Helena Zakrzewski

McGill University, Jewish General Hospital

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Dr. Helena Zakrzewski is a pioneering researcher in surgical education and robotic simulation, whose work has fundamentally shaped how surgeons acquire and refine technical skills. Her primary research areas center on proficiency-based virtual reality training for robotic surgery, with a particular focus on developing structured curricula that translate simulation performance into operating room competence. Her landmark 2015 randomized controlled trial, cited over 50 times, demonstrated that a systematic, proficiency-based virtual reality curriculum significantly improves surgeons' ability to perform robotic suturing compared to traditional training methods. This study provided critical evidence for the adoption of simulation-based mastery learning in robotic surgery programs worldwide. Dr. Zakrzewski's earlier 2014 trial laid the groundwork for this approach, establishing the feasibility and validity of virtual reality platforms for teaching complex surgical tasks. Her work has been instrumental in moving surgical education from time-based to competency-based models, ensuring that trainees achieve measurable proficiency before entering the operating room. By rigorously validating simulation as an effective educational tool, she has helped reduce patient risk and improve surgical outcomes, making her a key figure in the advancement of modern surgical training.