Watch a real heart surgery in a live videoconference with the surgical team.
Registration for the 2026-27 school year is now open.
Live from the Heart
Go live into the operating room and watch via videoconference as a surgical team performs heart surgery. Talk to the team, learn about heart health and find out about medical careers. Live from the Heart registration is currently limited to online attendance only.
- Grades: 9 – 12
- Capacity (Virtual): 40 students and teachers per registration. Sessions limited to four remote participating groups per session.
- Duration: 2.5 hours
- Cost: $300
- Offered Wednesdays 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (limited availability)
- Students and teachers can participate remotely from anywhere with a web-enabled device capable of using Zoom.
How the program works
Live from the Heart takes place every Wednesday and allows students from all over the country to witness heart surgery via live stream.
Students can submit questions to the surgical team that will be answered in real time. Museum educators facilitate the program as students hear from and engage with the various professionals in the operating room at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Upon registration, you will receive a Zoom link to access the program.
Lab goals
Student outcomes
- Increase student understanding of science concepts as they relate to heart surgery
- Have an increased awareness of STEM careers
- Have an increased comfort exploring and engaging in related content
- Have a desire to learn more extending the ideas explored in the lab
- Work collaboratively with peers
- Develop questions regarding anatomy of the heart, careers in the operating room, and their personal health.
- Understand how lifestyle choices affect personal health
Next Generation Science Standards
Science and Engineering Practices
- Asking questions
- Obtaining, evaluating and communicating information
Crosscutting Concepts
- Cause and effect
- Systems and system models
- Structure and function
Disciplinary Core Ideas
- LS 1: From molecules to organisms; structure and function
- LS 3: Heredity; inheritance and variation of traits
- ETS2: Links among engineering, technology, science and society
Frequently Asked Questions:
Your class must participate on one of the scheduled program dates on Wednesdays mornings between September 16, 2026, and June 2, 2027 (except 11/25, 12/23, 12/30, 3/24/2027 and 4/14/2027) from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Central (the length of the surgery). Your students and participants will need to connect individually and for the entire session.
Groups may connect via Zoom from a classroom with video-conferencing equipment. These groups do not have student limits as they will be using only one Zoom connection. Teachers will need to enter student questions into the Q&A of the webinar.
Live from the Heart is $300. A 30 percent non-refundable deposit must be received two weeks prior to the start of your program quarter as follows:
- Fall programs (September - November): Deposit due early September.
- Winter programs (December - February): Deposit due early November.
- Spring programs (March - June): Deposit due mid-February.
If you do not submit your deposit in time, your session will be given to another group. You will receive an email reminder about the deposit policy two weeks before your deposit is due. Final full payment is due two weeks before your scheduled session. If you do not pay in full on time, your session will be given to another group and you will forfeit your deposit.
Scholarships are available to qualifying schools. See the Live from the Heart Registration form for details.
If you call to reschedule prior to the start of your program quarter, you will be moved to an available spot or put on the waiting list if no spots are available. If the rescheduled session is in the current program quarter, the 30 percent deposit is due immediately, with the remainder due two weeks prior to your session. Groups that reschedule also will be charged a $10 rescheduling fee.
If you call to reschedule during your program quarter up to two weeks before your session and we are unable to move you to an available spot, you will be placed on the waiting list and forfeit your 30 percent non-refundable deposit. You may not reschedule less than two weeks before your session.
If you must cancel, you will forfeit all fees that have been paid. Groups that do not call to cancel and do not show up for their session will forfeit all fees paid and will not be allowed to register for Live from the Heart for one year.
The surgical team at Advocate Christ Medical Center has determined that it is safe to broadcast the open-heart surgery. The dedicated team of professionals at Advocate would never put a patient's health at risk.
Yes, the patient knows that his or her surgery will be broadcast. Each patient discussed Live from the Heart with the surgical team at Advocate before agreeing to participate in the program.
We don't expect any problems, but the surgical team is prepared to disconnect the live feed if something does go wrong. In that case, the Museum educators will present a different version of Live from the Heart, which we know you will enjoy.
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