Obtaining and Maintaining Surgical Expertise for the Postgraduate Surgeon and the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Modern Surgery

Abstract Surgical training requires years of structured grueling hands-on experience and evidence-based practice, all of which become unstructured at the end of training. The focus on achieving competence then transitions to obtaining expertise. Developing a habit of skills maintenance, deliberate practice, and evidence-based patient care is essential to attain surgical expertise. In addition, the pace of rapid medical advances requires the adoption of new techniques and technologies to maintain expertise. The most pressing being the launch of artificial intelligence in all aspects of our lives, and the impact that it already has and will have in our surgical practices.