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.
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.
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.
Director
Director of Educational Technology Development
Director of Harvey Development
Project Manager
Senior R&D Engineer
Junior R&D Engineer
Junior Manufacturing Engineer
Harvey Actuator Specialist
Harvey Manufacturing Specialist
Harvey Quality Engineer
Junior Systems Engineer