IRCAD North America Collaborates with Johnson & Johnson to Advance Surgical Training and Education
New collaboration positioned to make lasting impact on global medical community
CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 11, 2025 — IRCAD North America (IRCAD NA) is collaborating with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to bring innovative surgical technologies to the IRCAD training center as part of a multi-year agreement supporting cutting-edge experiential education for minimally invasive surgery and translational research at The Pearl — Charlotte’s first innovation district.
“In collaborating with Johnson & Johnson MedTech, we’re creating unprecedented opportunities to propel surgical innovation and transformative medical education at IRCAD North America,” said Dr. Dionisios Vrochides, executive director of IRCAD North America and professor of transplant surgery at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “By harnessing Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s advanced surgical technologies alongside our expertise in hands-on training and translational research, we’re set to revolutionize surgical excellence.”
Founded in 1994 in Strasbourg, France, IRCAD currently has training centers in seven countries: Brazil; China; France; India; Lebanon; Rwanda; and Taiwan. When it opens in September 2025, IRCAD NA, in Charlotte, will be the exclusive IRCAD training center in North America and the cornerstone of the first research building at The Pearl. IRCAD NA will host dozens of courses each year across general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, neurosurgery, and orthopedic surgery, attracting thousands of surgeons and health care professionals from around the world each year for advanced training in the latest techniques and technologies.
The collaboration will bring together IRCAD NA’s expert-led training and state-of-the-art facilities with Johnson & Johnson MedTech’s expertise in delivering innovation and education for consistent and reliable experiences across open, minimally invasive, and robotic surgery. As part of the collaboration, Johnson & Johnson MedTech will provide wound closure technologies, adjunctive hemostats, surgical stapling and instruments, and energy devices and explore extending to the company’s robotics and digital solutions portfolio, for use in IRCAD NA’s training courses.
Johnson & Johnson MedTech will leverage presence at the facility to host its own onsite courses, extending the company’s commitment to enhance surgical team skills across advanced technologies.
“Collaborating with Johnson & Johnson MedTech to advance innovative surgical training elevates our shared mission to shape the future of health care,” said Dr. Rasu Shrestha, president of the Board at IRCAD North America and EVP & chief innovation and commercialization officer at Advocate Health, of which Atrium Health is a part. “The work we do together at IRCAD North America and The Pearl to advance surgical innovation will have far-reaching effects, enabling better outcomes for patients across our communities and around the world.”
Created by a public-private partnership led by Atrium Health, Wexford Science & Technology, LLC and Ventas, The Pearl innovation district is home to the Charlotte campus of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the exclusive North American IRCAD training center.
By bringing together leading experts from both organizations, this partnership aims to foster a culture of innovation that accelerates the adoption of new technologies and elevates clinical practice worldwide.
Media contact:
elizabeth.israel@ircadna.org
About IRCAD North America
IRCAD North America is a state-of-the-art surgical training and research center in Charlotte, NC dedicated to advancing minimally invasive and robotic surgery. As the newest branch of the globally renowned IRCAD network, we bring world-class expertise, innovative technology, and hands-on training to surgeons and healthcare professionals across the world. Our strategic collaborations with leading industry partners, institutions, and professional societies drive meaningful advancements in healthcare, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. We will shape the future of surgery.
As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, IRCAD North America empowers local, national, and international investigators to perform and excel in rapid cycle research and development, minimizing the time medical innovation takes to move from bench to bedside. Patient outcomes will improve worldwide as our attendees take their experiences back to their home institutions. To learn more, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.