Ready for the robot? A cross-sectional survey of OB/GYN fellowship directors' experience and expectations of their incoming fellow's robotic surgical skills.

To describe OB/GYN fellowship directors' (FDs) observations, expectations, and preferences of incoming fellow's robotic surgery preparedness. Cross-sectional study. OB/GYN FDs in gynecologic oncology, minimally invasive gynecologic surgery, female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility in the United States. 60 FDs answered the questionnaire. Participants completed an online questionnaire about their preferences and expectations of robotic surgery experience for incoming fellows. FDs observed that many incoming first-year fellows had a baseline understanding of robotic technology (60%) and robotic bedside assist experience (53%). However, few could perform more advanced robotic tasks; with FDs indicating fellows could infrequently robotically suture (18%), or perform the entire hysterectomy (15%). FDs reported higher composite observation than expectation scores (34.3 versus 22.2, p < 0.0001), and higher preference than expectation scores (34.0 versus 22.2, p < 0.0001). The composite expectation score of high-volume divisions was greater than of low-volume divisions (23.7 versus 14.0, p = 0.04). Among the domains identified, FDs most strongly preferred their fellows be able to bedside assist, have a basic understanding of robotic technology, and have basic robotic operative skills. While incoming fellows have more robotic skill than their FDs expect, few are deemed competent to independently operate the robot. Higher volume robotic surgery divisions have higher expectations of the robotic skills of their incoming fellows compared to low-volume divisions; however, FDs neither expected nor preferred their incoming fellows to be fully competent in all aspects of robotic surgery.