Development of expertise in surgical training

Surgical training is currently undergoing many changes. Moves toward an outcomes-based education based on achievement of core competencies will have a significant impact on how trainees are taught and evaluated. New strategies must therefore be sought to enhance surgical training to achieve outstanding resident education and safe patient care. An extensive body of literature is available concerning the attributes of experts and the development of expertise. It is increasingly apparent that the extent and nature of practice, as well as the practice structure, are critical to the development of complex motor skills. This article reviews the attributes of expert surgeons, as well as the role of deliberate practice, contextual interference, and distributed practice in the development of expertise. The role of simulation in surgical training is also discussed. The findings have direct relevance to surgical training and continuing medical educational courses, and these results may help in the design of future surgical training programs.