Robotic surgical training of the urologic oncologist

Robotic-assisted surgery has become an increasingly popular approach to the treatment of a variety of urologic malignancies. The use of minimally invasive techniques for treatment of genitourinary cancers has evolved from conventional laparoscopy to the use of robotic-assisted instrumentation. Many questions remain regarding the safest and most effective way to teach robotic surgery to trainees. Work hour restrictions, medical and legal concerns, and the unique operative set-up of the robotic system have made it increasingly difficult to provide “hands on” operative training to residents and fellows. We review the current literature regarding robotic surgical training, highlight potentially effective training strategies, and discuss future improvements in robotic surgical training of the urologic oncologist.