With proceeds from the 2019 Heroes Ball and other donations, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital is able to become the first children’s hospital in Florida and the only pediatric facility in the Southeast to use the evolutionary Surgical Theater Precision Virtual Reality™ technology in its pediatric neuro and cardiac surgery programs. Using F-16 flight simulator technology, the program fuses and enhances CT and MRI images to create a 360-degree virtual model of a patient’s anatomy.

“The immersive technology provides our pediatric heart and brain surgeons with a view of the anatomy and pathology of patients’ complex conditions,” said Sarah Naumowich, president of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “With this cutting-edge digital tool, our surgeons have an unprecedented way to plan and strategize the best route for surgery.”

With virtual reality headsets, surgeons can guide a patient through a 360-degree model of their heart or brain to illustrate the condition, treatment options, and potential risks in greater detail than ever before.

“Being able to see what the doctor sees provides patients and their families with a better understanding of the diagnosis, helping to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that comes with preparing for surgery,” adds Naumowich.

Click here to hear firsthand from Beau and Sam’s parents on how this technology will make a difference to their family.