The ingredients to launch a successful effort for virtual reality surgical simulators exists and requires encouragement, advice, and oversight by authoritative medical and surgical organizations. Physicians have the opportunity to seize the initiative and provide the leadership and guidance that could usher in a revolutionary improvement in surgical education. Because this science is in its medical infancy, sage and stringent guidance is required to ensure that it matures properly. There are various components of the educational process upon which a surgical simulator would have an impact. In general, a curriculum is usually developed and always implemented at the individual training program level, under the responsibility of the residency program director.
Many surgical societies provide guidance or generic curricula to assist the program director.
The residency review committees have responsibility to monitor the residency programs and determine compliance for education and training. Their most effective contribution would be to determine when surgical simulators are ready to be considered a required component of the educational process. The effect would be to make it essential that every surgical training program acquire and train surgical residents on a surgical simulator. In addition, their perspective of the entire training landscape could provide an overview of the impact on a national scale. The member boards of the American Board of Medical Specialties have authority for certification, and it is here that the largest impact can be made.