ObjectiveTo describe a formal teaching program of basic surgical skills in an obstetric-gynecologic residency program and evaluate its effectiveness.MethodsA surgical skills program was developed for all residents. Using bench and animal laboratory sessions, residents were given instruction and performed both laparoscopic and open abdominal procedures. All were given a pretest and were tested again 6 months later. Residents also evaluated their experiences.ResultsTo date, the formal teaching sessions have been given to 24 residents, all of whom believed their confidence and technical skills improved as a result of the sessions. On a scale of 1 to 5, the median rating of the bench laboratory experience was 5 (range 4–5), and the pig laboratory was 5 (range 4–5). All residents believed the surgery sessions should be continued and the number of sessions increased. Preliminary evaluation indicated that time to suture a 10-inch incision decreased by 28%, from an average of 225 (standard deviation [SD] 51) seconds to 171 (SD 43) seconds (P< .001), and evaluation of surgical technique significantly improved at the second pretest (P= .013). Laparoscopic placement of pegs on a board in 2 minutes increased from an average of 5 (SD 2.5) to 7.3 (SD 2.6;P= .001). The cost of the bench laboratory sessions was minimal. Each pig was approximately $100, and the facility charge for each 4-hour laboratory session was $1500.ConclusionWhen formal surgical training was given to obstetric-gynecologic residents, their surgical skills improved subjectively and objectively.