ACS AEI Research Fellowship

Simulation Training Session Chan

American College of Surgeons Accredited Education Institute (ACS AEI) Research Fellowship


The aim of the ACS AEI surgical simulation-based fellowship is twofold:

  1. Advance surgical education by populating the field with well-prepared, motivated surgical simulation scholars and practitioners
  2. Design, implement, and evaluate simulation-based surgical education programs that use evidence-based best practices.

The following goals have been set to facilitate our fellow's development:

Curriculum Design

An overarching educational goal for our fellows is the design and development of a surgical education course from the initial needs assessment through the evaluation of both the learners and the program.

Enhance Research Core
ACS AEI fellows will learn all elements of the scientific process and research methodology, from development of research questions, research design, data analysis, and dissemination of results. Fellows will be expected to contribute to the field through publication of their work and participation in academic meetings and will be exposed to the grant writing efforts of the institution.

Become a Surgical Educator
Through faculty at MITIE, fellows will obtain a strong foundation in the fields of education and training.  Fellows have the option to complete an advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., Curriculum & Instruction) and to incorporate learning from this degree into their Capstone project and other ongoing projects.  The goal is to foster the career of the fellow as a surgical educator as well as to add to the institute’s growing maturity in curriculum design and evidence-based education.

Learn Simulation Center Operations
The program aims for fellows to understand the administrative and operational demands of managing and running a surgical simulation center. This includes exposure to the different departments and their functions within the institute as well as the roles and responsibilities of key staff members. Program faculty at MITIE include scientist-practitioners in various relevant fields of surgery, critical care, and industrial-organizational psychology.

Build a Network of Support
The faculty aims to contribute to the achievement of program goals through mentorship and support with course development and the scientific process, including training and study design, data collection and analysis, and manuscript preparation. Faculty will also assist in introducing the fellow to the larger community of surgical educators and a network of potential mentors.

Program Director