LVHN Cuts Ribbon to Open New Center for Healthcare Education in Center Valley

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) today cut the ribbon for its new Center for Healthcare Education located at 3900 Sierra Circle, Center Valley.

The Center for Healthcare Education becomes the home of LVHN's Department of Education and serves as the central hub of education and training programs for the health network.

“This new building represents the legacy of exceptional clinical education at LVHN and will serve as a premier education and training facility for today's and tomorrow's caregivers,” says Brian A. Nester, DO, MBA, LVHN’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “LVHN is among the top health networks for preparing future generations of nurses, physicians and health care professionals, and we are proud to be one of Pennsylvania's largest teaching hospitals.”

Nester says the LVHN Center for Healthcare Education is the place where clinicians will go to learn new skills and elevate their profession so they can deliver excellent care.

The facility will consolidate two Department of Education sites into one 70,000-square-foot location with dedicated space for education, administration and support services.

Michael Rossi, MD, LVHN's Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer, says education remains in the forefront at LVHN, and this project further enhances a strong legacy of molding future generations of health care professionals. Rossi says education is the key to:

• Attracting doctors and clinicians who are on the leading edge of medical advancements
• Providing high-quality care and safe patient experiences
• Growing LVHN’s medical education programs to attract the best and brightest candidates
• Facilitating clinical experiences for students in health professions in the region, and
• Onboarding and retaining clinical staff through continued opportunities for professional development

Robert Barraco, MD, LVHN’s Chief Academic Officer, says in addition to providing education like professional development and onboarding, undergraduate and graduate medical education, health care simulation and electronic medical record training, the facility allows for the co-creation of programs with education partners including area school districts, colleges and universities.

Barraco says LVHN’s Department of Education supports 1,200 medical, nursing and other students, and 340 residents and fellows. The department has provided 190,000 instructional hours of professional development and distributed over 1 million health sheets and 250,000 patient education resources.

“This new facility will add to or significantly improve many areas of the existing facilities LVHN uses for colleague and student education,” Barraco says.

Features include:

• A new state-of-the-art simulation center
• A full-size training operating room
• All rooms will have plug-and-play capability for learners and ability to broadcast to other sites.
• Increased classroom size and flexibility
• A reception area, a dedicated food services area, a dining and event area, a 160-person auditorium, and large computer labs and storage areas