Surgery Live!
Watch professionals perform surgical procedures.
In real life. In real-time.
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts and Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center created an innovative partnership designed to stimulate the interest of high school students for careers in health care. With the support of Highmark BlueShield, Surgery Live! at Whitaker Center connects students to the operating rooms of Hershey Medical Center through interactive high-definition video conferencing technology.
A facilitator guides the students' discussion with operating room staff, demonstrates surgical instruments used in the operation, and explains factors that cause disease and contribute to conditions that place patients on the operating table. The program then transitions live to the operating room where students see and hear the surgical teams. The surgeon explains each step of the procedures and the students can ask questions during the program. No experience compares to this interactive, live program!
Whitaker Center also offers an Extension Experience for students and educators that attend Surgery Live! in person. This innovative program occurs directly following the procedure. Students are required to take part in Surgery Live! to register for this experience. The experience is a 30-minute program in the PNC Innovation Zone and DeSoto Lounge. Students are divided into groups of 20 to dive into hands-on, interactive activities that reinforce and enrich their knowledge from the procedure seen earlier that morning. This new, exciting program is first-come, first-serve.
Surgery Live! is also offered virtually! Upon registration, you will be asked if you plan to travel to Whitaker Center’s Select Medical Digital Cinema or take advantage of this exciting program from your classroom through webinar software. Both options will provide all the components of the Surgery Live! experience.
Admission Price
Price: $25.00 per person (for in person or virtual experience)
Innovation Experience: $10.00 per person
*Please note - All students and adults will need a ticket to the program.
Please note:
- Due to the nature of surgery and a number of patient variables, the procedure may need to be altered or postponed. An educational experience or opportunity will be provided to the best of the Penn State Hershey Medical Center Surgical Team and Whitaker Center Staff's abilities.
- Surgery Live! is reserved for student groups and is not offered to the public.
- Surgery Live! is only available to school groups of 10 or more.
- Due to the graphic nature of live surgery, students must be in grade 7 or above to attend.
- Each Surgery Live! program is scheduled from 9:00-11:30am. Due to the nature of live surgery, the actual session may end earlier or later than scheduled.
- If attending the program at Whitaker Center, the doors will open at 8:30 am at the 3rd St Entrance.
- If attending the program via webinar software, you will need to be logged into the provided link by 8:55 am.
- Full payment is due at the time of booking. Refunds will not be issued for no-shows.
- Surgeries are subject to change based on surgeon availability.
- Please direct all questions or STEM Scholarships pricing inquiries to education@whitakercenter.org.
Surgery Live! 2023-2024 Dates and Procedures
December 5 - Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia - SOLD OUT
December 7 - Robotic Cholecystectomy
December 15 - Sleeve Gastrectomy - SOLD OUT
January 25 - Robotic Cholecystectomy
January 30 - Sleeve Gastrectomy
January 31 - Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia
February 6 - Sleeve Gastrectomy
February 9 - Robotic Hysterectomy
February 23 - Robotic Hysterectomy
February 28 - Sleeve Gastrectomy
March 5 - Robotic Hysterectomy
March 7 - Robotic Cholecystectomy
March 12 - Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia
March 19 - Robotic Hysterectomy
April 9 - Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia
April 11 - Robotic Cholecystectomy
April 16 - Sleeve Gastrectomy
April 24 - Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia
May 7 - Robotic Hysterectomy
July - Robotic Hysterectomy
Surgery Live! is generously supported by Penn State Health and Highmark
