Located in Sanger Hall, 9th floor, at 1101 East Marshall Street, the Christine B. and David E. Surgical Innovation Suite is a premier hub for surgical education, research, and technological advancement. This historic site, where Drs. Lower and Hume pioneered groundbreaking surgical achievements over 50 years ago, now stands as a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to shaping the future of surgery.

The suite hosts a wide range of surgical simulation labs, including ASSET and MITS courses, as well as other specialized training sessions utilizing artificial, fresh, and cadaveric tissue. Designed to mirror real-world hospital environments, the facility features a fully operational operating room, a coagulation lab, a wet lab, and a fluoroscopy cath lab. With the ability to run multiple anesthesia units simultaneously, the suite supports complex simulations and cutting-edge research. Additionally, the facility is equipped with four fully functional Stryker laparoscopic towers, enhancing both surgical simulation and research capabilities.

In addition to serving as a cornerstone of VCU’s surgical simulation programs, the suite functions as a dynamic research laboratory equipped with a microsurgical suite, ABG and Abaxis CBC/chemistry profile machines, and cell culture research capabilities. Efforts are also underway to establish a tissue bank to further expand research opportunities.

The suite is home to VCU’s Da Vinci Surgical Skill Simulator, accessible 24/7 for residents and surgeons honing their robotic surgery techniques. This commitment to surgical excellence ensures that the Christine B. and David E. Surgical Innovation Suite remains at the forefront of medical education, innovation, and groundbreaking research.