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Overview

The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education is a designated Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. For nearly 50 years, we have been a global leader in healthcare simulation education, research, and innovation—advancing the training of healthcare professionals and first responders worldwide.

Each year, the Gordon Center trains more than 20,000 front-line clinicians and emergency personnel across Florida, the U.S., and internationally. Our simulation- based curricula and training programs are used by over 2,300 medical institutions and public safety agencies across the globe.

A State-of-the-Art Simulation Facility
The Gordon Center’s 34,000-square-foot facility is a purpose-built environment designed to support cutting-edge simulation training, curriculum development, engineering innovation, and immersive instruction.

Harvey®: The Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator
Our most iconic innovation, Harvey®, the Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator, was first introduced in 1968 and remains the gold standard in cardiac simulation. Harvey® realistically simulates a wide range of cardiac and pulmonary conditions—including blood pressure, heart and lung sounds, pulses, and respiratory movements—offering unparalleled realism and educational value.

In 2025, we launched Harvey Premier, the next-generation version of this landmark simulator. Harvey Premier builds on more than five decades of educational and engineering excellence, incorporating enhanced anatomical fidelity, expanded cardiopulmonary scenarios, modernized hardware, and integrated multimedia curriculum support—setting a new standard for high-impact, simulation-based learning.

History

Dr. Michael S. Gordon envisioned a center where innovation, simulation, and education would intersect to transform how healthcare providers are trained. That vision took root in the late 1960s with pioneering work in medical simulation and became reality in 1977 with the founding of the Medical Training and Simulation Laboratory at the University of Miami.

As the Center’s scope broadened beyond simulation to include education research, curriculum development, and large-scale training initiatives, it was renamed the Center for Research in Medical Education. In 2005, in recognition of his lifetime achievements and transformative contributions, the University formally dedicated the facility as the Michael S. Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education.

To better reflect its expanded mission and global impact, the Center was renamed again in 2019 as the Michael S. Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education—honoring Dr. Gordon’s pioneering work and reaffirming the Center’s leadership in healthcare simulation and innovation.

Dr. Gordon’s innovations have revolutionized healthcare education both locally and globally. A practicing cardiologist, he recognized the power of simulation to enhance the cardiac examination skills of medical students. In 1968, he developed the first cardiopulmonary simulator, Harvey®, named in honor of his mentor, Dr. Proctor Harvey. But Harvey was just the beginning.

In the 1980s, Dr. Gordon launched UMedic®, a groundbreaking computer-based multimedia learning system that has since been used to train generations of healthcare professionals—including students, physicians, nurses, emergency responders, and military personnel—in essential diagnostic and life-saving skills.

Today, the Gordon Center is home to both Harvey® and UMedic®, as well as its largest division: Prehospital and Emergency Training. These programs are available to medical providers, hospitals, and health systems nationwide and globally, furthering Dr. Gordon’s enduring legacy of educational innovation and impact.

Vision and Mission

Saving lives through simulation technology

We envision a world where cutting-edge simulation and educational innovation empower healthcare providers and first responders to deliver safer, faster, and more effective care, everywhere and every time it’s needed.

  • Developing and disseminating innovative, evidence-based curricula for Florida’s first responders—including firefighters, law enforcement officers, paramedics, military medics, and other public safety personnel—as well as for medical, nursing, and physician assistant students and practicing clinicians.
  • Delivering high-impact training to frontline healthcare providers, with a focus on those involved in emergency response, critical care, and time-sensitive interventions.
  • Serving as a resource and training hub for simulation-based programs, educational materials, and instructor development—supporting healthcare institutions and emergency response organizations across Florida, the United States, and globally.
  • Advancing research and innovation in the design, dissemination, and evaluation of simulation, mobile, and multimedia technologies for healthcare education and workforce development.

Our Team

S. Barry Issenberg, MD

Director

Ross J. Scalese, MD

Director of Educational Technology Development

Ilmar Tamames

Director of Harvey Development

Richard Rodriguez, M.A

Project Manager

Timothy Coster

Senior R&D Engineer

Alejandro Perez

Junior R&D Engineer

Oscar Trigoura

Junior Manufacturing Engineer

Mario Zambrana

Harvey Actuator Specialist

Adrian Gonzalez

Harvey Manufacturing Specialist

James Ceavers

Harvey Quality Engineer

Julio Jeronimo

Junior Systems Engineer