Training Pathway

The demand for da Vinci® procedures is growing. The ability to meet demand is dependent on surgical teams -surgeons and OR staff- achieving proficiency in preparing for and performing da Vinci Surgery.

Intuitive Surgical developed the da Vinci Surgery Training Pathway to help teams meet demand, while achieving clinical proficiency in the safest, most efficient manner possible. The Pathway is the result of years of experience training and collaborating with skilled da Vinci surgeons. It is designed for teams made up of both surgeons and OR staff. This team-oriented approach was developed because experience demonstrated that:

  • Training should involve the entire team
  • The competence of the entire surgical team is critical to safely and effectively managing and operating the da Vinci Surgical System

According to our customers, the surgeon and OR team’s full commitment to following the Training Pathway can help shorten the learning curve and facilitate safe and effective procedure adoption.

The Training Pathway focuses on two core objectives:

  • Develop da Vinci System-related knowledge and skill
  • Learn and apply da Vinci-specific techniques and clinical applications through peer-to-peer education

Intuitive Surgical believes its primary responsibility is to manage and meet the first objective – system knowledge and skill. Although we facilitate the second objective, surgeon-to-surgeon instruction and mentorship are conducted by qualified, independent medical professionals.

It should be noted that this training pathway is not a replacement for hospital policy regarding surgical credentialing. As a result, in order to ensure their da Vinci Surgery adoption is as rapid and efficient as possible, we recommend that teams use the Pathway to complement credentialing requirements.

The da Vinci Surgery Training Pathway is divided into four distinct phases, with reinforcing activities and supporting tools for both surgeons and OR staff available every step of the way:

Content Description, Trainer

Trends point towards towards the integration of da Vinci Surgery into traditional medical education. For example, some residency training programs have already included da Vinci Surgery in their curriculum. Already, nearly eight out of ten urologists completing their residencies will have access to a da Vinci System during their surgical training.

Following a residency that includes robotic training, the da Vinci Surgery Training Pathway can offer a template useful to even experienced individuals who are looking to develop a da Vinci OR team or to optimize team proficiency.

For further details on our comprehensive training program, please see our Customer Services section, and speak with your Intuitive Surgical representative about surgeon and/or hospital's needs. You can also visit the da Vinci Surgery Online Community for more information on training. The Online Community is a free service brought to you by Intuitive Surgical.

Besides providing training information, the Online Community allows you access to: the largest collection of robotic surgery abstracts, over 1,000 hours of procedure videos, a range of supporting procedural materials and peer-to-peer discussions, all provided via a secure social networking site. To sign up, go to daVinci SurgeryCommunity.com.

Training Trends

Trends in surgical training point towards the expansion beyond the da Vinci Surgery Training Pathway. For example, some residency training programs have already integrated da Vinci Surgery into their curriculum, as well as professional organizations and conferences.

Today and in the future, nearly eight out of ten urologists completing their residencies will have access to a da Vinci System during their surgical training. Additionally, da Vinci Surgery is part of advanced subspecialty training in gynecology. Every American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) fellow now receives two days of formal didactic and lab training on the da Vinci Surgical System as part of their fellowship curriculum.


Intuitive Surgical only trains on the use of the da Vinci Surgical System. The information provided during Intuitive Surgical training is not intended to substitute for formal medical training or certification. Intuitive Surgical is in no way responsible for surgical credentialing or for training in surgical procedure or technique, nor are the training programs described a replacement for hospital credentialing requirements. All curricula described are subject to change depending on available resources, as well as on the needs of the course participants.

Some of the training described may be provided by organizations or entities other than Intuitive, and Intuitive is not responsible for the content of these programs. Surgeon proctors are independent contractors. The listed prices are for services rendered by the independent surgeon proctors. A list of surgeon proctors can be provided upon request. Intuitive Surgical does not train on surgical procedures or techniques, nor does it take responsibility for proctoring services provided by the independent surgeon proctors. The hospital/surgeon purchases the proctoring service as part of training they have independently determined to be part of their credentialing requirement; Intuitive Surgical's role is merely to coordinate between the hospital/surgeon and the proctor. The proctors and the hospital/surgeon are always free to negotiate with each other directly.

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