Stony Brook Medicine Showcased Mobile Stroke Unit and Advanced Robotic Platforms During East Campus Day Visit

In a showcase of Stony Brook Medicine's most advanced clinical capabilities, President Andrea Goldsmith visited Stony Brook University Hospital for East Campus Day April 16 as part of her Inauguration Week events.

The morning began with a yogurt breakfast spearheaded by the Nutrition Division and skillfully prepared by Windows Catering, highlighting the importance of foods that promoted brain health. Building on this theme of innovation and well-being, Executive Vice President of Stony Brook Medicine William Wertheim, MD, MBA, delivered opening remarks, noting President Goldsmith's impact.

"President Goldsmith has brought tremendous energy and vision, championing interdisciplinary collaboration, accelerating discovery across the University, and reinforcing the essential role academic health centers like ours play in advancing science, education and healthcare," he said. "She challenges us to be our best, supports us in our striving, and shows immense knowledge of our strengths and opportunities."

Goldsmith followed with remarks underscoring Stony Brook Medicine's role across Long Island: "Excellence is the standard across Stony Brook Medicine. It shapes how we educate and train the next generation of healthcare professionals, drive innovative and life-changing research and deliver expert care to communities across Long Island."

David Fiorella, director of the Stony Brook Cerebrovascular Center and co-director of the Comprehensive Stroke Center, then led a presentation on Long Island's only Mobile Stroke Unit Program. Accompanied by Wertheim and Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, CEO of Stony Brook University Hospital, Goldsmith received an in-depth overview of the program and toured its newest unit, dedicated to serving the East End.

The Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) Program launched in April 2019 and remained Long Island's only program of its kind. Serving over 45 different communities and working in collaboration with fire and emergency medical service (EMS) agencies that provided ambulance response in Suffolk County, the mobile stroke unit team provided specialized, life-saving care to people within the critical moments of stroke, before they even reached the hospital. The Stony Brook Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit Program, hailed as a game-changer over the years, improved the level of care provided and saved many who would have otherwise had serious deficits from a stroke. The program markedly accelerated the time required to make an accurate stroke diagnosis, allowing for time-sensitive stroke therapies to be administered early.

President Goldsmith also had the opportunity to experience a live demonstration of Stony Brook Medicine's state-of-the-art robotic platforms, including the da Vinci 5 surgical system, Ion robotic bronchoscopy platform, and SimNow robotic training simulator - technologies that positioned Stony Brook Medicine as the regional leader in advanced robotic care and surgical innovation. These platforms expanded access to minimally invasive procedures, improved precision and safety, and accelerated recovery for patients across multiple specialties.

The demonstration highlighted how SBM's integrated robotics ecosystem - spanning clinical care, simulation, and education - differentiated the institution from other health systems on Long Island and beyond. Following the demonstration, the robots remained on display with hands-on opportunities for staff throughout the day.

The visit served as an opportunity to reinforce how innovation connected clinical care, research, and education at Stony Brook Medicine. At the conclusion of the visit, Dr. Wertheim shared, "At Stony Brook Medicine, innovation is integrated. It spans clinical care, research and education, strengthening each area and amplifying our overall impact. We work hard to transcend silos and work together to elevate innovation."

President Goldsmith added, "I'm proud to be a part of an academic health system that is accessible, innovative, and deeply rooted in the needs of the communities it serves. Today I'm looking forward to hearing more about the clinical programs, the research initiatives and innovations, the ways you are using technology and data to transform care, and how all of that connects back to the people we serve."