As the pace of medical innovation accelerates, exposing aspiring surgeons to the latest surgical techniques and technologies is crucial.  Yet the restrictions on gatherings and travel brought about by Covid-19 have disrupted access to face-to-face education and training.  That’s when the Johnson & Johnson Institute Academic Alliances team came up with a solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem: how would they facilitate specialty-specific hands-on clinical training related to the safe & effective use of Company products?  The answer was to leverage its mobile labs to bring cutting-edge learning directly to orthopaedic residents at academic medical centers across the U.S. in a way that prioritizes safety and social distancing. 

Housed in an 18-wheeler tractor-trailer, the Future Leaders Mobile Lab is equipped with advanced equipment that simulates a contemporary hospital operating room. Proctored by world-renowned orthopedic physicians, the simulated surgical training programs cover a wide array of procedures including hip and knee replacement, spinal surgery, complex trauma, and extremities, as well as the latest shoulder and knee sports medicine procedures— with particular emphasis on the safe and effective use of Company products. Orthopedic residents and fellows can glean critical technique tips from the proctors while also learning and sharing insights with each other.  

Four-Days of Comprehensive Education and Training

The Future Leaders Mobile Lab visits an academic medical center for four days.  Each day is focused on learning in one of the following orthopaedic specialty areas: joint reconstruction, sports medicine, spine, and trauma/craniomaxillofacial.  In partnership with ETHICON, residents and fellows can also train on proper wound closure techniques, the use of biosurgicals in hemostasis, and the importance of proper smoke evacuation when using electrosurgical equipment, while focusing on the appropriate use of Company products.

And because the Johnson & Johnson Institute believes virtual reality (VR) accelerates the understanding of surgical training, learners are given the chance to put on a headset and experience a fully-immersive way to learn a new procedure before even stepping into the OR. 

Safe, Socially Distanced Learning 

The Johnson & Johnson Institute has taken a thoughtful approach to provide this kind of learning experience.   Strict safety and social distancing protocols are in place including mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), temperature screening, and limits on the number of participants allowed during the training sessions.  The Institute works closely with the participating academic medical center to ensure compliance with their institutional protocols and adhere to any state or local health guidelines. 

“When it became apparent that orthopedic residents and fellows were not getting the access to the type of hands-on training that helps them hone and refine their skills, we knew it was time to act,” said Mindy Edgar, Director of Strategic Partnership, Global Educational Solutions. “Our team came together and crafted a new education plan and the Future Leaders Mobile Lab program was almost immediately embraced as the leading catalyst for this year's professional educational endeavors.  Through the support and partnership of several key academic medical centers, along with our many expert physician educators, the Future Leaders Mobile Lab program has proven to be a tremendous success and helped to maintain the educational momentum of hundreds of residents and fellows across the U.S."

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