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Advanced Training Builds Skills for Orthopaedic Surgery Residents

NorthShore continues to serve as a leader in educating the next generation of physicians. A recent special training course in orthopaedic trauma—held at Grainger Center for Simulation and Innovation (GCSI)—drew surgical residents from a host of medical schools.

The Orthopaedic Resident Extremity Trauma Cadaver Course—offered twice a year—is the brainchild of NorthShore Trauma Division Head David Beigler, MD, a recognized expert in orthopaedic trauma. Dr. Beigler has been teaching surgical residents the latest techniques for 30 years throughout the United States, Canada and Europe.

Recognizing a need for more hands-on instruction in surgical dissection, Dr. Beigler designed the two-day interactive cadaver course and invited faculty from NorthShore, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Loyola University, Stroger Hospital and other institutions.

“We have image detection devices and the senior residents also have the opportunity to work with implants,” said Dr. Beigler.

Dr. Beigler was videotaped performing each specific surgical dissection. The videos are shown to residents as part of the course before they performed the same procedures themselves on a cadaver. “This is a true simulation, giving residents critical experience without putting any patients at risk,” he added.

The unique course—with financial support from DePuy Synthes and Zimmer Daniel—attracted surgical residents from across the region and was met with positive feedback from students and faculty alike. Additionally, Dr. Beigler holds biweekly “dry” lab sessions with NorthShore residents, teaching both theory and specific internal fixation techniques of various fractures. “Ultimately, my hope is residents complete their training better prepared to care for patients.”