The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education

What The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education does

The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education is a designated Center of Excellence within the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, founded in 1977 and operating from a 34,000-square-foot purpose-built facility in Miami, Florida. It develops and delivers simulation-based medical education products and training programs centered on two flagship assets: Harvey (now in its 11th generation, with Harvey Premier launched in 2025), a cardiopulmonary patient simulator capable of reproducing over 50 cardiac diseases with realistic heart sounds, murmurs, pulses, blood pressure, and breath sounds; and UMedic, a cross-platform HTML5 multimedia e-learning system covering cardiology, neurology, and electrocardiography that has been continuously updated for over 37 years and is site-licensed to institutions for unlimited learners. The Center also co-developed the Advanced Stroke Life Support (ASLS) Blended Learning course with the American Heart Association — now the AHA's fourth official discipline alongside BLS, ACLS, and PALS — and the Essential Stroke Life Support (ESLS) adaptive eLearning course with AHA and Laerdal Medical.

The Center generates revenue through multiple streams: hardware sales of Harvey and Harvey Premier simulators to medical schools and hospitals globally; site licensing of UMedic; registration fees for instructor-led courses (ACLS, PALS, BLS, ATLS, ASLS, ASHE, airway management, disaster preparedness) ranging from $50 to $250; online self-directed course fees via the e-gcrme.com portal; and grant-funded free access for Florida first responders and medical personnel. Distribution combines direct institutional sales, the AHA national training center network, regional training hubs (Florida Public Safety Institute in Tallahassee), partner college sites (Gulf Coast State College), and self-service online portals. The Center trains over 20,000 front-line clinicians and emergency personnel annually across more than 2,300 institutions in nearly 70 countries, and its customers span medical schools, hospitals, EMS and law enforcement agencies, the U.S. Army Trauma Training Detachment, and major credentialing bodies including the American Board of Internal Medicine and Royal College of Canada.

The Center is led by Dr. S. Barry Issenberg, who holds the Michael S. Gordon Endowed Chair of Medical Education and serves as Senior Associate Dean for Research in Medical Education, supported by a multidisciplinary team combining clinical, engineering, and educational expertise. Key strategic alliances include the American Heart Association (flagship), Laerdal Medical, the WISER simulation center at the University of Pittsburgh (co-developer of iSIM faculty training), the Florida Department of Education, the Florida Department of Transportation, the State of Florida, and the U.S. Army. As a university-affiliated non-profit, the Center does not disclose financials and operates without external equity investors, funding its mission through course revenue, hardware sales, licensing, and state and federal grants.

Name

The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education

Legal name

University of Miami

Website

https://gordoncenter.miami.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education is a non-profit Center of Excellence at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine that develops and delivers simulation-based medical education — including the Harvey cardiopulmonary patient simulator, UMedic e-learning software, and ASLS stroke training with the AHA — to 20,000+ clinicians and first responders annually across 2,300+ institutions in 70+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Simulation Training

NAICS

Educational Services (61), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Healthcare & Clinical Simulation (Surgery, Nursing, EMT, Patient Interaction) (EDAFAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

EMS Education, Training & Simulation Centers (HLAFANAL), Simulation & Scenario-Based Learning Authoring (EDAFAHAD), Simulation-Based Learning & Virtual Labs (EDAGAEAG), Healthcare & Clinical Professional Development (CME/CE) (EDAGANAJ), Healthcare Clinical Professions (CME/CE for Nurses, Allied Health, Pharmacy) (EDAAALAC), Emergency Medical Services (EMT/Paramedic) Training (EDAOAMAC), Healthcare & Life Sciences (EDAAAPAA)

Keywords

• Medical simulation training
• Cardiopulmonary patient simulators
• Healthcare simulation education
• Stroke life support training
• Emergency response training

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Simulation Hardware Sales: Sale of Harvey and Harvey Premier cardiopulmonary patient simulators to medical schools, hospitals, and training institutions globally. Harvey Premier is positioned as more affordable and accessible, sold directly to institutions.
2. UMedic Software Licensing: Institutional site licenses for UMedic multimedia e-learning software covering cardiology, neurology, and electrocardiography. Sold to medical schools, nursing programs, and healthcare institutions for unlimited learner seats.
3. In-Person Training Course Fees: Registration fees for instructor-led courses including ASLS Blended, ACLS, PALS, ATLS, airway management, disaster preparedness, and active shooter response. Fees range from $50 to $250 depending on course and included components (e.g., eCourse license vs. skills-only).
4. E-Learning Course Access: Online course fees for self-directed eLearning including ESLS, Survive the Ride, Mass Casualty Triage, Emergency Response to Terrorism, Management of Pediatric Trauma, and Essential ECG. Many courses are free for Florida first responders and medical personnel, funded by state departments.
5. Continuing Education Credits: Accredited CE/CME credits (CAPCE, AMA PRA Category 1, ANCC, AARC, AAPA) provided across training programs, enabling healthcare professionals to maintain licensure while completing Gordon Center courses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels13 records

Core offering

The Gordon Center designs, manufactures, and licenses simulation-based medical education products—most notably the Harvey cardiopulmonary patient simulator and the UMedic multimedia e-learning platform—and delivers accredited in-person and blended training courses in stroke, cardiac, pediatric, disaster, and active shooter response for healthcare professionals and first responders.

