The Nicholson Center opened its new 54,000-square-foot facility that brings together physicians, clinical industry leaders and researchers to advance technology in the latest minimally invasive and robotic surgical techniques. As the world’s largest facility solely dedicated to physician training, the Nicholson Center is expected to train more than 20,000 clinical learners from around the world each year to use the most advanced minimally invasive surgical techniques. As more patients are becoming educated on advancements in surgery, more are demanding that their physicians perform minimally invasive procedures that reduce hospital stay and increase precision.
The new Nicholson Center facility is the first of its kind and features some of the world’s most advanced medical technology, including six daVinci robots, over 40 fully-equipped endoscopic surgical stations, two 935 square-foot team training operating rooms, a medical simulation and robotics center of excellence and an Innovation & Technology Accelerator. The Nicholson Center has more surgical stations and trains more physicians on the daVinci robot than any other location worldwide and instructs physicians how to best use this technology to increase the quality of care for their patients.
“I had a proctor who was watching my every step; who was handing me instruments; who was saying ‘See how you’re doing this here – you really may want to consider doing that’. That was really helpful,” said Dr. Anna Lyapis, a trainee in minimally invasive obstetrics. “The facility is amazing and the information that I received here has enabled me to perform the most advanced procedures. It has definitely exceeded my expectations.”
The Nicholson Center has a full conference center that is equipped to provide tele-mentoring and instructional medical training for up to 500 physicians and to broadcast surgical training sessions to facilities around the world. Establishing its international presence, the center has built relationships with institutions from other countries, such as Israel, Germany, Italy and South Korea, to advance the latest medical technology and cooperation on a global level. The thousands of physicians, clinical learners, and researchers traveling from around the world to the Nicholson Center are expected to positively impact Central Florida’s economy.
“We think Orlando could be the epicenter for medical health care, education and simulation research and that professionals from around the world will come to Orlando to be better tomorrow than they are today,” said Gary Sain, president of Visit Orlando. “That helps medical tourism; that helps business relocation; that helps all these businesses – not only in the tourism district, but also downtown Orlando. It’s an economic driver.”
The Department of Defense awarded the Nicholson Center a $4.2 million Congressional Directed Grant to study ways that tele-medicine technology can be used in military surgery. This research will revolutionize both civilian and military medical capabilities in surgical robotic procedures and tele-medicine.
“At this new facility, education, science, and business converge to create a comprehensive institute that will help pave the future of medical innovation,” said Rick Wassel, Nicholson Center Administrator. “The Nicholson Center is a major contributor in the establishment of Orlando’s international reputation as a medical destination through our partnerships with medical leaders around the world.”
Since 2001, the Nicholson Center has been housed inside the campus of Florida Hospital Celebration Health. In those 10 years, more than 43,000 clinical learners have been trained at this facility making it one of the largest medical education centers of its kind in the world.
For more information, contact Florida Hospital Media Relations at 407-303-8217.
