RACS and IMRA partner on ‘independent’ training in robot-assisted surgery

MedTech News: The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and International Medical Robotics Academy (IMRA) have entered into a multi-year service and collaboration agreement to provide high-quality education and experience in the practice of surgery.

Despite the rapid adoption of robot-assisted surgery, including over 2000 radical prostatectomies in Australia last year, there are no independently accredited training or credentialing programs in this area of surgery across Australia and New Zealand.

Currently, most training and credentialling in robot-assisted surgery occur through medtech companies like Medtronic, Stryker, Device Technologies and Zimmer Biomet who deliver their training curricula.

According to Dr Adrian Anthony, general surgeon and RACS Censor-in-Chief “This [agreement] will ensure that surgeons and trainees are given the right training on the latest robotic technology, using ethical and academically validated training systems.”

Robotic surgery was introduced to Australia by Professor Tony Costello in 2003 who performed the first open radical prostatectomy at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne.

IMRA, previously the Australian Medical Robotics Academy (AMRA), was established in 2017 from $2 million Victorian government seed funding to set up the non-profit organisation and Professor Costello as its CEO and Director. In 2021 a corporate entity, Robotic Surgery Evolution Ltd, was created to operate as a profitmaking entity and sustainably fund the educational operations previously conducted by AMRA.

“RACS and IMRA support the rights of all healthcare professionals to a safe and independent training environment free from direct or perceived influence by the medtech industry and manufacturers, where clinicians can realise the full potential of medical robotics to improve patient care,” stated Dr Anthony.

RACS is supporting IMRA’s efforts to develop robot-assisted surgical training that is led by the profession, and that integrates virtual reality, simulation, synthetic training materials, and educational best practices.

IMRA is also helping to end animal use in surgical training. IMRA has collaborated with the Melbourne University and the University of Rochester to develop, research and validate synthetic hydrogel models as a viable, ethical and sustainable alternative to animal and cadaveric models used in surgical training.

“By using the latest technology in simulation and synthetic tissue models IMRA is preparing the next generation of surgeons in a cruelty free environment,” the organisations said.

The Victorian Department of Health recently provided funding to IMRA to develop a gold standard curriculum for use in the public hospital system where robot-assisted surgery is being adopted.

The agreement with IMRA is a significant step in strengthening RACS leadership in setting standards in surgery and will consolidate the current and future relevance in the vocational training space.