AHN Saint Vincent announces plans for new Star Center North medical simulation lab with $250,000 grant from The Erie Community Foundation

AHN Saint Vincent announced today that the hospital will open a new Simulation, Teaching, and Academic Research (STAR) Center North, supported by a $250,000 grant from The Erie Community Foundation.

This 5,500-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be modeled after AHN’s internationally accredited STAR Center in Pittsburgh.  STAR Center North will be located adjacent to the hospital’s Emergency Department on Myrtle Street.

The simulation center will utilize advanced medical manikins to replicate real-life patient scenarios, allowing healthcare professionals to practice procedures and decision-making in a controlled environment. The manikins can realistically respond to interventions like a real patient would, including changes in vital signs and physical presentations, providing a highly immersive learning experience.

Equipped with advanced programming, the lifelike manikins can realistically portray a wide range of health scenarios, including both physical and emotional responses like fear, anxiety and even tears. This high-fidelity sound experience allows trainees to hone critical communication skills and master medical procedures such as intubation, chest tube insertion, and CPR, alongside emerging techniques.

The STAR Center North, scheduled to open in 2026, will serve a wide range of learners, including physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and EMS personnel.  The center will also be a space to introduce students, at all levels, to health careers.

“STAR Center North represents a significant step forward in Erie’s healthcare, and we are so grateful to the Erie Community Foundation for providing the support to make this program possible,” said  Christopher Clark, DO, President, AHN Saint Vincent.  “Providing immersive, world-class medical training close to home is a game changer for the whole community and ensures that our patients benefit from the safest, most advanced care possible.” 

According to Christine Bowen, Executive Director of Development at AHN Saint Vincent, “STAR Center North will position Saint Vincent Hospital as a more competitive destination for trainees, faculty, and future healthcare professionals, much like the success seen in Pittsburgh.”

“Through the Erie Community Foundation’s Shaping Tomorrow Grants, we can support initiatives that drive meaningful change in alignment with our vision of a vibrant region for all,” said President & CEO of The Erie Community Foundation Karen Bilowith.  “STAR Center North will not only enhance patient safety, proving better health outcomes for Erie residents, but also help expand workforce opportunities and strengthen Erie’s healthcare options.”

The Erie Community Foundation’s grant reflects the initiative’s alignment with four of its funding priorities:

• Health – improving the quality, safety, and preparedness of healthcare delivery
• Education – expanding professional training and immersive student career exploration
• Economic Growth – supporting workforce retention and development in a critical sector
• Regional Vitality – strengthening community health literacy and emergency preparedness

“Simulation-based training is now considered an industry standard for healthcare education,” said Vice President of Community Impact, Patrick Herr of The Erie Community Foundation. “By investing in this project, we are not only enhancing the quality and safety of care delivered in our region but also preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals.”

Bilowith added, “Through the Foundation’s Community Impact Funds, we are proud to support investment in Erie’s healthcare and economic future.  These funds are flexible enough to meet changing needs in our community. Collectively, The Erie Community Foundation’s Community Impact Funds support help us meet the moment when the community needs us most.”

The network’s first STAR Center launched at the AHN West Penn Hospital campus in Pittsburgh in 2018. It provides beginner, intermediate and advanced training using state-of-the-art equipment in simulated hospital and outpatient settings, as well as through a mobile outreach program. To date, the center has trained more than 350,000 people. 

A video showing the manikins in use can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ChvESp_hd9U

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