SAGES offers courses in gastrointestinal endoscopy and laparoscopy for residents at least twice a year. The course is an educational experience designed to present the basic science and technical approaches to modern endoscopic surgery. It will present materials dealing with traditional diagnostic and therapeutic flexible endoscopy as well as minimally invasive surgical techniques. It will include an extensive laboratory experience, in addition to classroom didactics. The faculty will include many of the most experienced and respected endoscopic surgeons in the world. The program will be sponsored by SAGES and supported by an educational grant from Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. and Ethicon Canada. The courses in February and August will be held at the Ethicon Endo-Surgery Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio and the course in April will be held at CSTAR in London, Ontario, Canada. Tuition for residents will be free and includes hotel & meals.

Program Directors are invited to designate a surgical resident to participate in a resident's workshop. The course is designed for 2nd and 3rd year residents. If you are a resident and are interested in attending this course, please notify your Program Director or a SAGES leader at your institution. Preference will be given to SAGES Candidate members. Additional spaces will be assigned to residents on the waiting list from the previous basic course. Remaining spaces will be assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. The course will conclude late afternoon on the second day.

We believe that the ongoing series of courses are a stimulating and productive way to further expose surgical trainees to the techniques of endoscopic surgery, to standardize their knowledge base in the area, and to provide strong educational support for the endoscopic resident education programs.

We look forward to your participation and that of your trainees.