With a clear passion for surgical education and mentorship, Payton Miller, MD, is shaping the next generation of surgeons. Through a grant secured from Applied Medical, Miller has brought Simsei laparoscopy platforms to the Department of Surgery at IU School of Medicine, offering fourth-year medical students an invaluable opportunity to develop and refine laparoscopic skills ahead of their intern year.
“All the medical students using this equipment are very interested in learning surgical technical skills now before they begin their time as residents,” said Miller. “They're in here for eight two-hour sessions over the next four weeks, and at the end of the curriculum, they'll complete a post-test on a high-fidelity laparoscopic cholecystectomy model. It's actually a very cool gallbladder that's full of bile—hand-manufactured by Applied Medical.”
For medical student and soon-to-be surgery intern, Megan Libke, building her surgical skills gives her a competitive edge prior to beginning her training at the University of Louisville.
“This opportunity gives you a huge leg up if you’re doing any clinical rotations as a medical student, but also prepares you for residency,” she said. “The improvement that we experience from a skills perspective is exponential.”
As one of three surgical education fellows, Miller’s dedication goes far beyond the classroom. Her passion for teaching future surgeons is evident in the hours she spends in the surgical skills lab and mentoring outside the OR—helping medical students and residents advance their technical skills and confidence.
“My role as a surgical education fellow is unique and allows me to spend a lot of time teaching at multiple levels,” said Miller. “We teach third-year medical students on a clerkship level, in addition to a skills simulation elective for fourth-year medical students. We also teach the surgery interns in the surgical skills lab every single week and we teach residents from other departments through helping them advance their technical skills.”
Mentorship is something Miller is passionate about and hopes to integrate into her future career as an academic surgeon.
“Helping medical students build a strong foundation in surgical skills before starting residency is incredibly important to me,” said Miller. “It not only empowers them in the OR but also sets the tone for lifelong learning and excellence in patient care.”
