Course Overview

This one-day all hands-on simulation course concentrates on the relevant anatomy of the female pelvis for vaginal hysterectomy and repetitive deliberate supervised practice of vaginal hysterectomy in highest fidelity simulation using Real Tissue Models™. Modified McCalls colpo-suspension is also taught.

Course Rationale

For gynecologic surgeons, the route of minimally invasive benign hysterectomy is predominantly laparoscopic (robotic assist or straight stick) with open approaches reserved for larger uteri or complex pathology. Both approaches imply higher cost and higher rates of complication. In contrast, while vaginal hysterectomy is recognized as having the lowest cost and lowest rates of complications, it is less and less performed or taught in training programs. To provide optimal care, the challenge then for Gynecologic surgeons is to improve their skill in this vaginal approach hysterectomy. This course is intended to provide such a training. 

Intended audience: Gynecologic surgeons who want to develop and reinforce the knowledge and skill necessary to perform this important MIGS procedure.

Course Goals

• Learn and apply knowledge of pelvic anatomy and key surgical landmarks critical to the performance of total vaginal hysterectomy.

• Demonstrate performance of the sequential skills steps central to the vaginal hysterectomy procedure using high-fidelity Real Tissue Models™.

• Demonstrate repetitive performance to provide opportunity for Deliberate Supervised Practice in performing vaginal hysterectomy in order to build surgical skill and confidence.

Course Schedule & Curriculum

Saturday, March 27, 2026

8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.  Dry Lab - Instrumentation review. Hands-on exploration of Anatomy relevant to vaginal hysterectomy. Applied pelvic floor and retroperitoneal anatomy. Step-by-step hands-on surgical breakdown of vaginal hysterectomy (dissection, entering tissue planes, and suturing).

10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Wet lab - Hands-on practice of safe hemostasis techniques using advanced energy devices and/or traditional suture ligation. Prevention and identification of bladder, bowel, or ureteric injuries. Intraoperative repair of bladder and bowel injuries is also taught.

12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunchpail lecture: "Vaginal hysterectomy: Nostalgia or Necessary?"

1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Hands-on simulation & skills lab: repetitive performance of vaginal hysterectomies (2) using highest-fidelity Real Tissue ModelsTM. Performance of McCall culdoplasty in simulation and transvaginal morcellation technique is also covered.

Course Highlights

+ All Hands-on. For each attendee, actual performance of two vaginal hysterectomies.

+ Small class size to optimize skill development (limited to eight attendees).

+ High learner to instructor ratio: eight attendees, two expert vaginal surgeon instructors.

+ Supervised Deliberate Practice. Expert guidance,  goal specific directed learning, repetitive practice.

Course Instructors

Elliot Greenberg, MD - Dr. Greenberg is a dedicated educator and award-winning mentor. He has provided intensive hands-on clinical instruction in minimally invasive surgical technique to all levels of trainees for over three decades. To this course he brings a long standing commitment to surgical excellence.

Malcolm Mackenzie, MD - For over thirty years a clinician and surgical educator, Dr. Mackenzie knows that surgical training must be skills-focused, hands-on, and closely-proctored. This creates for surgeons the opportunity for 'supervised deliberate practice' - identified as the most effective didactic method for skill advancement. This is a central tenet of this course.

Course Credit

9 Cat 1 CME Credits - Gynesim is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians enrolled in this course. Gynesim designates this Vaginal Hysterectomy Hands-on Training Course for 9 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Clinicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABOG MOCIV Simulation Training Credit - Diplomates who complete this approved simulation activity are eligible to receive Part IV Practice Improvement credit for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) Continuing Certification (CC) program

Course Tuition: $1600 ($180 per CME Credit hr.)

Terms: payment in full at registration. For attendee cancellation up to 4 weeks prior to the course, full refund less refund costs. For attendee cancellation up to 2 weeks prior to the course, 1/2 refund. After 2 weeks prior to the course, no refund is granted.

Note: Gynesim is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Clinicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.