Margaret Rusnak

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About

Dr. Margaret Rusnak is a pioneering researcher in the field of robotic surgery safety and simulation-based medical education. Her work focuses on the critical, often overlooked, area of emergency undocking procedures—the rapid, coordinated removal of a robotic surgical system during a life-threatening intraoperative crisis. Dr. Rusnak’s major contribution is the development of a structured simulation curriculum that trains robotic surgeons not only in technical maneuvers but also in leading interprofessional teams under pressure. Her most-cited paper, "Emergency Undocking in Robotic Surgery: A Simulation Curriculum" (2018), has accumulated 12 citations, establishing a foundational protocol in this niche yet vital domain. A complementary video publication of the same curriculum has further extended her impact, providing a visual, reproducible training tool for surgical teams worldwide. This work addresses a significant gap in traditional robotic training, which often relies on brief, web-based overviews rather than hands-on, team-based simulation. By transforming a rare but high-stakes event into a teachable skill, Dr. Rusnak has enhanced patient safety and set a new standard for preparedness in robotic operating rooms.