A Dynamic Regional Center for Medical Education

At every level of planning, the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Conference Center for Medical Education at Lankenau Hospital is designed to advance the practice of medicine. This state-of-the-art facility is strategically situated in an area between Lankenau Hospital and the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research, allowing easy access for physicians, scientists and graduate students.

For the first time, the medical education leaders of Lankenau Hospital have dedicated space for the coordination of programs not only for trainees, but also for practicing physicians who must acquire 100 CME credits every two years to maintain their medical licenses.

The Annenberg Center is organized on three levels, each devoted to a specific educational function:

First Floor (Conference Level)
Visitors enter a reception lobby adjacent to Lankenau's main entrance leading to a three-story atrium that looks out on the Memorial Garden. Three large, versatile meeting rooms with adjustable partitions can be reconfigured depending upon program or medical training requirements. The rooms are equipped with video-conferencing capability to allow physicians to attend off-site seminars, and a data/video projector will be capable of displaying programs from cable or satellite, computers, or the closed circuit television. 

An executive conference room on this level is named for Dr. and Mrs. John K. Knorr III, in recognition of their generous contribution to medical education. This conference room is used for medical staff meetings, specialty conferences, and as a teaching room for the department of obstetrics and gynecology residency program. Dr. Knorr, a distinguished physician in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology, served for 32 years at Lankenau from 1951 to 1983.

Ground Floor (Medical Education Suite Level)
This level serves as headquarters for both the Graduate Medical Education (GME) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) programs. It also houses offices for the departments of Medicine, Surgery, and Obstetrics/Gynecology, which supervise Lankenau's residency programs. The existing McLean Contributionship Educational Conference Suite has been incorporated into The Annenberg Conference Center and updated with a video system, speech reinforcement and audio teleconferencing system, and a new lectern. 

The ground floor connects to a corridor leading to Lankenau's Auditorium, which has been renovated as a 21st century conference arena integral to The Annenberg Conference Center's educational purpose. The auditorium is the hub of medical education for trainees and practicing physicians - grand rounds, tumor board, and morbidity and mortality are some of the internal conferences that meet regularly in this facility. With the installation of high-technology systems, Lankenau takes a giant leap forward in its ability to broaden its programming and teach new medical and surgical procedures through teleconferences that we originate locally or import from national and international sites. 

The department of surgery currently has programs that train surgeons in procedures such as minimally invasive cardiac and colon surgery. Advanced technology will facilitate the training of both attending and resident surgeons in these highly technical procedures. 

The William G. Figueroa, MD Medical Conference Room serves physicians, residents, fellows and students for department meetings and daily physician conferences. The conference room is dedicated in honor and memory of Dr. William G. Figueroa, an esteemed and highly respected Lankenau physician.

Lower Level (Library Level)
The entire lower level of the Center is home to the new Lankenau Medical Library.  In addition to its accessibility, the library benefits tremendously from a full technology upgrade designed to enhance learning and research for physicians and other caregivers throughout our health system. A reading room and informal meeting areas help to create an environment conducive to study and discussion. In addition, the library is connected to the existing Stone Conference Room, in which the presentation technology has been upgraded.

Innovative Communications Technology That Integrates Medicine and Learning
The Annenberg Conference Center serves as a magnet for drawing talented physicians locally, regionally and nationally, whether they come to learn, practice, teach, work or lecture at Lankenau. This investment in physician medical education will have a tremendous impact on the future quality of healthcare not only for Lankenau's diverse patient population, but for all patients served by physicians educated in our facility. The Center fully integrates Lankenau Hospital medical education initiatives through a variety of new technologies.

The auditorium features includes a main video display with a high-resolution projector and a large fixed rear-projection screen, with a wall-mounted 50" flat panel monitor located in the adjacent breakout area. A networked computer with wireless mouse and keyboard, streaming video receiving processor, cable TV channels and document camera bring medical presentations at Lankenau into the 21st century.

Gooseneck, portable, wireless clip-on and hand-held microphones capture the voices of speakers anywhere in the auditorium, and feeds into a processor for transmission to and from remote sites for audio teleconferencing. An assistive listening system was installed to enable individuals with impaired hearing to participate by providing personal receivers with individual volume controls. Video teleconferences are now possible with motorized cameras that capture full-motion images of participants in the room. Streaming video transmission over Lankenau's LAN network is also possible for live viewing at other internal locations, and later viewing through archived footage.

In the Center's instructional laboratories, computer-driven mannequins simulate emergency patient conditions that provide residents with an immediate problem that needs to be solved. Characteristics such as age, anatomy and physiology can be programmed and altered, as well as reactions in response to intravenous or inhaled agents. Computer-aided instruction allows trainees to walk through procedures step-by-step, as well as repeat and practice material as often as necessary.

Traditionally, practicing physicians achieve CME credits through attendance at conferences, workshops or lectures. The facilities and technology afforded by the new Center will allow Lankenau to broadcast live operating room procedures and videoconference with remote locations, as well as create and produce educational programs on site.

The Center's focus on new technology conveys the latest medical knowledge, surgical procedures and research techniques, and promotes the sharing of new theories and ideas through distance learning. Combined with rigorous academic teaching and extensive clinical experiences, The Annenberg Conference Center will serve to continually attract high-caliber candidates to our residency programs.

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