Miami Dade College (MDC) has opened its new Center for Innovation, Learning and Simulation, a state-of-the-art facility designed to provide students with the training needed to excel in today’s fast-changing healthcare industry. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on July 16 at the Medical Campus in the heart of Miami’s Health District.
“Healthcare occupations are expected to grow by 18 percent by 2026,” said Dr. Bryan Stewart, Medical Campus president. “We’re going to be able to offer students the technology and resources they need to fill many of the ‘hot’ new jobs.”
Scheduled to serve students in the fall, the five-floor center will feature an entire floor dedicated to advanced medical simulation that will facilitate the practice of working in real-world clinical environments such as operating and emergency rooms. With the help of innovative technology, students will be able to recreate various medical scenarios, helping reduce errors, improve safety and elevate the quality of patient care.
The center contains amenities comparable to any cutting-edge hospital, including 15 high-fidelity patient rooms, a simulated ambulance, a home health apartment, and 10 examination rooms. Students will be able to utilize a 300-person multi-purpose conference center with state-of-the-art projectors and recording capability; and a 150-person tiered lecture facility with technology at each seat. It is a one-of-a-kind health training venue in the region and rivals those at top medical schools around the nation.
The building also will house fully equipped medical labs for nursing, respiratory care, physician assistant, histology, medical laboratory science and other programs, and student collaboration areas. It will also contain a large, state-of-the-art physical therapy facility.
The center will allow for the expansion of some of the college’s most in-demand programs — including emergency medical services, nuclear medicine technology, nursing and physician assistant — as well as make room for new programs like central sterile processing and surgical technology.
MDC also offers a wide range of associate degrees in other fast-growing allied health industries, including health information technology, radiography, physical therapy assistant and pharmacy technology.
The Medical Campus is located at 950 NW 20th St.
