Rosalind Franklin University Opens Virtual Health System to Prepare the Next Generation of Healthcare Teams

New simulated hospital environment brings interprofessional teams together to practice complex patient care, strengthen clinical skills and explore the future of healthcare.

NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., Sept. 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (RFU) has officially opened its groundbreaking Virtual Health System (VHS), a fully immersive clinical training center designed to transform health education, enhance student preparation and drive the future of healthcare innovation. Spanning more than 23,000 square feet, the facility is one of the Midwest's most modern, integrated and interprofessional training hubs.

The VHS brings the experience of a hospital into the region's most advanced, interprofessional healthcare simulation environment. The one-of-a-kind center features a simulated emergency room, intensive care unit (ICU), operating room, and labor and delivery suite. Designed to mirror a real hospital, the VHS allows interprofessional student teams to navigate complex, real-time patient scenarios together before stepping into actual clinical environments. 

Powered by the latest technology, including artificial intelligence, immersive technologies and advanced 3D printing, and a dedicated makerspace, the VHS features specialized clinical spaces like a six-room emergency department and trauma bay. Yet training extends far beyond digital simulation or technical clinical procedures. Using lifelike medical manikins alongside one of the country's only dedicated Empathy Labs, students actively hone vital soft skills, such as delivering difficult diagnoses, managing high-stress team dynamics, and navigating sensitive family discussions. 

The university celebrated the VHS unveiling with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and live simulation demonstration at its North Chicago campus. Joining the event were RFU President Aron Sousa, MD, and Interim Provost James Carlson, PhD, PA-C, CHSE-A, alongside state and local officials and community partners. 

"The way we train healthcare professionals has to evolve with the way care is and is going to be delivered," said Dr. Carlson, vice president for interprofessional education and simulation, who has spent two decades advancing RFU's healthcare simulation program. "The VHS immerses students in the teamwork, technology and real-world decision-making that define modern healthcare and lets them experiment with new ideas that shape the future delivery of healthcare."

Interprofessional education is central to RFU's mission. The VHS brings multiple health professions together so students learn from other disciplines. These dynamic team-based simulations, in which conditions change in real time, ensure students graduate fully prepared to lead across professions. Last year, approximately 1,500 students used RFU's simulation facilities, completing more than 47,000 simulation hours of hands-on, simulation-based learning. During the 2025-26 academic year, students and healthcare professionals participated in experiences ranging from multi-day clinical workshops to multi-week assessments designed to evaluate and strengthen their skills.

"RFU's Virtual Health System will serve as a convening space, an innovation sandbox where partners across the region work together to train, innovate and solve some of healthcare's most pressing challenges," Dr. Sousa said. "We're setting a new standard for learning environments." 

An early adopter of simulation-based training, RFU is a national leader and accredited center of excellence in healthcare education, an approach proven to improve patient outcomes, bolster learner confidence, and optimize healthcare team performance.

In addition to training students, the VHS offers Chicagoland healthcare teams a high-tech simulation lab to sharpen advanced clinical skills in high-need specialties, including pediatric care, maternal health, nursing and emergency medicine. The VHS also partners with local elementary, middle and high schools to spark early interest in health professions, offering hands-on career exploration through programs such as Science Saturdays, Mini Medical School and INSPIRE.

The VHS was made possible through significant investment from the state of Illinois and generous support from RFU donors.

About Rosalind Franklin University

Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science is committed to serving the global population through the interprofessional education of health and biomedical professionals and the discovery of knowledge dedicated to improving wellness. Founded in Chicago in 1912, RFU embodies the spirit of inquiry and excellence modeled by its namesake Dr. Rosalind Franklin, whose Photo 51 was crucial to solving the structure of DNA. Recognized for its research in the areas of neuroscience, brain related diseases, inherited disorders, diabetes, obesity, and gait and balance, the university includes Chicago Medical School, College of Health Professions, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, and the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies. Learn more at rosalindfranklin.edu.

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SOURCE Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science