On Wednesday, October 29, 2026, Liberty Science Center (LSC) celebrated the opening of the Dr. Richard Hodosh Teaching Theater, home to LSC’s Live from Surgery. This flagship LSC STEM education program dates from 1998 when it was founded by eminent cardiologist, Dr. William A. Tansey. The newly renovated theater honors Dr. Richard Hodosh, the neurosurgeon behind LSC’s Live From Neurosurgery program, which debuted in 2000.

Live From Surgery is a unique learning experience where high school students interact with working surgeons and surgical teams via live, real-time video conferencing while watching entire operations. For over 17 years Dr. Hodosh led more than 190 live neurosurgeries for students at LSC, introducing thousands of young people to careers in medicine. To date over 165,000 students over 2,130 surgeries have participated in LSC’s Live From Surgery program.

Located on the first floor in LSC’s Center for Learning and Teaching, the newly transformed theater features 100 fixed theater seats, state-of-the-art projection, and the Center’s first seamless LED video wall installation.

“Why is this space so important to us and what happens here?” said Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center, during the opening reception. “To understand we need to go back to 1996, when board member Dr. William Tansey, a prominent cardiologist, had a brilliant idea for a unique teaching model: allow high school students to join surgeons live in their operating suites… to observe surgeries, interact, and ask questions.”

Rosa Catala-Steidle, Director of STEM Innovation, and Alejandro Melendez, Senior Manager of STEM Innovation, presented a recording of a Live from Neurosurgery performed by Dr. Hodosh in 2008 as it was seen by students participating in the program.

During Live From Surgery, students view live surgical procedures, communicate directly with doctors, and learn about key surgical instruments. Since 2000, Live from Surgery has grown from cardiac surgery and neurosurgery to include robotic surgeries, kidney transplants, and pediatric orthopedic surgery. Today, more than 9,700 students participate in Live from Surgery annually.

“To all of our surgeons, we thank you all for the incredible work you do for both patients and our students,” said Hoffman.

LSC partners with prestigious hospitals across the region, including Hackensack University Medical Center (Hackensack Meridian Health), Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center (RWJBarnabas Health), Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute at Morristown Medical Center (Atlantic Health), and Overlook Medical Center (Atlantic Health) to provide students with this unforgettable experience.

The Dr. Richard Hodosh Teaching Theater was made possible with the generous support from Helaine Lerner, Denis Bovin, David & Lisa Welsh, Kim & Finn Wentworth, John Chrystal, Adam C. Lipson, M.D., David Poulad, M.D., Aaron Fleck, and Todd Green. Live From Surgery programming is generously supported by Johnson & Johnson.

More information about Live from Surgery is available here.

richard hodosh theater