Endless Thread Surgical Precision: One doctor's quest to show how video games can save lives
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Oct 21, 2025 Dr. James C. "Butch" Rosser, a pioneer in minimally invasive surgery, shares his groundbreaking views on the intersection of gaming and medicine. He discusses how his childhood passion for video games not only shaped his early interest in surgery but also enhanced his skills as a surgeon. Rosser reveals the innovative Top Gun program he developed, which gamifies surgical training and significantly shortens training times. He addresses skepticism around gaming's benefits and highlights studies linking video game proficiency to surgical success, championing a future where gaming inspires a new generation of surgeons.
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Pong Opened Doors
- James C. "Butch" Rosser discovered video games like Pong in college and became obsessed with them as relief and social entry.
- Gaming helped him connect with white classmates who previously ignored him and revealed his dexterity to others.
Laparoscopy On Camera
- Rosser recounts performing early laparoscopic surgeries and narrating procedures on camera to demonstrate screen-based operation.
- He likened the hand-eye coordination to Nintendo controls while calmly removing a gallbladder on TV.
Gaming Skills Cut Training Time
- Rosser hypothesized video-game skills could drastically reduce laparoscopic training time from hundreds of hours to under a dozen.
- He designed the Top Gun program to teach two-hand choreography, depth compensation, and manual dexterity using timed drills.