demands, integrating peer-reviewed video journals, editing skills, and immersive platforms like AR/VR into training is essential—not optional. Surgical education must evolve to match the sophistication of today’s operating rooms.