The History of Simulation in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Abstract

Simulation has become a part of modern day training in the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Medical and nursing schools utilize simulation in many forms including teaching anatomy, development of clinical and communication skills, practice and repetition of those skills, and evaluation for competency. Residency training utilizes simulation to further instruct the development of technical skills, communication skills, and team training. Finally, practicing providers in the field utilize simulation for maintaining skills, learning new techniques, and continual development of team training. While the use of simulation training evokes images of complex high-fidelity models and virtual reality (VR) trainers, the history of simulation dates back many centuries (Owen H, Simul Healthc 7(2):102–116, 2012) and has been a tool used in medical education for much longer than the past 40 years. This chapter will review the history of simulation in obstetrics and gynecology, including the evolution of simulators, importance to medical education, and potential use for future applications.