Minimally Invasive Surgical Training and Innovation Center (MISTIC)

MISTIC serves as a training ground for students, residents, fellows and practicing surgeons of all specialties, as well as perioperative staff. Training is interdisciplinary across specialties and levels of education: teams often train together when preparing for innovative procedures. They also partner with engineers and investigators of all disciplines. These resources are also available to industry clients and partners.

Progressively, MISTIC is incorporating the latest in synthetic models with life-like tissues and manikins that simulate tool tissue interaction and in some cases physiologic signs and symptoms.

MISTIC offers several different training programs to industry professionals and the community. There are specific programs designed to provide various groups the opportunity to gain additional insight about medical and surgical world. MISTIC is also used for community outreach, partnering with local schools to give students tours of the facility and introducing them to diversity and inclusion in our local health care community.

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MISTIC research initiatives are robust, working in collaboration with the Johns Hopkins School of Education and Malone Center for Engineering in Healthcare to be at the forefront of these cutting-edge procedures and technologies. Areas of research interest include surgical and clinical education, simulation education, surgical innovation research and translational research.

We have a thriving research mentorship program and benefit from the Johns Hopkins University’s research training initiatives to access additional research support. Our research program also encompasses usability testing, human factors projects, product engineering and technology development.

MISTIC offers a variety of cutting-edge technology that allows students, physicians and surgeons to learn and practice procedures in real-life scenarios.

Included in MISTIC’s simulation rooms are state-of-the-art robotic surgery systems. These robots allow physicians to simulate advanced procedures and learn how to perform them under real life conditions. This simulation facility at The Johns Hopkins Hospital is unique as this training is offered at few hospitals around the country.

Additionally, MISTIC features manikins that simulate real-life functions and include a monitor to identify blood pressure, heart rate and other important fluid levels in the body.

MISTIC resources can be engaged by outside groups who are either looking to teach or train individuals with clinical goals. Its facilities, resources and expertise can be made available to help organizations and/or individuals meet their innovation or business needs, where access to a clinical (surgical) simulation center would help advance the goals of our clients.

Ivan George is the administrative director for MISTIC. Responsible for its operations, he is an assistant administrative director at The Johns Hopkins University for both surgery (for MISTIC) and anesthesia and critical care medicine (ACCM). In his ACCM role, he is responsible for operating room operations for the more than 115 operative locations on the main Johns Hopkins medical campus in Baltimore, Maryland.

He has been involved in simulation for over 15 years, having been part of Operating Room of the Future initiatives, American College of Surgeon Accredited Institute inception, and a central program designer, managing leader and founding member of nationally/globally recognized simulation centers.

George has authored over 100 abstracts, publications and presentations, as well as authored/created numerous published medical arts graphics and multimedia productions. He has project managed surgical innovation efforts including both grants and large format events. George has been granted patents for surgical, automotive safety and educational devices.

He has uniquely served as a perioperative director for over 25 years, having been responsible for all aspects of perioperative support including anesthesia, laboratory, robotic, patient care and central sterile support departments at various noted facilities in the U.S.

Notably, he co-chaired the American College of Surgeon’s Global Virtual Grand Rounds, bringing together major academic medical center surgery and/or simulation departments from over 46 major centers over 19 times zones to advance those fields for domain leaders and luminaries. Recently, he was named the chair of the M-Health/Medical Program Committee, where he helped author a medical track for “India Mobile Congress 2019.” Currently, the effort is the biggest gathering of worldwide experts from the computerized biological systems, 5G, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, Smart Cities and Start-ups domain that have been brought together from over 30 countries, seeing over 60,000 participants and 5,000 CxOs in a three-day event.

Sue Eller is a senior simulation specialist who holds a veterinary technology degree and has over 35 years of research and clinical education experience. She is a certified proctor for Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery and Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery. In her time at The Johns Hopkins University, she has developed an expertise that is sought after by groups such as veterinary sciences, simulation education and even K-9 training units. In her efforts, she is helping to train the next generation of surgeons.

Nick Louloudis started his career in medicine as a veterinary technician. He joined MISTIC in 2006 as a training technician / simulation technician and now serves in the role of senior laboratory coordinator. He is a certified trainer on various robotic systems and is responsible for helping train both internal and external physicians — the next generation of surgeons.

Lisa Doshi is an experienced leader, serving 10 years in the Department of Surgery. Most recently, she was promoted to administrator of surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She works in partnership with the department director, the chief administrative officer and leadership team in developing and implementing the department’s operational plan and managing the department’s immediate and long-term strategic plans. During her tenure with the Department of Surgery, Doshi managed the operational and administrative functions of multiple small and large-scale projects, including the formulation of department operating budgets and capital budgets, program development and marketing initiatives. In addition to her leadership and operations experience, Lisa has the background advantage of being a dentist from her home country, India.

John Hundt is the chief administrative officer of surgical services for Johns Hopkins. Hundt began his role in surgery as the surgery functional unit administrator in January 2001. Previously, he was the senior director of business development at Johns Hopkins. Hundt also worked in server capacities for Tenet Health Care, a corporate multihospital company, including as the chief financial officer of a Tenet hospital.