Marilee McBoyle, M.D., FACS, professor at KU School of Medicine-Wichita and surgical director of the Surgery Skills Lab, and Mary Thompson, CHSOS, simulation coordinator, joined colleagues from Mohammed Bin Rashad University of Medicine and Health Sciences-Dubai UAE in a Gamification Workshop on March 14-15 during the American College of Surgeons' Surgical Simulation Summit in Chicago. The unified goal of increasing learner engagement through games was showcased utilizing games ranging from simple to complex.

McBoyle and Thompson taught surgical and medical education using the game of Jeopardy. The group of medical students and surgeons from Dubai, UAE, participated in the games of Scalpel Quest and Surgical Sabotage.

“It was such a privilege to represent our school with them despite being separated by 8,000 miles and 10 time zones,” commented McBoyle, who educates resident physicians in the General Surgery Residency Program as well as medical students. “Dr. Rivas, the senior doctor in the group, also asked me to investigate ways that some of their medical students could come to our program for two-four weeks, so this was very special.”

“It was an absolute privilege and our pleasure to have been able to work with Marilee and Mary,” said Mowafak Alzoebie, M.D., a surgical education fellow from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai. “We look forward to seeing them in Dubai someday!”

Both university programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons as Accredited Education Institutes.

Participating in the Gamification Workshop in Chicago were, from left to right: Mowafak Alzoebie, M.D., surgical education fellow from Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai; Hind Alawadi, sixth-year MBBS student at Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai; Mary Thompson, CHSOS, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Surgery Skills Lab; Marilee McBoyle, M.D., FACS, KU School of Medicine-Wichita Surgery Skills Lab; Homero Rivas, M.D., MBA, FACS, professor of surgery, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences; Jalal Alfroukh, senior simulation specialist (CHSOS) at Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai; Marwa Mohamed, MBBS, medical researcher at Harvard University; Roudha Alhabtoor, sixth-year MBBS student at Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai; Joanna Kovilpillai, sixth-year MBBS student at Mohammed Bin Rashid University, Dubai; and Nagham Toba, MBBS, EM resident PGY1 at Rashid Hospital, Dubai.