Key takeaways about the Johnson & Johnson Institute
- The Johnson & Johnson Institute has offered in-person and online surgery training for healthcare professionals (HCPs) since 1992.
- It offers hundreds of self-paced online modules designed by expert surgeons that can be accessed on Johnson & Johnson MedTech.
- SuturED, which teaches up-to-date knot-tying and suturing skills, is the Johnson & Johnson Institute’s most popular online learning program.
- The Institute’s Future Leaders program supports early-career residents by providing specialty-specific education across key surgical disciplines.
When the first Johnson & Johnson Institute opened in Cincinnati 35 years ago, the goal was to offer a standalone facility that would provide state-of-the-art training and professional growth for surgeons from a variety of specialties.
Guided by Our Credo commitment to put customers and patients first, the Institute was created to ensure clinicians gain the skills and confidence they need to use new technologies safely and effectively.
Today, 24 Institute facilities in countries across the world help train surgeons and other healthcare providers (HCPs)—including physicians, nurses and medical residents—to use the company’s cutting-edge surgical tools and technologies. That number includes the Institute’s newest facility in Sydney, Australia, which opened in April.
But as technology and the demands of delivering healthcare have accelerated and changed, the Johnson & Johnson Institute has evolved as well.
In addition to the opportunities at its physical facilities, the Institute offers hundreds of online and localized training options, including partnerships with leading surgery research centers and events that bring surgical residents and fellows together for education and mentorship.
The focus isn’t only on surgery in the operating room (OR). Advanced trainings are offered for electrophysiologists, sports medicine professionals and nurses via the EMPOWER program.
The aim is to meet learners where they are—physically or virtually—and keep pace with innovation without sacrificing in-depth knowledge of the company’s products.
Here are three ways the Institute is bringing surgical training and education to time-pressed HCPs so they can deliver safe, effective care to patients around the world.
1.
From continuing education for nurses to foundational surgery skills for surgical residents, the Institute’s expert-designed, interactive online programs support ongoing professional development. These customizable learning pathways combine self-paced curriculums with short procedural videos to support patient care.
“We want healthcare providers to engage with content that’s relevant to their specialty and be able to consume it at their own pace, knowing they have a lot on their plate,” says Kristen Buscemi, Senior Manager, Global Brand Marketing, Johnson & Johnson MedTech. “Our breadth of offerings gives any HCP the chance to expand their knowledge and skills.”
Among the programs:
SuturED. Learning to close a wound or incision requires more than a steady hand—it demands mastery of needle–suture combinations, precise suture patterns and advanced knot-tying techniques. SuturED equips residents with the knowledge and hands-on practice needed to build confidence and refine their technical skills.
It’s the Institute’s most popular online learning program, with almost 8,000 HCPs from around the world currently enrolled. Some participants receive a hands-on suture kit so they can practice what they learn in the online modules.
HemostasisED. When a surgeon encounters unexpected bleeding, every second counts. “You can’t just throw everything in your tool bag to address the bleeding,” says Sheri Tingom, Senior Manager WW/US Professional Education for Academic Health Systems at Johnson & Johnson. “You need to understand the coagulopathy of a patient, the bleeding site and how the mechanism of action of the adjunctive hemostatic agent is used to address this bleeding challenge.”
This program helps HCPs better understand the burden of bleeding, especially in vulnerable areas of the body like the spine and heart. Enrollees learn about different comorbidities that create special bleeding challenges for a patient and how each Johnson & Johnson product can be used.
“All of our training is designed to teach the science behind devices, how they interact with tissue and how they can appropriately be used for a good patient outcome,” says Tingom.
- Energy Academy. The program explores topics like the principles of electricity, the science behind sealing and management of electrosurgery hazards. It also provides insights into advanced ultrasonic and advanced bipolar devices that are used in open and minimally invasive surgeries.
Stapling Academy. Surgical stapling plays a critical role in repairing damaged tissue; however, device selection and technique vary significantly across procedures. Stapling Academy builds clinician proficiency by deepening understanding of device-specific nuances.
“If residents are asked to use a circular stapler, for example, they have one chance to fire it right, and if they don’t, it could have a negative outcome and impact a patient’s healing,” says Tingom.
“We’ve always done a great job of educating on science of tissue-management principles,” says Buscemi. “We’ve evolved over time to offer healthcare professionals the ability to consume education like Stapling Academy online, which makes coming to an in-person event that much more powerful, knowing they already have the foundation prior to arrival.”
2.
The Future Leaders program is another way the Johnson & Johnson Institute helps early-career residents gain skills that can differentiate them from their peers. Geared to residents in their third year or higher—this is an inflection point in their surgical development—Future Leaders covers procedures in specialties like cardiothoracic, vascular, general and gynecology surgery.
Future leaders often express their gratitude
for this program as they leave with a better understanding of how our technologies perform in a surgical setting.
In addition to online learning modules specific to Future Leaders, live courses offer a mix of didactic and hands-on product training. “Future leaders often express their gratitude for this program, as they leave with a better understanding of how our technologies perform in a surgical setting,” says Tingom.
Even after Future Leaders participants go on to become practicing doctors, they often stay connected to Johnson & Johnson employees. “It’s a testament to who we are as an organization and how much we care for the next generation of surgeons,” she says.
3.
Teaming up with outside groups is another way the Johnson & Johnson Institute continues to expand its educational reach.
The Johnson & Johnson Institute has entered into a long-term collaborative agreement with IRCAD North America, a surgical training and research center, to provide in-person training on advanced techniques across surgical modalities, including robotics, digital and minimally invasive procedures. The Charlotte, North Carolina facility—the only one in North America—boasts multiple lab stations and auditoriums, as well as classroom space and the latest innovative technology, including video and imaging systems.
More capabilities are on the way, as Johnson & Johnson plans to build out a Future of Surgery Center, which will house robotic platforms and offer training that represents the company’s ambition in digital technology, AI and robotic surgery.
Helping HCPs learn new skills at Johnson & Johnson has come a long way since 1888, when the company first entered the medical education realm by publishing a manual that taught physicians about wound care and sterile surgery. But the responsibility to providers and patients remains the same.
“We want to make sure that learners have optimal experiences and use our products because they see the science behind it and know the engineering that goes into it,” says Tingom. “We take that to heart in everything that we do in education.”
