Robotic Surgery Certification Course

About the Certification

15 years of experience

Team Responsible for the First Robotic Heart Surgery in Latin America

Background / Pioneer Group

In 2010, the Poffo Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery began its Robotic Cardiac Surgery program with the first case performed in Latin America. Since then, it has established itself in Brazil as the only team with 15 years of experience in the field.
By completing all the stages of this training course, the surgeon will be eligible to apply to the Brazilian College of Surgeons (CBC) for the Robotic Surgery Certification, issued in partnership with the Brazilian Medical Association (AMB). This certification can only be obtained after completing all training stages at a CBC-accredited center.

Program Director

Dr. Robinson Poffo is the only tutor in robotic cardiac surgery recognized by the CBC, enabling complete and accredited training for the student at the end of all course stages (AMB).

Course Objective

Enable the cardiac surgeon on the DaVinci® platform by providing specialized training. The professional will be trained to perform with excellence in this constantly evolving area of Medicine.

Initially, the student will understand the fundamental principles of Robotic Surgery and the benefits of using the DaVinci® system compared to other traditional surgical approaches. By going through the theoretical and simulation stages, the student will be able to master the technical skills required to operate the system safely and effectively, including handling robotic instruments and using the system's controls and interfaces. During the course, solid knowledge of anatomy and physiology will be covered, which is essential for planning and executing surgical procedures with precision. The skills required by the robotic cardiac surgeon for decision-making and problem-solving during surgery will also be covered, considering the particularities and specific challenges of the DaVinci® system.

About the course and its prerequisites

About the Program

The program will be divided into two phases: theoretical and clinical. The theoretical phase can be taken by Cardiovascular Surgery Residents in their final year of training, provided they are enrolled in programs recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC) or the Brazilian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery (SBCCV), as well as by cardiac surgeons who have completed MEC residency or hold a Specialist Qualification Registry (RQE) recognized by the Regional Medical Council (CRM).Já a fase clínica destinar-se-á apenas aos cirurgiões cardíacos já titulados com residência MEC concluída ou com Registro de Qualificação de Especialista (RQE) reconhecido pelo Conselho Regional de Medicina (CRM) e Associação Médica Brasileira (AMB).

Phases of the Robotic Cardiac Surgery Training

Theoretical Phase
Theoretical Phase
Theoretical Phase
Theoretical Phase
Clinical Phase
Clinical Phase

Stage 1

The student will be exposed to the theoretical course, consisting of in-person classes taught by the faculty of the Poffo Institute (10-hour workload), covering the fundamental principles of Robotic Cardiac Surgery. During this phase, the student will also have access to the DaVinci Surgery Community platform, which will provide industry-formatted content covering the main concepts related to the platform itself (10-hour workload). The student must also complete an online training course with a 10-hour workload, offered by the CBC-accredited center, covering basic concepts of general robotic surgery.

At the end of the first stage, a written evaluation will be applied to validate the student’s progress and allow them to proceed to the next training phase.

Stage 2

The surgeon must complete 24 hours of simulation on dedicated equipment and will be approved after successfully completing five exercises, two of which must be done consecutively.

In the simulator, located at the CBC-accredited center, technical skills such as: moving the optics, wrists, and arms of the robotic instruments safely and effectively; handling the dissection of planes, tissues, and structures; connecting blood vessels with or without energy; and suturing continuously or with interrupted stitches will be officially and documentedly trained.

During the simulation process, the student will be accompanied by an instructor who will evaluate them using a psychomotor skills checklist and reports generated by the simulator.

Stage 3

To complete the theoretical phase, the student will participate in the In-Service, a theoretical-practical course developed within the surgical center of the CBC-accredited center, with a 4-hour workload and direct contact with the DaVinci® platform. In this phase, a demonstration of the components of the Robotic Surgery environment will take place, such as the console, the robot, and the instruments, as well as the preparation of the surgical instrument table and the surgical table. The student will be able to interact with the operating environment, without the presence of patients, becoming familiar with the commands and specificities of this type of surgical approach. Additionally, the student will receive training in emergency situations, including the “docking” and “undocking” protocols.

Stage 4

Stage 4 consists of observing 5 surgical cases in order to experience in practice the knowledge and skills acquired during the Theoretical Phase of the program.

Stage 1

The student surgeon will assist in the operating field with 10 cardiac surgery cases, gaining the necessary experience to perform the role of “side surgeon” with safety and confidence.

Stage 2

The student surgeon must bring 10 cardiac surgery cases to operate on the DaVinci® robotic system, guided by Dr. Robinson Poffo, completing the phases recommended by the CBC for obtaining certification. These cases must be successfully completed within a period of 24 months.

Certificate

Upon successful completion of the Theoretical and Clinical Phases of this Robotic Cardiac Surgery Training Program, the student will be eligible to apply to the CBC (Brazilian College of Surgeons) for the Robotic Surgery Proficiency Certificate, issued in partnership with the AMB (Brazilian Medical Association).

To support this, the Poffo Institute will provide a certificate signed by the CBC Cardiac Surgeon Tutor, Dr. Robinson Poffo, the coordinator responsible for the CBC Simulation Center, Dr. Gustavo Guimarães, and the program supervisor, Dr. Sérgio Curcio. In addition, all necessary forms and detailed reports required to verify the completion of the essential steps for obtaining the certificate from the College of Surgeons will be provided.

It is important to note that the approval for obtaining the certificate is entirely the responsibility of the candidate, who must submit the documentation generated after completing this program directly to the CBC. Furthermore, the final approval of the candidate for the certificate is entirely at the discretion of the CBC’s evaluation committee, without any possibility of interference from the Poffo Institute.

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