Albany Medical College, one of only three
facilities in New York State to be designated
as a Karl Storz Center of Excellence, recently
demonstrated new technologies being used to
train medical students, residents, physicians
and other health care professionals from
throughout the region on the most advanced
minimally invasive surgical procedures.
The training equipment was provided
through an in-kind educational grant program
from manufacturer Karl Storz Endoscopy-
America and mirrors state-of-the-art technologies
installed in Albany Med’s new operating
rooms, college officials noted.
Albany Med surgeons are now using this type of equipment, available in the region only at Albany Med, to perform minimally invasive bariatric, cardiac, gynecological and urogynecological, thoracic and urological surgical procedures, among others, according to the college.
Albany Medical College faculty will use the granted equipment exclusively for training residents, physicians and other practitioners from both Albany Med and the surrounding community in anesthesiology, emergency medicine, general surgery, otolaryngology, and cardiothoracic surgery.
“As an academic medical center, Albany Med has a responsibility to provide the latest and most advanced techniques and technologies in ways that benefit patients in the region,” said Dr. Henry S. Pohl, vice dean for academic administration. “In order to ensure that all patients will receive the most updated care, the academic medical center must educate practitioners, champion the team approach to care and engage in research that will translate into the best possible care.”
“We are grateful that this recognition by Karl Storz Endoscopy-America allows us to enhance our training mission and provide the highest quality of education and service for our region,” he added.
The goal of the Karl Storz Center of Excellence program is to support and promote teaching, education, research and development to enhance minimally invasive surgery through technology innovation.
“Albany Med’s long-standing leadership and innovation in minimally invasive techniques embodies Karl Storz Endoscopy-America’s mission to advance medical technology through education and innovation,” said Charlie Wilhelm, President and COO for Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc.
“Ultimately, and most important, the beneficiaries of these programs will be the patients cared for by the health care providers who are able to acquire and sharpen their skills through one of our many educational programs,” Dr. Pohl said.
The training equipment is located in the Patient Safety and Clinical Competency Center, Albany Medical College’s facility for training students and others on all aspects of patient care, including surgery, examinations and patient interactions.
Albany Medical Center is one of the largest private employers in the Capital Region. It incorporates the 651-bed Albany Medical Center Hospital, which offers the widest range of medical and surgical services in the region, and the Albany Medical College, which trains the next generation of doctors, scientists and other health care professionals, and also includes a biomedical research enterprise and the region’s largest physicians practice with nearly 400 doctors.
For more information: www.amc.edu or www.facebook.com/albanymedicalcenter. Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, Inc., is an affiliate of Karl Storz GmbH & Co. KG, involved for more than 65 years in reusable endoscope technology, encompassing all endoscopic specialties.