A three-day simulation event at the McGill University Health Centre introduced medical students and residents from various specialties to simulations of various scenarios in ophthalmology.
Between September 23 and 26, 2024, McGill medical learners got a sneak peek at a new, comprehensive simulation curriculum for ophthalmology residents.
Hosted by the McGill University Health Centre’s (MUHC) Division of Ophthalmology in collaboration with the McGill University Health Centre for Interprofessional Simulation, the event offered a preview of the curriculum, which will soon be offered to ophthalmology residents throughout their five years of training.
Alongside ophthalmology residents, the event also welcomed McGill medical students, fellows and residents in emergency medicine, pediatrics and neurology to try out ophthalmology-related case-based simulators that connected to their specialties. Practicing health professionals, guest speakers and educators were also among the 140 people in attendance.
Marcele Fonseca Falcao, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at McGill University, led the organization of the event and is designing the new curriculum, set to be launched in Fall 2025.
“The idea is to build a complete schedule of simulation for all our ophthalmology residents, throughout the five years of residency,” she explains. “Through the whole five years, we want to develop not only surgical skills, but also diagnostic skills.”
When offered next year, the new simulation curriculum will be one of the few of its kind offered to ophthalmology residents in Canada. Some courses in the curriculum will also be available to medical students, residents in other programs, and faculty.
Safe, controlled environment for learning
Current ophthalmology residents already practice in some simulation-based labs. However, the new curriculum will offer regular opportunities to learn diverse skills in a new, dedicated space for ophthalmological simulation at the MUHC.
Throughout the three days, attendees had the opportunity to enhance their skills on a wide range of ophthalmological simulators from Haag-Streit, a medical device and simulator provider.
“We had all the machines prepared and we catered for each specialty,” Dr. Falcao explains. “For example, emergency medicine residents don’t necessarily use the same machine as residents coming from pediatrics.”
A thorough, residency-long simulation curriculum is crucial for allowing future ophthalmologists to continuously perfect their skills in a safe, controlled environment, leading to improved patient safety down the line, she adds.
“Instead of the resident starting the practice of surgery in a patient’s eye, for example, they will be practicing before in a simulator, and then they will be able to perform these surgeries with confidence,” she explains.
Merve Kulbay, MD, a second-year ophthalmology resident at McGill, attended and says she particularly appreciated the simulated indirect ophthalmoscopy.
“As a PGY-2 resident, it’s not a skill that I have mastered, and I’m still working on it. But having the chance to go to the simulation centre and expose myself to different cases allowed me to get better.”
She adds that she was able to apply what she learned in simulation to her work in the clinic the following week.
Sheetal Pundir, MDCM, PhD, a third-year ophthalmology resident, helped to organize the event and also took part in simulated cases for ophthalmology residents. Simulation offers opportunities to not only perfect practical skills, but also to improve mindset and confidence, she says.
“In a simulated case, you are now aware of what the tendencies to make mistakes are,” she adds.
“I think simulation is the best way to learn – we remove other stressors, you focus on you and your patient, and work on your mindset. Surgery is half the mindset and half the skill.”
Guillermo Rocha, MD, Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, said: “The McGill Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences believes that simulation will redefine the way we learn and teach, paving the way for a future where skills training, innovation and patient safety converge seamlessly.”
Photos supplied by the MUHC.
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CityNews: McGill University Health Centre launches new ophthalmology simulation laboratory