Where Every Scalpel Stroke Is Data

Maryland’s new 36,000-square-foot facility uses AI and 3D sensors to turn surgical training into a measurable, data-driven science

22 Apr 2026

The University of Maryland, Baltimore and Axis Research & Technologies have announced a joint venture to establish the first surgical training center in the United States powered by artificial intelligence. Construction on the 36,000-square-foot "smart" facility is scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2026, marking a significant shift toward data-driven medical education.

The center will utilize the OMNIMED SmartOR platform, a technology designed to transform the physical actions of a surgical team into structured digital information. By integrating synchronized 3D cameras, microphones, and environmental sensors, the system processes more than nine million data points per minute. While traditional surgical coaching has historically relied on the subjective observations of senior practitioners, the new facility aims to provide continuous, measurable performance metrics linked directly to procedural outcomes.

Current iterations of the SmartOR technology are already in use within some hospital settings to monitor inventory and case efficiency. This new project scales the framework into a comprehensive training ecosystem, according to project officials, combining simulation suites and live operating environments. The facility is designed to allow clinicians to review their performance through conversational AI queries, enabling teams to analyze their movements and decision-making processes immediately following a procedure.

Industry analysts suggest that automating the collection of surgical data could reduce the administrative burdens that often slow down operating room workflows. By shifting from estimated benchmarks to tracked metrics, hospitals may be better equipped to correlate specific training interventions with overall staff readiness. The integration of such tools reflects a broader trend in which machine learning moves from experimental pilot programs to the foundational infrastructure of medical certification.

As the surgical sector increasingly adopts these digital tools, the Maryland facility is expected to serve as a model for how medical expertise is quantified and transmitted to the next generation of doctors. The project underscores a growing consensus among educators that the future of the operating room lies in the ability to turn physical motion into actionable data. The results of this integration could shape national standards for surgical proficiency in the years ahead.