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What if the next breakthrough in healthcare simulation isn’t a device, but the proof that changes patient outcomes? We sit down with Matt Charnetski —paramedic turned technologist turned incoming president of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare—to chart a path from personal experience to system-level impact. Matt’s journey starts in Antarctic search and rescue and lands in board leadership, stitching together IT chops, clinical practice, and a bias for service that opened doors and built programs others can use.

Across this conversation, we get specific about what growth should mean for a global simulation community. Matt lays out a simple mandate: make pathways to serve obvious, invite more voices to the table, and treat partnerships with international organizations as two-way streets. As IMSH grows, he pushes for smarter matching between people and content, smaller communities inside big events, and technology that helps newcomers navigate without getting lost. It’s scale with intimacy, and it turns attendance into collaboration.

When we pivot to innovation, Matt targets the evidence gap. We already measure satisfaction and short-term learning; the leap is linking simulation to clinical outcomes, determining the right dose of practice, and funding the early work that proves it. That’s where the Ascend mentorship program and early career research grants come in—structured guidance, two-mentor support, and resources that turn good ideas into publishable studies and effective curricula. The payoff is a field that can defend its value in outcomes, not just anecdotes.

Matt’s why is human. A family story about communication in hospitals became a lesson he carried into paramedicine and now into leadership: teamwork is treatment. That’s why he invests in the people who teach, operate, and research simulation, because their impact cascades to learners and patients. If you care about inclusive leadership, meaningful mentorship, and research that moves the needle, this conversation will give you a clear map—and an invitation to join in.

If this resonated, follow and share the show, leave a rating or review, and tell us: what proof would help you advance simulation where you work?

Website URL:

https://ems-works.com/

LinkedIn URL:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/630796/

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What does it take to build safer clinicians, not just better test takers? We sit down with pediatric critical care pioneer and simulation leader Tonya Schneidereith to trace a career defined by curiosity, courage, and a relentless focus on patient safety. From early days as one of the first PICU nurse practitioners in the country to associate director of simulation at Johns Hopkins, Tonya reveals how mentorship, research, and design thinking shaped her approach to teaching and assessment.

We dig into her medication safety work using Google Glass to capture the learner’s point of view, exposing why accurate math still leads to dangerous IV pump programming when context is missing. That insight led to national recommendations on verifying dosage calculation competence and a sharper focus on debriefing. Tanya shares a memorable morphine case where most learners turned up oxygen as ventilation failed, and how a single probing question in debrief uncovered the real driver behind a “correct” action. The lesson is clear: simulation must illuminate decision-making, not just outcomes.

Tonya also opens the doors to SIMPL Simulation, the consultancy she co-founded to elevate faculty development, program design, and simulation operations. She walks us through a bold project with BSA LifeStructures and Wake Tech Community College: a true simulation hospital spanning EMS arrival, diagnostics, acute care rooms, an operating room, and a live MRI. It’s a blueprint for interprofessional education that makes teamwork the default. We then explore responsible AI in healthcare simulation, drawing on a new white paper Tonya helped shape. Ethical integration, transparent limits, and scenario design that builds judgment are essential as AI becomes part of daily clinical work.

If you care about better debriefing, safer medication practices, AI in nursing education, and simulation spaces that teach as powerfully as people do, this conversation will sharpen your approach. Listen, share with your team, and tell us the one change you’ll make in your next sim. Subscribe for more expert stories and leave a review to help others find the show.

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A near-drowning in the Norwegian fjords set a family on a path that would change how the world learns to save lives. We sit down with Jon Laerdal, Chief Product Officer at Laerdal Medical, to explore the unlikely journey from toy design to Resusci Anne, from classroom CPR to on‑the‑unit practice that measurably improves survival.

Jon pulls back the curtain on how evidence and guidelines have shaped Laerdal’s resuscitation portfolio and why RQI—Resuscitation Quality Improvement—now embedded in 3,000 U.S. hospitals, is redefining competency with low‑dose, high‑frequency training. We dive into the Safer Births program in Tanzania, co‑created with the American Academy of Pediatrics and Jhpiego, where frequent, team‑based simulations on the ward correlate with dramatic reductions in newborn and maternal deaths. The thread through it all is a simple, rigorous idea: put practice where care happens, make it frequent, and let data guide improvement.

We also talk about the tech landscape without the hype. VR and mixed reality bring decision‑making into virtual and blended spaces, while AI lightens scenario design and powers more responsive debriefs. But the payoff comes when these tools join a circular learning model—reading, skills, simulation, team training, and clinical practice—connected by actionable insights. That is where simulation evolves from a one‑off event to a quality improvement engine that exposes latent safety threats and closes the gap between training and therapy.

If more than half of global deaths stem from time‑critical emergencies, preparing responders everywhere is not optional; it’s urgent. Jon shares Laerdal’s goal to help save one million more lives by 2030 and offers concrete steps educators and leaders can take to build cultures of practice that stick. Subscribe, share with a colleague who champions simulation, and leave a review with one question you want us to ask our next guest.

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What happens when you take simulation out of the lab and put it at the center of global health strategy? We sit down with Dr. Pam Jeffries and Dr. Lennox Haung—co‑chairs of the Global Network for Simulation in Healthcare (GNSH)—to unpack how thought leadership, diversity, and real‑world constraints are reshaping the field for measurable impact.

