Techniques in gastrointestinal endoscopy: surgical endoscopy

Surgical endoscopy training has traditionally resembled an apprenticeship model, with trainees performing an increasing portion of procedures under the direct supervision of an experienced physician. Due to increasingly variable training environments and the widely supported view that numbers alone do not necessarily parallel competency, many objective tools have been developed to educate trainees and ensure that we are training safe and effective endoscopists. This chapter will focus on the tools by which trainees can be objectively and uniformly assessed in their ability to practice safe and proficient surgical endoscopy.