Center for Surgical Innovation and Training

The Center of Surgical Innovation and Training (CSIT) is a state-of-the-art operating room that allows medical students, residents, and surgical and OB/GYN specialists to perform surgery rather than watch it on anatomical donors. This opportunity is not available to students at other medical schools, which makes our program unique.

The CSIT allows Quillen to enhance students' medical education across the board. This facility provides some of the most realistic surgical training in the world. 

• Explore what the CSIT offers:

  • State-of-the-art operating room, just like what you would find in a hospital. The only difference is that the CSIT is not sterile.
  • Instead of using live patients, we train using donors from our anatomical gift program.
  • Allows our medical students and our residents in surgical and OB/GYN specialities the opportunity to perform surgery rather than watch it being performed.
  • Quillen utlizes the center to provide innovative, cutting-edge training to area practicing surgeons.

  Learn more about our Anatomical Gift Program

Learn more about the CSIT

• Video Transcript: Tour Quillen's Surgical Training Center

  [Speaker: Holeh Heydari]
  Welcome to Quillen College of Medicine Center for Surgical Innovation and Training.

  The center, known here as the CSIT, is a state of the art operating room, just like what you would find in a hospital.

  The only difference is that the CSIT is not sterile.

  Instead of using live patients, we trained using donors from our anatomical gift program.

  The CSIT allows our medical students and our residents in surgical and OB/GYN specialties the opportunity to perform surgery, rather than watch it being performed.

  This opportunity is not available to students in other medical schools, making our program unique.

  Quillen also utilizes the center to provide innovative, cutting edge training to area practicing surgeons.

  Doctor Tom Kwasigroch, is one of Quillen's longest and most beloved professors known around Quillen as Doctor Kwas.

  He teaches in the Department of Medical Education and was the brilliant mind behind the implementation of the CSIT, which launched in 2023.

  Doctor Kwas, thank you for this amazing addition to our medical school.

  [Speaker: Dr. Tom Kwasigroch]
  Thank you, Holeh. We're really proud to find innovative ways to enhance our students' medical education.

  [Music]

• Video Transcript: ETSU Quillen College of Medicine: CSI&T

  [Speaker: Dr. Tom Kwasigroch]
  The Center for Surgical Innovation and Training is a state-of-the-art operating room that allows Quillen College of Medicine students and residents in Surgical and OBGYN specialties the opportunity to perform surgery rather than watch it being performed.

  This opportunity is not available to students in other medical schools making our program unique. The center is not sterile.

  Instead of using live patients, we use donors from our Anatomical Gift Program.

  These are individuals who have made the ultimate donation to our whole body donation program, allowing us to enhance our students medical education across the board. Today, we hosted the Center's first workshop.

  A hands-on experience for Orthopedic Surgeons using Mako robotic arm assisted technology for total hip replacement.

  In this way, we are utilizing the center to provide innovative, cutting edge training to area practicing surgeons.

  This workshop is the first of many that will assist with the Quillen mission of improving health care in our area.

  As part of the original faculty of the College of Medicine, I have always been excited about the opportunity to provide innovative educational experiences for our students.

  Since accepting its first class in 1978, the Quillen College of Medicine and ETSU have been at the cutting edge of teaching.

  ETSU is one of only two universities in the country with five healthcare colleges and a strong interprofessional education program.

  The major focus of the Quillen College of Medicine is to train physicians to work in primary care or serve in rural or underserved communities.

  That said, training for all specialties is provided so that students can reach any career goal they desire.

  [Music]

Dr. Tom Kwasigroch

Associate Dean, Professor
KWASIGRO@mail.etsu.edu 

Dr. Leons Dumas

Director, CSI&T
Assistant Professor
DUMASL@mail.etsu.edu 

Jonathan Franklin

Manager, CSI&T
FRANKLINJD2@mail.etsu.edu