Overview

This is a longitudinal curriculum that is meant to be completed by the end of the PGY4 year of training. It was developed by the American Board of Surgery to provide general surgery residents with the knowledge and skills to safely and effectively perform endoscopies on patients in any clinical setting. The Alaska rotation is where the majority of endoscopy experience is gained; however, there are opportunities for endoscopy on A service (EGD), Bariatrics (EGD), Colorectal (colonoscopy) and TESS/ICU (EGD/PEG).

For this curriculum, residents are assessed on the Global Assessment of Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Skills (GAGES).

GAGES Outline

  • Complete two for EGD and two for colonoscopy in the PGY2, PGY3 and PGY4 years. This is a total of 12 assessments.
    • Residents must receive a minimum score of 18 for each assessment to pass.

There are five competency levels that should be completed with the following schedule:

Level I – PGY1

  • SCORE Modules:
    • Esophagoduodenoscopy.
    • Colonoscopy.
  • Flexible Endoscopy Curriculum (FEC) Modules:
    • Module 1 – Technology.
    • Module 4 – Upper GI endoscopy.
    • Module 5 – Lower GI endoscopy.
  • GI Mentor:
    • Lower GI Endoscopy I/II.
    • Upper GI Endoscopy I/II.

Level II and III – PGY-2

  • SCORE Modules:
    • Review Level I SCORE modules.
    • Enteral access.
  • FEC Modules:
    • Module 2 – Patient preparation.
    • Module 3 – Sedation and analgesia.
    • Module 6 – Performing lower GI procedures.
    • Module 10 – Tissue removal.
    • Module 11 – Enteral access.
    • Continue simulation on GI mentor.
  • Clinical Experience:
    • EGD – 15.
    • Colonoscopy – 30.
    • GAGES.

Level IV – PGY3

  • SCORE Modules:
    • Review Level I and II SCORE modules.
    • Therapeutic endoscopy.
  • FEC Modules:
    • Module 7 – Lower GI anatomy, pathology and complications.
    • Module 9 – Hemostasis.
  • Continue Simulation on GI Mentor.
  • Clinical Experience:
    • EGD – 10.
    • Colonoscopy – 10.
    • GAGES.

Level V – PGY-4

  • SCORE Modules:
    • Review Level I-III SCORE modules.
    • Up-to-date ERCP.
  • FEC Modules:
    • Module 8 – ERCP.
    • Module 12 – Endoscopic therapies.
  • Clinical Experience:
    • EGD – 10.
    • Colonoscopy – 10.
    • GAGES.

Once completed, residents will submit all documentation — including FEC module didactic transcripts and GAGES forms — to Julie Ladwig, program coordinator, by June 30 of each year. Once all five levels of FEC are completed you will be provided with documentation of completion which is needed to register for the FEC exam and take the ABS general surgery qualifying exam.

For further details, please refer to the full curriculum provided by the American Board of Surgery (PDF).