Book excerpt: This issue of the Surgical Clinics of North America will include articles devoted to the following topics: the growth of simulators in surgery; the science of proficiency and competency, running a skills lab; high intensity preparatory simulation training; assessment and feedback in the skills lab and OR, FLS & FES: comprehensive models of training and assessment; verification of proficiency: a prerequisite for clinical experience; team training: non-traditional surgical competencies; human factors and simulation training; virtual reality devices and environments; simulation in certification; and the future of surgical simulation.