Abstract

There has been a proliferation of innovations for surgical training, but there remains a critical lack of integrative synthesis that places innovation within a coherent educational framework. As a result, surgical educators face an abundance of tools but limited guidance on how to integrate them into effective, scalable, and globally applicable training systems. In this narrative review, the authors synthesized contemporary literature (2010–2025) identified through structured searches of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar, focusing on simulation-based education, competency-based medical education, immersive and digital technologies, and emerging applications of artificial intelligence. Eligible empirical studies and high-quality syntheses were analyzed thematically, with descriptive appraisal of evidence maturity aligned to established educational frameworks. The educational foundations and translational evidence of current innovations were critically appraised, and future directions that prioritize measurable learning outcomes, patient safety, implementation feasibility, and equity over technological enthusiasm alone are suggested.