Live From Surgery

The Hackensack University Medical Center collaborates with Liberty Science Center to show students of all ages the innovative use of technology in robotic surgery. Students can see a live robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery performed by Dr. Michael Stifelman and his team. Robotic surgery uses a surgical robot to allow surgeons to offer more patients the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, such as performing complex surgeries with fewer incisions.

LSC'S Live From Surgery enables students to ask our surgical team questions while they view the team performing an operation via video teleconferencing technology.

Courses are offered at LSC and virtually unless otherwise noted. See the list below for dates.

Live From Robotic Surgery—8:00 am
Oct. 14, 2026 (virtual only)
Nov. 16 (Neptune, NJ only)

Jan. 20, 2027
Feb. 17
March 17
April 19
May 17
June 16

In partnership with the Renal Transplant Division at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center under the RWJBarnabas Health system, Liberty Science Center offers live viewing of adult or pediatric kidney transplants. Students can watch surgeons perform live kidney transplants while surgeons provide educational information about treatment options, understanding transplantation, how to find a donor, and maintaining a healthy organ after transplant.

LSC's Live From Surgery enables students to ask our surgical team questions while they view the team performing an operation via video teleconferencing technology.

Courses are offered at LSC and virtually unless otherwise noted. See the list below for dates.

Live From Kidney Transplant—9:30 am

Oct. 13, 2026 (virtual only)
Oct. 27 (virtual only)
Nov.10 (virtual only)
Nov. 24 (virtual only)
Dec. 8 (virtual only)

Jan. 12, 2027 (virtual only)
Jan. 26 (virtual only)
Feb. 9 (virtual only)
Feb. 23 (Neptune, NJ only)
March 9 (virtual only)
March 23
April 13
April 27
May 11 (virtual only)
May 25 (virtual only)
June 8

Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Medical Center (Atlantic Health) collaborates with Liberty Science Center to produce Live From Cardiac Surgery, an educational program that allows middle and high school students to watch open-heart bypass surgery as it happens in real-time. Students in the classroom can ask the surgical team questions while they view the team performing an operation.

Courses are offered at LSC and virtually unless otherwise noted. See the list below for dates.

Live From Cardiac Classroom—8:00 am
Oct. 9, 2026 (virtual only)
Nov. 20
Dec. 11

Jan. 15, 2027
Feb. 12
March12
April 9
May 14
June 11 (SOLD OUT)

Learn about delicate neurosurgery performed to extract tumors from the brain or spinal column or repairing spinal column damage from the surgical team at Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health) in Summit, NJ. Hear about surgical procedure, risk factors, and careers in medicine.

Courses are offered at LSC and virtually unless otherwise noted. See the list below for dates.

Live From Neurosurgery—8:00 am

Oct. 12, 2026
Nov. 9 (virtual only)
Dec. 14 (virtual only)

Jan. 11, 2027 (virtual only)
Feb. 8 (virtual only)
March 8 (virtual only
April 12
May 10 (virtual only)
June 14

Learn about heart transplant surgery from a real surgeon! Join Margarita T. Camacho, MD, as she discusses one of her prerecorded heart transplant surgeries. Learn about risk factors for heart disease, mechanical hearts and assistive devices, and new cardiac transplant technologies and procedures. Gain a better understanding of the organ donation process and analyze data from past research on mechanical devices.

Courses are offered at LSC and virtually unless otherwise noted. See the list below for dates.

Meet the Surgeon: Heart Transplant—10:30 am
Oct. 15, 2026
Nov. 12
Dec. 10

Jan. 14, 2027
Feb. 11
March 11
April 8
May 13 (virtual only)
June 10

Learn about pediatric orthopedic surgery from a real surgeon! Interact with pediatric orthopedist, Dr. Samara Friedman, MD, as she describes her experiences in the surgical room. Hear about adolescent bone, joint, and muscle conditions and particular surgeries they performed.

Dr. Friedman is also affiliated with Morristown Medical Center (Atlantic Health), Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health), and Short Hills Surgery Center.

Courses are offered at LSC and virtually unless otherwise noted. See the list below for dates.

Meet the Surgeon: Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery—9:30 am
Nov. 13
Dec. 4

Jan. 8, 2027
Feb. 5
March 5
April 2
May 7
June 4

These sessions feature our most popular procedures on videotape. Learn about Cardiac Surgery, Robotic Surgery, or Neurosurgery when you view a previously recorded procedure conducted at one of our partner hospitals. Our Live From Surgery educators will enhance the experience with relevant background and details, and will answer questions for your group.

October 19, 23, 30

November 2, 4, 23

December 16, 18, 21

January 22, 29

February 18, 19, 26

March 19, 25

April 23, 30

May 21, 28

June 17

Students will step into the role of medical microbiologists to investigate a hospital-acquired infection outbreak. They'll learn the gram staining technique to identify an unknown bacterial sample, classify different types of bacteria, and understand their significance. Using microscopes, students will examine their stained slides to determine the type of bacteria present.

Bacteria Detective can be added to any Live From Surgery session.

In this immersive lab, students will act as healthcare providers to diagnose patients with flu-like symptoms using gel electrophoresis. Acting as lab technicians and medical professionals, they will discern whether their patients are suffering from seasonal fly or a new, dangerous virus. Students will work in teams as they load samples, run elecrtrophoresis, and analyze results to determine their patients' diagnoses.

Beat the Next Pandemic may be added to any Live From Surgery session.

Available at LSC. Take on the role of public health scientists investigating a potential outbreak traced through wastewater. Using gel electrophoresis, analyze DNA samples to identify bacterial pathogens and determine the source of contamination. This simulation uses real-world data and biotechnology tools to explore how wastewater surveillance can detect emerging diseases and protect community health.

Using Biotechnology to Stop Outbreaks may be added to any Live From Surgery session.

In this lab simulation, students will explore how semaglutide, a cutting-edge medication, helps regulate blood sugar and reduce appetite in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Through a hands-on ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) simulation, students will investigate simulated patient samples to determine how effectively the treatment is working. Along the way, they’ll learn about hormone signaling, diagnostic testing, and the science behind one of the most talked- about advances in metabolic health.

Exploring Diabetes and Semaglutide Science with ELISA may be added to any Live From Surgery session.

Surgical Insights Video Series

Time: 10:30 - 11:15 AM

Dates:

October 19, 23, 30

November 2, 4, 23

December 16, 18, 21

January 22, 29

February 18, 19, 26

March 19, 25

April 23, 30

May 21, 28

June 17

Taped Live From Surgery: Robotic Surgery

View a taped session of robotic surgery which uses a surgical robot to allow surgeons to offer more patients the benefits of laparoscopic surgery, such as performing complex surgeries with fewer incisions.

Taped Live From Surgery: Cardiac Surgery

This taped educational program allows students to view bypass surgery and explore coronary artery disease.

Taped Live From Surgery: Neurosurgery

View a taped surgery to learn about delicate neurosurgery performed to extract tumors from the brain.

Alignment to NJSLS - Science

Connections to NJSLS - English Language Arts

Connections to NJSLS - Mathematics