Objective The study objective was to introduce senior surgeons, referred to as members of the Senior Tour, to simulation-based learning and evaluate ongoing simulation efforts in cardiothoracic surgery.
Methods Thirteen senior cardiothoracic surgeons participated in a 2½-day Senior Tour Meeting. Of 12 simulators, each participant focused on 6 cardiac small vessel anastomosis, aortic cannulation, cardiopulmonary bypass, aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair, and aortic root replacement or 6 thoracic surgical simulators hilar dissection, esophageal anastomosis, rigid bronchoscopy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy, tracheal resection, and sleeve resection. The participants provided critical feedback regarding the realism and utility of the simulators, which served as the basis for a composite assessment of the simulators.