Basic Suturing

Basic Suturing Workshop - Back to the Basics

One of the most hands-on and well-received sessions at this year’s Evolence conference was the basic suturing workshop. It gave students a chance to actually practice the skills that are often talked about in lectures but rarely taught in depth—especially early in our studies.

The session was aimed at beginners and focused on making everyone feel comfortable with the basics. From the first few minutes, it was clear the workshop was more about learning through doing than getting everything perfect. For many, it was their first time holding a needle holder, tying knots, or even thinking about how different types of stitches work. The workshop provided a structured introduction to core suturing techniques, allowing students to develop essential surgical skills through repetition and direct feedback.

This workshop was run in collaboration with Chir Up, an NGO focused on teaching surgical skills in a way that’s practical and approachable. Their team—Estelle Paschoud, Jenny Vallelian, and Lena Roguet—brought in not just their knowledge, but a supportive energy that made a huge difference. They moved from table to table, giving real-time feedback, adjusting hand positions, and making sure everyone understood each step. It didn’t feel like a formal lesson—it felt like peers helping peers, and that made the learning experience all the more engaging.

Pig feet were used for practice—a popular choice because the texture is close to human skin and gives a realistic feel.

Students learned several types of sutures throughout the session, including:

•Simple Interrupted – the basic go-to suture for many situations.

•Interrupted Everting – useful for slightly lifting wound edges to help healing.

•Horizontal and Vertical Mattress – great for adding strength and keeping tension balanced.

•Simple Continuous – faster, cleaner, and often used in longer wounds.

What made the session even better was how the Chir Up team didn’t just teach how to do the stitches—they explained why you’d use each one, what situations they’re good for, and what can go wrong if they’re done incorrectly. That connection between skill and clinical thinking really helped everything click.

By the end of the workshop, students weren’t just repeating steps—they were understanding them. The collaboration with Chir Up showed how much value comes from students working together, sharing their experiences, and creating a space where it’s okay to learn out loud, ask questions, and try again. It wasn’t just about suturing—it was about building confidence in a skillset that every future doctor will need.