Training and simulation facility pays homage to medical legacy of Terre Haute native.

A state-of-the-art medical education and simulation center was dedicated in a Terre Hautean’s name Wednesday in Indianapolis at the St. Vincent Hospital.

The William K. Nasser, MD Healthcare Education and Simulation Center opened its doors to hundreds as Nasser’s family, friends and colleagues celebrated the legacy of Indiana’s “Father of Cardiology,” who passed away in 2005.

Nasser, born and raised in Terre Haute, graduated from Indiana State University before going on to become chief cardiologist at St. Vincent Hospital, founding one of America’s largest cardiology practices (Nasser, Smith and Pinkerton, which became The Care Group), and helping popularize clinical heart catheterizations.

Bruce Williams, director of simulation, said the $13.6 million center will allow St. Vincent’s family of hospitals to prepare new hires and residents in training to a level that wasn’t before possible.

“This will allow our students to come over and experience things they wouldn’t normally see,” Williams said. “In stead of waiting 10 years into their career to see their first of something, we can schedule those to happen during their training.”

Using robotic simulators and animatronic manikins, the center can provide instant feedback to students by analyzing whether the decision made produced positive outcomes or not, Williams said.

Dr. Tony K. Nasser, William’s son, said it’s that kind of hands-on training that best fosters his father’s legacy.

"This center is not just high-tech, it’s high-touch,” Nasser said. “My father always had a compassion when examining a patient, determining the appropriate data and pushing forward the scientific understanding of medicine."

“And this center is really where those two things come together.”

Wednesday’s dedication began with a small family prayer service and blessing of the building and its rooms by The Very Reverend Father Nabil Hanna of St. George Orthodox Christian Church of Fishers, Indiana.

The Rev. Nabil lead the small procession of family and friends around the building, blessing it with holy water as they made their way.

The blessing was followed by a dedication ceremony that saw hundreds pack into the William K. And Wanda L. Nasser Family Pavilion.

“Today is the culmination of my father’s life, dreams and all the family that came before him and will come after him” Tony Nasser said. “He was the kind of man who always gave more than he ever took.

“If you were his patient it didn’t matter if you were king, queen, a grandmother, grandfather, parent, child, you were treated very well.”

By Alex Modesitt Tribune-Star • Indianapolis
Jun 20, 2018