New AI Powered Surgical Center in Baltimore to Advance Training and Care

University of Maryland, Baltimore and Axis Research and Technologies announced on December 17, 2025 that they will partner to create a 36,000 square foot Smart Surgical Performance Center in Baltimore. The facility will integrate OMNIMED SmartOR technology, an AI and telemetry platform that captures and analyzes multimodal surgical data, with immersive simulation suites, cadaveric training facilities, and dedicated research space.

Officials described the center as a national model for surgical training, performance optimization, device development, and research. The project is designed to combine UMB clinical faculty and surgical expertise with Axis Research and Technologies national bioskills network and industry relationships, creating a hub for educating surgeons, testing new devices, and conducting outcome driven research. Construction is projected to begin in 2026, with a planned groundbreaking later in the year.

The center could have direct local impact for Baltimore City residents and the regional health care sector. By expanding hands on training capacity and simulation based curricula, the facility may accelerate the preparation of surgical residents and continuing education for practicing surgeons, potentially improving patient outcomes at hospitals that partner with UMB. The project is also likely to draw medical device companies and clinical trials to the area, supporting local employment in clinical research, simulation operations, and technical roles.

The use of an AI powered platform that records and analyzes multimodal surgical data raises questions about data governance, patient privacy, and ethical oversight. Community stakeholders, hospital leaders, and regulators will need to establish clear standards for consent, deidentification, and data security as the center moves from planning to construction. Transparent policies will be important to ensure research and training benefits are balanced with patient protections.

For Baltimore, the center represents an investment in medical education and innovation that could strengthen the city as a center for surgical research and industry collaboration. With construction set to begin next year, local health systems, training programs, and device manufacturers will be watching closely as planning moves toward a groundbreaking in 2026.