We dig into what sets GNSH apart from traditional associations: no vendor floor, no siloed tracks, and a laser focus on big system challenges like patient safety, workforce resilience, health economics, and the rapid rise of AI. You’ll hear the story behind the 30‑minute team engagement initiative, a concise, team‑ready approach built from real patient cases that scaled during COVID and proved simulation can fit busy clinical workflows while improving outcomes. Pam and Lennox share how bi‑directional learning between low‑ and high‑resource settings sparks innovations that actually spread, and why bringing CEOs, educators, clinicians, regulators, and industry into the same room changes product roadmaps and policy priorities.

We also look ahead: precision learning, extended reality, and AI‑driven feedback loops that turn simulation into a continuous, data‑informed practice. From defining AI competencies for health professions to translating simulation into capital projects and policy pilots, the path forward is practical and urgent. And if you’re curious about where the world’s sim leaders are heading next, get a preview of the Copenhagen summit—Navigating AI, Economic Investment, and Impact for Global Health Transformation—along with easy ways to connect virtually and at major conferences.

If you care about safer care, smarter training, and systems that learn faster, this conversation offers a roadmap you can act on today. Subscribe, share with a colleague, and leave a review with the one change you’d make to scale simulation in your setting.

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Katie Cushman, Simulation Operations Specialist at Atrium Health, shares her journey from nursing student to healthcare simulation professional and how finding her niche in simulation technology combines her passions for healthcare, education, and technology.

• Transitioned from nursing school to pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Simulation after realizing bedside nursing wasn't the right fit
• Gained first meaningful exposure to simulation technology at a human-patient simulation day, seeing mannequins in action
• Completed specialized education covering simulation foundations, education principles, operations, research and administration
• Enjoys the technical aspects of working with simulation mannequins and problem-solving when technology challenges arise
• Creates realistic simulations including organ procurement scenarios with Life Share and injury simulations for military training
• Develops pipeline programs introducing middle and high school students to healthcare simulation as a career option
• Recently earned CHSOS certification and aspires to eventually become a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator and SSH Fellow
• Values mentorship and connections within the simulation community

Contact Katie Cushman at Kathryn.Cushman@advocatehealth.org or find her on LinkedIn to learn more about careers in healthcare simulation.

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Matt Needler shares his journey from combat medic and philosophy major to becoming Director of Operations at Belmont University's 60,000-square-foot simulation center, where he oversees high-fidelity simulation experiences across healthcare disciplines.

• Started in simulation by chance after seeing a job opening while working in physical therapy
• Advanced from technician to coordinator to director roles across multiple institutions
• Holds dual CHSOS and CHSE certifications, making him among the first 100 people worldwide with both
• Creates innovative simulation experiences including a mannequin that simulates upper GI bleeds with pumping blood
• Currently developing AI applications for simulation, including a system for nursing students to practice SOAP notes
• Presenting at IMSH on learning theories for simulationists and AI integration in healthcare simulation
• Emphasizes career advancement possibilities for simulation technicians
• Attributes success to willingness to ask questions and apply for opportunities
• Can be reached on LinkedIn or at matthew.needler@belmont.edu

Join Matt at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) in San Antonio, where he'll be presenting on learning theories and AI applications in simulation.

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Dr. Cynthia Clark opens up about the hidden epidemic affecting healthcare environments nationwide: workplace incivility. Drawing from decades of research and practical experience, she paints a compelling picture of how seemingly minor behaviors like eye-rolling or walking away mid-conversation can create serious patient safety risks when they occur in clinical settings.

What makes this conversation particularly illuminating is Dr. Clark's nuanced understanding of workplace dynamics. She introduces listeners to her "continuum of workplace aggression" framework, which helps identify problematic behaviors ranging from subtle nonverbal cues to outright bullying and gaslighting. Her explanation of how victims often blame themselves rather than recognizing manipulative behaviors provides a wake-up call for anyone who's experienced that unsettling feeling of questioning their own reality after an interaction with a difficult colleague.

The heart of this episode focuses on cognitive rehearsal—a simulation-based technique that transforms how healthcare professionals respond to incivility. Through a practical five-step process, Dr. Clark demonstrates how professionals can prepare for and address difficult conversations rather than avoiding them. Her PAIL framework (Preview, Advocacy, Inquiry, Listen) offers a structured approach that anyone can implement immediately. The example scenario featuring "Iris," a domineering colleague who derails meetings, provides a masterclass in how to approach uncomfortable but necessary conversations.

Whether you're a nursing educator, a healthcare professional, or anyone who's experienced workplace tension, this episode delivers practical strategies for creating more respectful environments. Dr. Clark's insistence on calling communication competencies "power skills" rather than "soft skills" underscores their critical importance in healthcare settings where lives literally depend on effective collaboration. Ready to transform your workplace interactions? This episode provides the blueprint.

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The BCIT simulation team shares their transformative journey from siloed departments to a unified center of excellence, culminating in their recent SSH accreditation as Canada's fourth accredited program. Carrie Meager and Heather Epp reveal how leadership support, psychological safety, and human-centered approaches created their successful simulation community.

• Evolution from fragmented lab-based learning across 11 buildings to a coordinated simulation program with standardized practices
• Moving beyond skills training to develop critical thinking, communication, teamwork, and clinical decision-making
• Building psychological safety at every level creates an environment where innovation thrives
• SSH accreditation process provided structure while identifying areas for quality improvement
• Focus on human elements through their 40+ simulated participant program addressing communication challenges
• Creative approaches like "cakeable moments" and SimPath faculty development promote psychological safety
• Leadership support from deans and directors was crucial for success
• Innovative virtual simulations address costly consumables in programs like Med Lab Sciences

The BCIT simulation team welcomes connections through LinkedIn or email and can be found at conferences like SimExpo and IMSH. They're happy to share resources and support others building simulation programs.

Innovative SimSolutions.
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