The Bookout Center

The Future of Surgical Innovation & Training Begins Here

 

The Bookout Center is a unique environment for medical innovation, simulation and emerging technology, dedicated to advancing the future of health care.

 

Focused on the fusion of robotics, imaging and digital surgery, we bring together cutting-edge technology and hands-on training to equip medical professionals with the skills and tools needed to revolutionize patient care. 

Our Approach

Our Goals

The Bookout Center encompasses MIRIN and MITIE. Together, these innovation programs enable the logical, progressive development of collaborative research and education.  MIRIN advances robotics, imaging and digital surgery with an Innovation Engineering Core while MITIE provides surgical education, training and simulation.

 

We are the only complex nationwide that combines innovation engineering capabilities with academic-led research in a hospital setting, reflecting our results-focused approach to medical innovation.

Our Goals

  • Maximize surgical outcomes, quality, and safety for patient care. 
  • Advance research at the intersection of robotics, imaging and digital surgery
  • Develop bleeding-edge technology for surgical planning and simulation, image-guided navigation, telepresence, telerobotics, telemedicine, physical artificial intelligence, spatial computing and extended reality
  • Train physicians and clinical teams in essential and advanced procedural skills 
  • Provide the most efficient and effective education methods for skills acquisition 

MIRIN — Robotics, Imaging, and Digital Surgery

MIRIN is the research, development, and innovation framework of the Bookout Center. It is designed to respond to real-world medical challenges by leveraging the latest advances in technology to address unmet needs in surgery and health care.
Transformative Technologies
Innovation Engineering Core (IEC)
Virtual Tour
Transformative Technologies

Transformative Technologies

MIRIN focuses on transformative technologies at the intersection of robotics, medical imaging, and digital surgery, including:

 

  • Surgical planning and simulation
  • Image-guided navigation
  • Telemedicine and remote interventions
  • Physical artificial intelligence
  • Spatial computing and extended reality (XR)

 

By integrating clinical insight with engineering expertise, MIRIN enables rapid development of new tools, platforms, and processes that enhance surgical precision, improve training and advance patient outcomes. It represents a bold step toward the future of care—where innovation is not theoretical but directly tied to clinical practice.

Innovation Engineering Core (IEC)

Innovation Engineering Core (IEC)

The IEC is the engine that turns complex challenges into scalable solutions, driving structured, rapid and needs-driven innovation at the Bookout Center. Rooted in principles from engineering, business strategy and design thinking, the IEC empowers interdisciplinary teams to identify problems, generate bold ideas and transform them into practical, real-world solutions.

 

Innovation engineering emphasizes:

 

  • Identification of problems and unmet clinical needs
  • Risk reduction through rapid prototyping and iterative development
  • Continuous improvement through data-driven decision-making

 

Our in-house interdisciplinary team of engineers possess a broad range of skills in: Robotics & electromechanical systems, computer vision & machine learning, XR, 3D modeling, coding, and data analytics. For more information contact: bookoutcenter@houstonmethodist org.

Virtual Tour

Virtual Tour

Explore the Bookout Center through our 3D virtual tour.
Virtual Tour
Learn More
MITIE – Surgical Education and Innovation

MITIE – Surgical Education and Innovation

Building on a legacy of nearly two decades as the premier medical simulation and procedural training space at Houston Methodist, MITIE is now a cornerstone of the Bookout Center.  

 

This facility has served as a dedicated platform for training clinicians of all skill levels—from students to practicing experts—and for developing innovative procedures, training methods and associated technologies. Key features of MITIE include: 

 

  • Cadaveric and animated wet simulation for training and procedural innovation 
  • Dry simulation with high-fidelity physical and virtual training models 
  • Advanced medical imaging across multiple modalities 
  • Intraoperative telepresence for real-time education, collaboration and coaching 

 

As part of the Bookout Center, MITIE will continue to grow into new territories as the platform evolves to support center initiatives arising from MIRIN and the Innovation Engineering Core.

35,000

Square Feet of Research and Training Space

3,978

Learners in 2024
In the News
Generations of Generosity

Medicine is advancing more rapidly now than ever, protecting us from once ubiquitous diseases and curing illnesses before they become debilitating.

Physician-researcher Develops Framework for Evaluating New Surgical Technologies

As robotic control systems and artificial intelligence (AI) programs continue to advance, researchers like Houston Methodist’s Pedro T. Ramirez, MD, FACOG, are becoming increasingly aware of surgical robots’ potential.

A Whole New World

A VR platform takes state-of-the-art medical education virtually anywhere.

RFID Technology: The Future of Health Care Asset Management?

The novel system for intraoperative data collection via RFID technology, “Smart Table,” displays a clear ability to passively collect practical and applicable information during a surgical procedure. 

A Healthy Combination: Simulation and Quality of Care Professionals Collaborate for Unparalleled Care

Simulation and Quality of Care Professionals Collaborate for Unparalleled Care

It Takes a Village
MITIE’s Maternal and Infant Simulation Instructor Course gives providers a chance to get ahead of childbirth-related mortality and morbidity.
A MITIE Feat in Maternal and Neonatal Care

Simulation Instructor Course Helps Improve Health Outcomes and Staff Teamwork.

Meet the Bookout Center Team

bookout-team

 

The Bookout Center Team. Back Row (Left to Right): Maria Abu, Amber Edwards, Farah Chatila, Robert Schnur, Connor Price, Jennifer Collins, Eric Hudson, Kelvin Boateng, Becca Swann, Austin Shelton, Neena Skoumpourdis, Carlos Quintero- Peña, Shilpa Chandra, Hajar Abdellaoui, Ruth Leal, Destiny Hernandez, Francis Perez, Arooj Anwar, Waheed Miran, Brenda Lewis, Thomas Ellington, Raneem Hamdan, Sharyn Bristol, Karina Resendiz, Allie Rueter, Ricky Minor, Huriyah Hasnain, Deanne Medrano, Aileen Vu, Angie Mitchell

Front Row (Left to Right): Stuart Corr, Trevor Burt, Alan Lumsden, Randolph Steadman

Explore the following:

Interested in hosting an event at the Bookout Center?

Please contact us at mitieevents@houstonmethodist.org or 888.648.4389.
A member of our team will reach out to you within 24-48 hours to discuss your requirements and ensure a successful event.

mitieevents@houstonmethodist.org