Product overview

The Gordon Center offers a comprehensive simulation-based medical education portfolio centered around two flagship products: Harvey (including the new Harvey Premier) cardiopulmonary patient simulators and UMedic e-learning software. These core platforms are complemented by the ASLS Blended Learning and ESLS stroke education programs developed with the American Heart Association. The center provides an extensive catalog of in-person training courses (ACLS, BLS, PALS, ATLS, disaster preparedness, tactical response) and web-based e-learning programs accessible through its e-gcrme.com platform. Additional offerings include the iSIM faculty development program for simulation educators, a Standardized Patient Program, and various specialized courses in emergency response, pediatric care, and ECG interpretation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Harvey®: The Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator - the world's first and longest continuous university-based simulation project in medical education, simulating over 50 cardiac diseases. In 2025, Harvey Premier was launched as the next-generation version.
• UMedic®
• ASLS®
• ESLS®
• iSIM

Products and services

• Harvey Premier Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator The latest generation full-size manikin that realistically simulates over 50 cardiac diseases at the touch of a button, varying heart sounds, murmurs, pulses, blood pressure, and breath sounds. Sold directly to medical schools, hospitals, and training institutions worldwide.
• Harvey Cardiopulmonary Patient Simulator The flagship cardiopulmonary patient simulator simulating over 50 cardiac diseases at the touch of a button. Sold globally to medical schools, hospitals, and training centers; used by American Board of Internal Medicine and Royal College of Canada in high-stakes certification exams.
• UMedic Multimedia E-Learning Platform Cross-platform HTML5 interactive e-learning system covering cardiology, neurology, and electrocardiography. Features video case studies, self-assessment modules, and adaptive learning technology. Site-licensed to institutions for unlimited learners.
• ASLS Blended Learning Course Advanced Stroke Life Support blended learning course for identifying, evaluating, and managing stroke patients. Combines adaptive eLearning with in-person skills demonstration sessions, available in prehospital, in-hospital, and combined tracks.
• Essential Stroke Life Support (ESLS) eLearning Course Self-directed eLearning course teaching healthcare providers faster stroke recognition and triage. Developed with the American Heart Association and Laerdal Medical for basic providers who may not routinely treat stroke patients.
• iSIM – Improving Simulation Instructional Methods Two-day faculty development program introducing fundamental skills for delivering simulation-based healthcare education using various techniques and technologies. Co-developed with WISER at University of Pittsburgh.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) AHA course for healthcare providers covering sudden cardiac arrest and other cardiovascular emergencies using case-based scenarios with simulation practice.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) AHA Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers course combining online HeartCode coursework with in-person skills verification.
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) AHA HeartCode PALS self-directed eLearning program with in-person skills demonstration for pediatric emergency response.
• Tactical and Medical Response to Active Shooter Hostile Events (ASHE) 8-hour course for fire rescue, law enforcement, and first responders on tactical and medical care interventions for mass violence incidents, integrating law enforcement and EMS through simulation-based training.
• Acute Coronary Syndromes and 12-Lead ECG Interpretation Provider and instructor courses on rapid systematic approach to prehospital and emergency department evaluation and management of acute coronary syndromes, including 12-lead ECG performance and interpretation.
• Advanced Disaster Life Support (ADLS) Intensive 15-hour practicum demonstrating competencies in mass casualty management, including population-based disaster care, mass-casualty triage, and emergency operations coordination.
• Basic Disaster Life Support (BDLS) Nationally recognized competency-based course using blended learning format combining online didactic education with in-person skills session, preparing healthcare and public safety professionals for disasters and public health emergencies.
• Gordon Center Online E-Learning Platform (e-gcrme.com) Self-directed eLearning platform offering 24/7 access to web-based courses in mass casualty triage, terrorism response, pediatric trauma, motorcycle collision management, ECG interpretation, and related emergency topics.
• Standardized Patient Program Program providing standardized patients who accurately recreate patient histories, physical findings, emotions, and responses for simulated clinical encounters, delivering feedback to learners in safe controlled environments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20,000+ learners trained annually
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• American Heart Association (AHA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gordon Center co-developed the ASLS Blended Learning course with the AHA, which subsequently adopted ASLS as its fourth official discipline (alongside BLS, ACLS, and PALS) in the national training center network. The Center also partnered with AHA and Laerdal Medical to launch the Essential Stroke Life Support (ESLS) Online Provider Course. The AHA provides the network of training centers for distributing ASLS globally, while Gordon Center provides the curriculum and instructor training.
• Laerdal MedicalcoreTechnology or IntegrationLaerdal Medical partnered with the Gordon Center and AHA on the ESLS program launch. Laerdal is a leading global provider of simulation-based healthcare education solutions, making this partnership strategic for integrating Gordon Center stroke curricula with Laerdal's simulation ecosystem.
