Award Received for Establishing Validity on Limbs & Things Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Trainer

Christopher C. DeStephano, MD, MPH has received the IRCAD Award for Excellence in Education for a research paper on the Limbs & Things Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Trainer.

The paper, Establishing Validity for the Limbs and Things Laparoscopic Hysterectomy Trainer written by Dr. DeStephano and his colleagues* at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL describes validity evidence supporting use of the Limbs & Things Surgical Female Pelvic Trainer (SFPT) for training in Obstetrics and Gynecology residency programs.  Dr. DeStephano and his team were also recipients of the 2017 The APGO (The Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics) Excellence Award for another abstract.

The SFPT is a simulator for training in a wide range of laparoscopic gynecological surgical techniques and procedures. It also allows for dissection techniques, insertion and use of uterine manipulators and other gynecology instruments, and the identification of anatomical landmarks.

“We saw that there was significant variation in the feedback residents were receiving in the operating room compared to the simulation setting.  With blinded evaluations of trainees using the Limbs & Things model, we were able to standardize feedback and describe the process for validation.” said Dr. DeStephano. 

The IRCAD award is presented to recognize the best research in education acknowledging innovative ideas in teaching. Through a grant provided by Karl Storz Endoscopy, Dr. DeStephano will travel to Strasbourg, France to participate in a minimally invasive surgery course at the European Institute of Telesurgery, University of Strausbourg.

*Co-authors: Anita H. Chen, MD Mayo Clinic Department of Surgical Gynecology; Michael Heckman, MS; Nicolette T. Chimato, BS; Mayo Clinic Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics; Paulami Guha MBBS; Mariana Espinal, MD; Tri A. Dinh, MD; Mayo Clinic Department of Surgical Gynecology