E1 See. Hear. Speak.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine Launches High-Tech Audiovisual
Medical Simulation Laboratory

One of only a handful of medical simulation centers in the United States, the new training lab is part of the Arizona Simulation Technology and Education Center (ASTEC). Made possible by grants and equipmentdonations from Karl Storz Endoscopy, Berchtold, ExhibitOne and Marconi, the lab provides medical students, residents, practicing physicians, and nurses hands-on training using simulation and virtual reality in a setting where there is no risk to real patients. The high-tech medical simulation laboratory features a state-of-the-art simulated operating room, virtual reality surgical trainers and telecommunication capabilities to broadcast lectures and demonstrations to other medical schools and hospitals.

Just as airline pilots train in flight simulators before flying a plane packed with passengers, medical simulators allow doctors to practice delicate procedures before they are used on real people, explains Allan J. Hamilton, MD, UA professor of surgery and ASTEC executive director. Instead of making their first diagnoses -- and potential first mistakes -- on real patients, students learn their lessons on mannequins and virtual-reality training tools.

The mission of the Medical Simulation Laboratory is to develop, validate and apply simulation-based tools and devices for use in medical and surgical training. The lab also is a place where medical equipment and simulation companies can collaborate with the UA to develop and test new prototypes.

Pictured from left to right: Kevin Sandler, CEO & President of ExhibitOne; Keith Joiner, MD, MPH, Dean, University of Arizona College of Medicine; Tim Calkins, Account Executive of Marconi Communications; Keith Huthmacher, Director ViPr Engineering of Marconi Communications