title: Catch me if you can…early simulation efforts affect fundamental surgical skill assessment scores.
abstract: We evaluated whether early exposure to a simulation curriculum enhances acquired surgical skills.
  
  
  
  The "Surgical Olympics" evaluates interns on basic surgical skills and knowledge. After the Summer Olympics (July), interns were randomly divided into groups: "A" participated in a 7-week curriculum once a week, whereas "B" attended 7 weeks of lectures once a week. All interns then participated in the October Olympics. The 2 groups then switched. Finally, all interns completed a January Olympics.
  
  
  
  Scores were tabulated for the July, October, and January Olympics. Mean scores (A = 182 ± 42, Group B = 188 ± 34; P = .70) were similar in July; in October, group A (mean score = 237 ± 31) outperformed group B (mean score = 200 ± 32; P = .01). Mean total scores in January (A = 290 ± 34, B = 276 ± 34; P = .32) were similar.
  
  
  
  Early exposure to a surgical simulation curriculum enhances surgical intern performance in our Surgical Olympics. Subsequent simulation experience helps learners close this gap.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: Buckarma.EeeLN@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Eee L N H
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Buckarma
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Becca L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Gas
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Pandian
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Jad M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Abdelsattar
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Moustafa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: El Khatib
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Monali
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Nimesh D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Naik
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: farley.david@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Farley
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004521:Educational Measurement; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D000066908:Simulation Training
keywords: Assessment; Education; Simulation; Surgery interns; Training