Research and Innovation in Surgical Education Fellowship

The RISE Fellowship is a professional development program for general surgery and integrated surgical subspecialty trainees with a strong interest in surgical education and simulation. Accredited by the American College of Surgeons Accredited Education Institutes (ACS-AEI), the fellowship prepares trainees to become national and international leaders in surgical education and simulation-based research. Fellows gain hands-on experience in surgical simulation while designing, implementing and evaluating multidisciplinary curricula grounded in teaching and learning theory, leadership and research design.

RISE fellows lead education research projects from protocol development through analysis, presentation and publication, supported by strong mentorship and cross-institutional collaboration. They present their scholarship at national and international meetings, including Surgical Education Week, the ACS Clinical Congress Education Forum, ASE/APDS, ACS Clinical Congress, the ACS-AEI Simulation Summit, SAGES and the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare. In addition, participating residents have the opportunity to complete a Master of Health Professions Education (MHPE), Master of Medicine (MMed) and/or a PhD.

Collaborate with RISE

Want to get involved with the RISE team? Apply as a prospective fellow or contact us if you're interested in collaborating with our team.

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Apply to RISE fellowship

RISE Fellowship cornerstones

Instruction and Assessment
Actively teach, develop curricula and engage in curriculum design and program evaluation while assessing learners and using evaluations and presentations to refine essential skills as an educator.

Research Distinction
Design and lead educational research projects, present at national conferences and refine grant-writing and literature appraisal skills.

Leadership and Collaboration
Participate in educational leadership, build interdisciplinary partnerships and mentor learners to strengthen leadership and project management capabilities.

Career Enhancement
Develop time management skills, complete a master's degree, engage in professional development, write a teaching philosophy and commit to mentorship and wellness throughout the fellowship.

View our top publications

"This fellowship, my involvement in teaching and the ability to get my masters will be invaluable to my future career in surgical education."

Brielle Warnock, MD, MS

RISE Fellow

Fellowship lecture series

The fellowship curriculum includes monthly presentations by a faculty educator or guest speaker on education topics that enrich the fellow’s knowledge and enhance their teaching and education research skills.

Presentation topics have included:

Skills curriculum design
Simulation debriefing
Standard setting
Qualitative research
Understanding validity
Curriculum design and evaluation
Providing feedback
Use of telesimulation
Interprofessional education simulation
How to write and review a paper
How to write an abstract
How to design a research project

RISE in the news

Miller helps medical students practice on a surgical simulation device.

Research: Medical Education

Giving Future Surgeons a Head Start: Payton Miller’s Commitment to Hands-On Training

Payton Miller, MD, is advancing surgical education by mentoring future surgical interns and enhancing hands-on training with Simsei laparoscopy platforms, made possible through a grant from Applied Medical.

April 22, 2025

Meet our fellows and alumni

Learn more about the fellows who have contributed to the RISE program since 2017 and follow their academic and professional paths over the years.

Meet the Team