Vascular surgery resident receives grant to develop AI model to assess surgical technical skills

(SACRAMENTO)

Keenan Gibson is one step closer to his goal of improving vascular surgery care - not only for patients in Sacramento, but around the world.

The vascular surgery resident at UC Davis Health recently received a grant from the Association of Program Directors in Vascular Surgery (APDVS) to develop a computer vision-based artificial intelligence (AI) system designed to assess surgical technical skill.

The AI model will be trained to observe surgical trainees during simulated or recorded procedures. A video-based performance analysis will deliver standardized, objective and actionable feedback.

"Currently, there is no strong, universally accepted method for objectively assessing technical skill across surgical specialties. Feedback is often subjective and varies widely between institutions and educators," explained Gibson. "This project aims to address that gap by aggregating input from surgeons, educators, and program directors nationwide to develop a model that can deliver consistent, high-quality feedback to trainees, regardless of where they train."

Keenan Gibson's work is deeply informed by his growing involvement in global surgery that included a trip to Ghana.

Inspired by global health work

Gibson's work is deeply informed by his growing involvement in global surgery. Earlier this year, he traveled to Ghana on a medical mission trip, where conversations with local residents and surgeons highlighted significant gaps in surgical training infrastructure.

3D-print low-cost surgical models created by Keenan Gibson.

Ghana lacks a formal vascular surgery training program, and access to specialized surgical care remains extremely limited. That experience prompted Gibson to rethink how advanced surgical education could be meaningfully supported in resource-limited settings.

"One of the biggest barriers is the lack of simulators and surgical instruments for hands-on practice," Gibson said.

In response, he began designing and 3D-printing low-cost surgical models that could be distributed internationally, allowing trainees to practice core techniques without relying on expensive equipment. However, he quickly realized that access to simulation alone was not enough.

"In many of these settings, there simply isn't someone available to provide consistent, structured feedback on simulations," Gibson added.

How the AI model will work

That realization ultimately guided Gibson's efforts to develop a computer vision-based AI training platform designed for environments where traditional surgical education models are simply not feasible.

The system is intentionally low-resource: a downloadable mobile? application paired with nothing more than a smartphone camera. Trainees record themselves performing simulated procedures. The AI model analyzes their technique to deliver structured, objective feedback - eliminating the need for continuous, in-person oversight from an expert surgeon.

"What this project offers is a truly deployable training resource," said Gibson. "In many parts of the world, building a comprehensive surgical training program just isn't realistic, which leaves far too many patients untreated due to a lack of trained specialists."

Looking ahead

Once the model has been fully validated, Gibson plans to incorporate a technical skills assessment. This could enable it to be used as part of the board certification process for vascular surgeons, helping ensure proficiency with emerging technologies as part of their professional qualifications.

The AI model aims to help vascular surgery trainees develop consistent technical proficiency.

In addition, the model may be used to support real-time guidance during vascular procedures. By training the system on highly accurate 3D-printed models, Gibson aims to create a unique method for teaching computer vision-based AI using a patient's specific anatomy before surgery ever begins - an approach that is not possible with existing training methods.

"At its core, the project is about improving surgical training, both in the United States and globally. By helping vascular surgery trainees develop consistent technical proficiency, I believe the model's impact could reach far beyond the classroom," shared Gibson. "Better training leads to better surgeons and better surgeons mean better care for patients. That's ultimately what this work is about."