Hands-On Suturing Workshop Brings Procedural Practice to Cutaneous Oncology Training

The Dermatology Times Cutaneous Oncology Workshop in Tampa, Florida, moved from lecture-based education to hands-on procedural training during an interactive suturing workshop led by Tristan Hasbargen, PA-C.

Each attendee received an individual suturing kit and practice materials, allowing participants to follow along as Hasbargen demonstrated different closure techniques step by step. Rather than focusing solely on the mechanics of placing a suture, the session connected technique to clinical decision-making, showing attendees how different approaches may be used depending on the wound, location, and procedural scenario.

From Demonstration to Practice

Hasbargen first demonstrated each technique for the group before attendees practiced the movements themselves.

Participants worked through the process in real time, from needle positioning and tissue handling to approximating wound edges and securing the closure. The hands-on format gave attendees the opportunity to slow down individual steps, repeat techniques, and refine their movements while receiving practical instruction.

The workshop was designed to make procedural concepts immediately applicable. Instead of viewing suturing as a series of isolated technical steps, Hasbargen incorporated examples from clinical practice to explain how clinicians can think through closure selection in different situations.

Connecting Technique With Clinical Scenarios

Throughout the demonstration, Hasbargen used real-world examples to illustrate how wound characteristics can influence a clinician's approach.

The discussion emphasized that successful closure involves more than simply bringing wound edges together. Technique selection can depend on factors such as the size and shape of the defect, anatomic location, tension, and the type of procedure that created the wound.

By working through those scenarios alongside the demonstration, attendees were able to see how procedural technique fits into the broader management of patients undergoing skin cancer treatment.

Building Procedural Confidence

The interactive structure also gave participants something difficult to replicate in a traditional lecture: the opportunity to practice immediately after seeing a technique demonstrated.

Attendees could work through unfamiliar hand movements, repeat individual steps, and compare their technique with Hasbargen's demonstration while the instruction was still fresh.

That format was particularly relevant for advanced practice providers whose procedural experience may vary significantly depending on their practice setting. For those who routinely assist with or perform dermatologic procedures, the workshop offered an opportunity to sharpen technique. For clinicians with less frequent exposure to surgical closure, it provided a structured environment to build familiarity and confidence.

Hands-On Education Within Cutaneous Oncology

The suturing workshop complemented the day's earlier discussions of skin cancer prevention, diagnosis, staging, and treatment by bringing the procedural component of care directly to attendees.

As participants worked through the different techniques with their individual kits, the session reinforced one of the broader goals of the Cutaneous Oncology Workshop: pairing evidence-based education with practical skills that clinicians can bring back to their own practices.

For Hasbargen, the emphasis remained on translating demonstration into something attendees could actually perform themselves—using repetition, clinical examples, and direct instruction to make suturing techniques more approachable and applicable to everyday dermatologic care.