HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Yinan Wei, M.D., a fourth-year general surgery resident at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, recently won a robotic surgery competition at the Intuitive/DaVinci Surgical Procedures Skills Course in Atlanta, Georgia.

The “Simulator Olympics” are part of a novel robotic surgical training experience to evaluate the skill level of surgical residents and their experience with robotic surgical training. More than 15 residency programs competed in the tournament-style event, including The Ohio State University, Mayo Clinic, UPMC, University of Louisville and Northwestern. Wei won the Ohio Valley regional competition and went on to compete for the title against the midwest winner from Mayo Clinic. This is the first time a surgical resident from Marshall has won the competition.

“It was exciting to represent Marshall at this course and competition,” Wei said. “To be the first one from Marshall to win is really exhilarating, and it really demonstrates the outstanding level of training that I have received from Marshall.”

“Wei’s accomplishment is another milestone event for the surgery residency program,” said David A. Denning, M.D., chair of the Department of Surgery and surgery residency program director at the Marshall School of Medicine. “It is yet another testament that our residents receive top-notch robotic and other general surgery experiences that are comparable to larger programs. I am extremely proud of Dr. Wei and all of our residents.”

The general surgery residency is a five-year training program. A robust robotic curriculum for Marshall surgery residents is headed by Associate Program Director Paul Bown, M.D.

After graduation in June 2022, Wei plans to pursue a practice in general surgery with robotic surgery as a part of her practice.

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Photo Caption:  John R. Porterfield, M.D., UAB Medicine (left) and Scott Carr, Regional Academic Director of Intuitive (right) congratulate Yinan Wei, M.D., Marshall University (center) on her robotic surgery competition win at the Intuitive/DaVinci Surgical Procedures Skills Course in Atlanta, Georgia.

Date Posted: Tuesday, March 10, 2020