• WISER (Peter M. Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research) – University of PittsburghcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWISER co-developed the iSIM (Improving Simulation Instructional Methods) course with the Gordon Center. iSIM is a two-day faculty development program that introduces fundamental simulation-based education skills to healthcare educators. The collaboration represents a flagship academic partnership between two leading simulation centers.
• Florida Public Safety Institute / Tallahassee State CollegecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional training hub established in Tallahassee, FL. FPSI trains instructors (active-duty law enforcement from local agencies) who then teach the Gordon Center's ASHE response program to police and fire academy cadets and local agencies. The Miami and Tallahassee teams co-teach periodically, with FPSI taking an increasing lead over time.
• University of Miami Miller School of MedicineflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gordon Center is a designated Center of Excellence within the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. The relationship provides institutional infrastructure, academic credibility, research collaboration, and access to medical students, residents, and faculty. Dr. Issenberg serves as Senior Associate Dean for Research in Medical Education.
• U.S. Army (Army Trauma Training Detachment)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Gordon Center hosts the Army Trauma Training Detachment, which prepares U.S. Army Forward Surgical Trauma Teams for front-line deployment. The Center provides simulation-based military trauma training prior to deployment, representing a long-standing federal government partnership.
• Gulf Coast State CollegeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGordon Center delivers ACS (Acute Coronary Syndromes) and ATLS courses at Gulf Coast State College's North Bay Campus in Southport, FL, extending training reach to the Florida Panhandle region.
• Florida Stroke RegistryminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnered with the Florida Stroke Registry to offer ASLS Blended training at the FSR 14th Annual Stakeholder Meeting in Orlando in August 2026, enabling access to Florida's stroke care professionals.
• Coral Gables Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew collaboration (announced December 2019) with Coral Gables Fire Department, Specialty Telehealth Systems, and area hospitals to improve diagnosis and care for patients with life-threatening emergencies through simulation-based training and telehealth integration.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Gaumard Scientific: Manufacturer of high-fidelity patient simulators including the HAL, Victoria, and Super TORY family, plus obstetrics/pediatric simulators such as NOELLE. Competes with Harvey in cardiology skills training and with the broader Gordon Center catalog in medical school simulation labs.
• CAE Healthcare: Division of CAE Inc. providing patient simulators (iStan, Lucina, Apollo), simulation center management software, and ultrasound simulation. Directly competes with the Gordon Center across medical school and hospital simulation labs, including cardiology and emergency response training.
• Center for Medical Simulation (Harvard): One of the oldest and most respected healthcare simulation centers in the U.S., offering instructor courses (similar to iSIM) and simulation-based education programs. Non-profit and academic like the Gordon Center; competes for faculty development and educator training markets.
• Limbs & Things: UK-based maker of task trainers and procedural simulation models for clinical skills training (e.g., venipuncture, birthing, suturing). Directly comparable to Gordon Center's clinical skills curriculum and competes for medical school training budgets globally.
• Laerdal Medical: Global leader in healthcare simulation, including CPR manikins (Resusci Anne), SimMan patient simulators, and simulation software. Laerdal is also a Gordon Center partner on the ESLS program, but competes directly with Harvey and UMedic in cardiopulmonary and acute-care simulation markets worldwide.
• Peter M. Winter Institute for Simulation, Education and Research (WISER), University of Pittsburgh: WISER is the Gordon Center's partner in co-developing the iSIM faculty development course. It is also one of the largest independent simulation centers in the U.S. and a direct peer in simulation-based healthcare education research and instructor training.
• Surgical Science (Simbionix): Provider of virtual reality surgical and endovascular simulation training (LapSim, GI Mentor, U/S Mentor). Competes with Gordon Center offerings in clinical skills and procedural training for medical schools and hospitals, especially in cardiology and emergency procedures.

Broad incumbents

• 3D Systems (Healthcare / Simbionix legacy): Acquired the Simbionix medical simulation business and now offers VR surgical and anatomical training solutions. Operates as a broader 3D printing and digital design company; competes with Gordon Center in healthcare simulation but has a much wider portfolio.
• American Heart Association (Training Network): The AHA is the Gordon Center's flagship partner but also a broader incumbent that sets standards and accredits the BLS, ACLS, PALS, and ASLS disciplines. Their national training center network is the primary distribution channel for ASLS, and AHA's CPR training products and instructor ecosystem define the competitive landscape for the Gordon Center's resuscitation and stroke programs.

Emerging players

• VirtaMed: Swiss developer of high-fidelity VR-based medical simulation for orthopedics, gynecology, urology, and cardiology procedures. An emerging alternative to physical manikins like Harvey, particularly in procedure-specific training.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UMGordonCenter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@thegordoncenter583
• Facebookfacebook.com/UMGordonCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gordoncenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/umgordoncenter

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education