UNMC is one of the first three centers in the country to be designated as a testing center for the Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery (FES) program.
The program is a comprehensive educational and assessment tool designed to teach and evaluate the fundamental knowledge, clinical judgment and technical skills required in the performance of basic gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopic surgery (endoscopy).
The program allows participants to learn the fundamentals of endoscopic surgery in a consistent, scientifically accepted format and to test cognitive and technical skills, while improving the quality of patient care.
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Dmitry Oleynikov, M.D. |
The UNMC center was made possible in part by a donation from Paul Hodgson, M.D., establishing the Paul E. Hodgson, M.D. Innovations in Surgical Technology Fund through the University of Nebraska Foundation. Dr. Hodgson, former chairman of the UNMC Department of Surgery, died Aug. 28 at the age of 91.
Dr. Hodgson’s fund paid for half of the equipment and materials needed for the testing center. The other half of the funding will come from the Alton K. Wong, M.D., Distinguished Professorship held by pediatric surgeon Ken Azarow, M.D.
The testing center equipment is located in the Dr. Wayne and Eileen Ryan Surgical Simulation Suite in the Sorrell Center.
“Under the guidance of our chairman, Dr. David W. Mercer, and his unequivocal support of educational efforts such as FES, the department of surgery is on the path to becoming a regional and national leader in surgical education,” said Chandra Are, M.B.B.S., vice chair for education and associate professor, surgical oncology. “Obtaining the designation as a testing center for the FES program is another milestone in satisfying the vision of our department to become an educational powerhouse.”
Being designated as a FES testing center culminates a lengthy certification process for UNMC, Dr. Oleynikov said, and is indicative of how UNMC “has become a leader in education in the region.”