Bayhealth Inspires Students with Hands-On Experience in Lifesaving Lung Technology

Bayhealth invited local high school students to explore cutting-edge robotic surgery and lung care technology inside Intuitive’s Thoracic Oncology Mobile Experience (TOME) Truck. (Photo courtesy of Bayhealth.)

Bayhealth recently invited local high school students to explore cutting-edge medical technology inside Intuitive’s Thoracic Oncology Mobile Experience (TOME) Truck — an 80,000-pound mobile classroom designed to demonstrate the latest in robotic surgery and lung care.

The event celebrated Bayhealth’s investment in the Ion by Intuitive® robotic bronchoscopy system, now in use at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus. The technology allows physicians to reach and biopsy small, hard-to-access lung nodules with remarkable precision, helping identify lung cancer at its earliest, most treatable stages.

The Ion system complements Bayhealth’s established Da Vinci® robotic surgery program, which enables surgeons to perform minimally invasive procedures — including the removal of cancerous lung nodules — with greater precision and faster recovery times.

Students had the opportunity to learn how Bayhealth clinicians use these tools to save lives and to interact directly with physicians, surgeons, and respiratory care experts who shared how innovation and compassion intersect in modern medicine.

“Watching students engage with this technology was truly inspiring,” said Bayhealth Oncology Service Line Senior Director and Bayhealth Cancer Institute Executive Director John Shevock, ACHE, FACMPE. “It’s our hope that today’s experience sparks a lasting interest in healthcare and shows these young people that they can build meaningful, rewarding careers right here in Delaware.”

The event reflects Bayhealth’s commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare professionals by connecting classroom learning with real-world medical practice. Bayhealth also hosted an open house for donors, staff, and community partners to tour the TOME Truck and see how these innovations are transforming lung cancer care across the region.

To learn more about the Ion technology now available at Bayhealth Hospital, Kent Campus, visit Bayhealth.org/Ion.