The submission window for DIY simulators/models will open on September 10, 2025.
The ACS Surgeons and Engineers: A Dialogue on Surgical Simulation Meeting will host its third DIY simulator/model competition during the 2026 meeting. The aim of the competition is to promote the development of do-it-yourself simulators and models and encourage the use of the simulators and models to improve simulation-based surgical education and training. While surgeon-engineer collaboration is encouraged, submitters are not required to be surgeons or engineers. If your entry is accepted, you will have the opportunity to give a short presentation and hands-on demonstration with your simulators/models at the 2026 meeting. You will need to register for the meeting to present your simulators/models. Please see the following entry submission information.
- Deadline: 11:59 pm CT on Wednesday, October 29, 2025
- Invitation notification: Monday, November 17, 2025
- Eligibility: Entries from any simulator/model companies will not be accepted.
- 1st place winner prize: A 50% discounted registration for the 2026 Surgeons & Engineers Meeting
- Presentation format
- Pre-Meeting: A 3-minute pre-recorded presentation to judges. Please see the video submission guidelines below.
- Competition at the Meeting: A 1-2 minute demonstration to judges, and a 60-minute interactive demonstration of your simulator/model for meeting attendees.
A panel of expert judges will evaluate the simulator/model. If invited, you must register for the meeting to participate in the DIY Simulator/Model Competition.
Simulator/Model Evaluation Criteria
DIY Competition entries will be evaluated by the judges in the following domains:
- Creativity
- Ease of setup/breakdown
- Ease of use (once the simulator is made)
- Relevance to the procedure being taught
- Material haptics
- Cost-effectiveness
Video Submission Guidelines
On the simulation entry form, you will be asked to provide a link to a video recording demonstration of your simulator. Please submit a three-minute video demonstrating the use of your simulator/model.
Please include the following at a minimum:
- Demonstrate multiple angles of your simulator, such as birds eye, back, front, side, and, if appropriate, an inside view.
- Demonstrate the simulator/model in use (if your procedure takes longer than three minutes, show the sections that demonstrate the nature of your simulator/model best).
- Demonstrate the nature of the materials used to make your simulator, if possible, such as visual haptics, stiffness, elasticity, deformation, etc. In some cases, this may be achieved by interacting with the simulator with your fingers or a surgical instrument.
- Use voiceover for this video effectively by explaining your concept or describing the design, especially parts that may be difficult to show visually.
Questions about submission? Contact Gyusung I. Lee, Ph.D., Co-Program Chair of the Surgeons and Engineers Meeting, at glee@facs.org or 312-202-5782.
