The E. Ronald Salvitti, MD Surgical Training Lab

The E. Ronald Salvitti, MD Surgical Training Lab, located in the Vision Institute, is the hub of ophthalmic surgical education in Western Pennsylvania. This state-of-the-art facility features 16 independent stations, each equipped with a surgical microscope, a fully operational phacoemulsification device, and an observer monitor with recording and broadcasting capabilities that allow for remote surgical education.

To complement the hands-on wet lab experience, the lab also houses three electronic simulators—two dedicated to enhancing examination skills and one designed for surgical simulation. Residents, medical students, and ophthalmic trainees meet once or twice a month for formal training under faculty supervision, where targeted skills are developed and refined. These include ophthalmic suturing, techniques of basic and complex cataract and vitreoretinal surgery, as well as a host of specialized procedures.

The facility is also available to community members and alumni, who can practice new techniques during designated events. In addition, the lab hosts industry-sponsored programs that allow ophthalmologists to evaluate cutting-edge devices and techniques for potential incorporation into their surgical practice. A combination of animal and simulated tissue is used to support the development of safe and effective surgical skills. 

The lab remains open 24/7 for independent practice, augmenting formal sessions and providing optimal preparation for real-world surgery. We believe—and evidence supports—that surgical simulation in a controlled, supervised environment fosters technical skills that translate into positive patient outcomes. 

E. Ronald Salvitti, MD, a distinguished ophthalmologist and member of the Eye & Ear Foundation Board of Directors, is a generous supporter of the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh. He is dedicated to the advancement of vision research and patient care.