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The C-STARS simulation center has opened in Cincinnati as a $10 million facility designed to train U.S. Air Force medical teams for battlefield injuries and large-scale emergencies. Located at UC Health, the center uses advanced simulation technology to replicate trauma scenarios, including aeromedical evacuations and disaster response. Officials say the program will train about 300 military medical teams each year. The initiative builds on a long-standing partnership between UC Health and the U.S. Air Force to maintain medical readiness. Leaders say the training will benefit both military operations and civilian trauma care.
The C-STARS simulation center has opened in Cincinnati as a major new training hub for U.S. military medical teams.
A new $10 million medical training facility in Cincinnati is expanding the nation’s capacity to prepare military clinicians for high-risk trauma care.
The center, located at UC Health, will allow military teams to practice lifesaving procedures in simulated battlefield and disaster scenarios. Officials say the facility strengthens both military readiness and civilian emergency care partnerships.
The new training site is part of the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills (C-STARS) program, a long-running partnership between UC Health and the U.S. Air Force. Through the program, military physicians, nurses, and medical technicians train alongside civilian trauma specialists at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The goal is to ensure that military medical teams remain ready to treat critically injured patients in combat zones and complex emergencies.
According to UC Health, the expanded facility represents the next generation of trauma simulation and operational medical research. It combines immersive technology, advanced medical equipment, and real-time performance monitoring to prepare clinicians for the most demanding medical environments.
C-STARS simulation center expands military trauma training
The C-STARS simulation center significantly expands the training capacity of the Cincinnati program. Officials say the new facility will train about 300 Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) teams annually, compared with roughly 108 teams under the previous setup.
CCAT teams are specialized Air Force medical units responsible for transporting critically injured patients from combat zones to advanced hospitals. These teams often treat trauma patients aboard aircraft or in temporary medical facilities under extreme conditions.
The new facility allows trainees to rehearse these situations in a controlled environment. According to UC Health, simulation spaces can replicate battlefield trauma scenes, aircraft evacuation settings, and hospital intensive care units.
Key technologies inside the facility include:
- High-fidelity medical manikins that simulate severe injuries
- Virtual and augmented reality training systems
- Configurable simulation rooms that mirror combat and evacuation environments
- Data-driven performance evaluation tools
These features help instructors evaluate decision-making, teamwork, and clinical skills during high-stress medical scenarios.
UC Health officials say the center will also serve as a national hub for trauma research and innovation. Researchers can test new medical equipment, treatment protocols, and emergency response strategies using realistic simulations.
C-STARS simulation center built on decades of partnership
The C-STARS simulation center builds on more than two decades of collaboration between Cincinnati’s medical community and the U.S. military.
UC Health has hosted the C-STARS program since 2002, creating a unique military-civilian training environment. During that time, thousands of military clinicians have completed trauma training in Cincinnati.
According to UC Health, the partnership has trained more than 5,000 Air Force medical professionals over the past two decades.
The program allows military clinicians to work directly with trauma specialists at a Level I trauma center, gaining real-world experience treating serious injuries. These experiences help medical teams maintain clinical readiness between deployments.
Military leaders say these partnerships play a critical role in national defense and humanitarian missions.
“This investment underscores our commitment to continuous improvement and readiness in aeromedical evacuation and critical patient care,” said Col. Tory Woodard of the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, according to UC Health.
The collaboration also supports training for aeromedical evacuation missions, where critically injured patients must be stabilized and transported across long distances.
Why the C-STARS simulation center matters for Cincinnati
Local leaders say the C-STARS simulation center strengthens Cincinnati’s role as a national hub for medical innovation and emergency preparedness.
The partnership involves UC Health, the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and the Air Force’s 711th Human Performance Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Together, these organizations are developing new medical training methods and research initiatives.
Officials say the benefits extend beyond military medicine. Lessons learned in battlefield trauma care often influence civilian emergency medicine.
Studies cited by UC Health show that collaboration between military and civilian trauma teams improves patient outcomes and medical readiness. These partnerships help healthcare systems identify training gaps, improve teamwork, and refine emergency response strategies.
In addition to training, the facility will support ongoing research into trauma treatment, human performance, and emergency medical systems.
Local officials also highlight the economic and educational benefits of the program. The partnership attracts federal investment, supports medical research, and strengthens ties between Cincinnati hospitals and national defense programs.
U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman said the project demonstrates the region’s leadership in medical education and readiness. According to Air Force research officials, the center will help prepare the next generation of combat medics to handle complex trauma situations under intense time pressure.
Preparing medics for battlefield response
The C-STARS simulation center ultimately focuses on one mission: preparing medical teams to save lives in extreme environments.
Training scenarios simulate the entire patient journey—from the moment of injury on the battlefield to advanced hospital treatment. These exercises teach clinicians how to stabilize patients, coordinate evacuations, and deliver critical care under pressure.
Simulation training from injury to hospital care
The program recreates the full continuum of trauma care. Trainees practice responding to severe injuries, managing airway and breathing complications, and controlling life-threatening bleeding.
Medical teams also train in evacuation procedures, learning how to move patients safely from the battlefield to transport aircraft and then to advanced hospital facilities.
Emphasis on teamwork in emergencies
The simulations place strong emphasis on collaboration among medical professionals.
Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, and medics train together so they can coordinate effectively during emergencies. Working in integrated teams allows participants to improve communication, share responsibilities, and make faster clinical decisions when seconds matter.
Realistic environments improve decision-making
UC Health officials say the facility’s immersive environment allows trainees to experience realistic stress and time constraints.
This approach helps clinicians build confidence and improve decision-making during real emergencies. Practicing in high-pressure scenarios prepares medical teams to respond more effectively when treating critically injured patients.
Advancing trauma research and readiness
Military leaders say the program also supports medical research that can benefit both soldiers and civilians.
By combining simulation technology, real-world trauma experience, and academic research, the Cincinnati facility aims to set new standards for trauma readiness.
As officials emphasize, the goal remains simple but critical: ensuring medical teams are prepared to deliver lifesaving care anywhere in the world.
FAQs
What is the C-STARS simulation center in Cincinnati?
The C-STARS simulation center is a medical training facility designed for U.S. military healthcare teams. It uses advanced technology to simulate battlefield injuries and emergency medical situations. The center helps doctors, nurses, and medics practice life-saving procedures before deployment.
Where is the C-STARS simulation center located?
The facility is located at UC Health in Cincinnati, Ohio. It operates in partnership with the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and the U.S. Air Force. The location allows military clinicians to train alongside experienced civilian trauma specialists.
How many medical teams will the center train each year?
Officials say the center will train about 300 U.S. military medical teams annually. This significantly increases the capacity of the C-STARS program compared with previous training facilities. The expansion helps improve readiness for combat and humanitarian missions.
What type of training does the center provide?
The facility simulates real-world medical emergencies, including combat trauma and disaster response. Trainees practice patient stabilization, emergency surgery, and aeromedical evacuation procedures. The simulations help medical teams prepare for high-pressure situations.
Why is the C-STARS simulation center important?
The center strengthens military medical readiness by giving clinicians realistic training environments. It also supports research into trauma care and emergency response systems. Lessons learned through the program can improve treatment for both military personnel and civilian patients.
