Michael S. Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education, “Saving Lives through Simulation Technology.” Pioneered and pursued this course for over 40 years.

The Gordon Center is a designated Center of Excellence of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. It was established more than 45 years ago for the application of advanced technology to medical education for medical students, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, paramedic/firefighters and instructors. More than 2,000 medical centers and agencies worldwide use the educational systems and training curricula developed at the Center. The Center occupies a 34,000 sq.ft. state-of-the-art facility, with the capability for simulation and design engineering, production and manufacturing. It houses a high technology auditorium, self-learning laboratory, standardized patient training area, emergency rescue vehicle, car for extrication of trauma victims, disaster response decontamination showers and mock emergency department.

The most long-standing example of our creative work is Harvey®, the Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator. First introduced in 1968, it simulates essentially any cardiac disease, including blood pressure, breathing, pulses, heart sounds and murmurs. The patented Harvey® also simulates lung disease, is more portable and costs less. A curriculum for nurses has been developed and successfully evaluated in a study at multiple nursing schools. Harvey® trains tens of thousands of learners worldwide.

UMedic® began more than 30 years ago, is among the most advanced multimedia computer teaching systems in all of medical education, and web-based versions are now being implemented. It provides a comprehensive cardiology curriculum for medical, nursing and physicians assistant students, physicians and nurses, and programs have been developed in neurology and emergency medicine. Over 400 medical centers worldwide currently use Harvey® and/or the UMedic® system in their training programs.

Our Pre-Hospital and Emergency Healthcare Skills Training Programs also began more than 30 years ago. They now train thousands of course registrants per year at over 800 agencies in Florida and 900 in other states, as well as internationally. Courses include cardiac life support, trauma, pediatrics, stroke, heart attack, advanced airway, disaster response, active shooter and point-of-care ultrasound. Paramedics diagnose problems using actors to play the role of patients. Our curricula are disseminated to Florida's State Colleges, and the paramedics trained at our Center respond to the 911 calls of millions of Floridians. We also train U.S. Army Forward Surgical Trauma Teams prior to their front-line deployment, and members of the White House Medical Unit.

The State of Florida has recognized our work as an example of programs that "enrich the lives of the citizens of the State." Our projects have received several national "Awards for Educational Excellence," including recognition from the American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association. Harvey® has also been used for high-stakes internal medicine certification by the Royal College of Canada.