A new surgical simulation center is opening its doors in St. Louis, and already top surgeons, the military, and medical device manufacturers are drawn to MaxFi (Maximum Fidelity Surgical Simulations) to witness a technology so revolutionary that it’s almost hard to believe. This cutting-edge facility features state-of-the-art operating room tables, advanced technology, meeting spaces and lecture rooms. But what truly sets it apart is its patented systems—which allow cadavers to exhibit a pulse, breath and warmth, offering an unparalleled life-like simulation experience.
The visionary behind this advanced technology is Dr. Joss Fernandez, a highly seasoned, triple board-certified surgeon based in Columbia, MO. Certified in cardiothoracic, vascular, and general surgery, Dr. Fernandez had long felt that hands-on surgical training was inadequate. Determined to bridge this gap, he began developing a more effective model in 2014—all while maintaining a full surgical schedule. His persistence led to several patented technologies that replicate human circulation and give cadavers life-like qualities, revolutionizing surgical training.
His early work caught the attention of St. Louis Arch Angels, who saw the power and possibilities behind the idea. That is when they reached out to Bob Mills to assess the potential.
Bob was well-qualified for the assignment. He built his full career in healthcare—starting at Johnson & Johnson and later working for cardiovascular medical device manufacturers. With years of experience in operating rooms, Bob was still taken aback when he first witnessed MaxFi’s life-like cadavers. Initially skeptical, he traveled to Columbia, MO, to see the technology firsthand. What he encountered was so real that he mistook a simulation for an actual surgery. That moment convinced him that MaxFi had the potential to transform medical training.
Named CEO 2023, Bob’s task was to structure the company and assemble a team in St. Louis. He credits BioGenerator with playing a crucial role in refining MaxFi’s business model, developing financial projections, and securing funds. Their work together helped build a solid business case to present to the investment community.
With a well-crafted business plan, the lead investors St. Louis Arch Angels and BioGenerator attracted additional investors who understood the vision and the potential. MaxFi’s innovations could provide an unprecedented level of realism in surgical simulations, benefiting complex medical device development, training, and education. The next step? Establishing a world-class surgical simulation training center in St. Louis.
MaxFi’s groundbreaking tissue reanimation technology is already changing the landscape of surgical training. The American Society of Transplant Surgeons hosted a demonstration for 20 doctors to train them on live liver transplants. MaxFi was able to simulate this very complicated surgery using its life-like cadavers. The realism was striking. That success led to a collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, which had never performed a bladder transplant before. Using MaxFi’s technology, surgeons were able to simulate the procedure, refining their technique in ways previously impossible.
Beyond high-profile surgeries, MaxFi partners extensively with academic medical centers. In the medical device industry, the technology allows companies to test and refine cutting-edge tools—ranging from stents and wires to advanced surgical cutting devices—ensuring that surgeons can train with unprecedented realism before stepping into a real operating room.
The facility is already attracting top-tier surgeons and medical device manufacturers, positioning St. Louis as a premier hub for surgical simulation training. What began as an ambitious idea is now setting a gold standard in surgical education, product development utilizing the most advanced simulation model in the world.
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