FOREWORD

This report presents the results of a Workshop titled “OR2020: The Operating Room of the Future,” held March 18-20, 2004, in Ellicott City, Maryland. The objective of the workshop was to identify the clinical and technical requirements for integrating advanced computer-assisted and robotic technologies into next generation operating rooms and interventional suites. This was done through a collaborative effort involving physicians, engineers, and scientists.

First of all, I would like to thank the government agencies which provided the bulk of the workshop support: the National Science Foundation, the Army Medical and Materiel Research Command, and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering of the National Institutes of Health. Without their support, the Workshop would not have been possible.

I would also like to thank the corporate sponsors listed on page i and the back cover who enabled us to fund many of the special activities associated with the workshop, including the opening reception. Industrial participation is critical to the Operating Room of the Future, and it was gratifying to see so many industrial participants at the workshop.

All of the organizing committee members deserve thanks, but I would especially like to thank the members of the Innovative Surgery Committee at Walter Reed Army Medical Center for their efforts. In particular, Phil Corcoran, William DeVries, Eric Hanly, Ernest Lockrow, Michael Marohn, and Noah Schenkman were instrumental in shaping the workshop and selecting the participants. At Georgetown University, both Seong K. Mun and Michael Pentecost were tireless advocates for the meeting and provided resources and support.

At the Workshop itself, the student volunteers from Georgetown and Johns Hopkins were essential in keeping things running. Special thanks are due to Minh Vo, who was in charge of all of the logistics. My deepest gratitude is reserved for Audrey Kinsella, who drafted the final report and worked hard to ensure a quality product.

Finally, I would like to thank all the participants, who enthusiastically participated in the workshop and contributed to the energetic discussion in the Working Groups. I hope that this report is an accurate reflection of their views and opinions – we had an extremely talented and outspoken group and it was not easy to synthesize all of this material. But if we can bring the concepts discussed here to fruition, it should lead to improved health care and the patient will be the ultimate beneficiary.

Kevin Cleary, PhD
Workshop Organizer
Washington, DC
December 2004
Email: cleary@georgetown.edu