Surgery Live! Program Inspires Next Generation of Health Care Workers

May 6, 2025

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts, UPMC, and the UPMC Pinnacle Foundation are partnering to develop the next generation of health care professionals through the Surgery Live! program. The initiative connects middle and high school students to UPMC operating rooms through interactive high-definition video conferencing technology.

More than 25 school districts from more than 20 Pennsylvania and Maryland counties will participate virtually or in-person as a facilitator guides 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 procedure and the students can ask questions during the program.

“At Whitaker Center, we believe in the power of immersive, hands-on experiences to inspire the next generation of professionals,” said Mary Oliveira, president and CEO, Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. “Surgery Live! gives students an unprecedented opportunity to step into the world of modern medicine, sparking curiosity and a passion for healthcare careers both inside and out of the operating room. By partnering with UPMC, we are shaping the future of medicine, one student at a time.”

Whitaker Center estimates that more than 2,000 students will have witnessed a live surgery through Surgery Live! by the time the 2024-2025 academic year concludes in June. By the beginning of summer, seven UPMC surgeons will have demonstrated four different types of surgery – some robotic assisted – including heart procedures, hysterectomies and gastrointestinal procedures.

“UPMC employs some of the brightest surgeons and health care staff in our region and we’re proud to demonstrate our excellence in patient care while simultaneously inspiring the next generation of health care workers,” said Elizabeth Ritter, president, UPMC Harrisburg, UPMC Community Osteopathic, UPMC West Shore, and UPMC Carlisle. “Through Surgery Live!, students can witness how we treat some of the chronic diseases that members of our community face.”

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 where students dive into hands-on, interactive activities that reinforce and enrich their knowledge from the procedure seen earlier that morning.