Send us a text

Finding your dream job isn't always a straight path – just ask Dr. Kristen Brown. What began as volunteering to be an "embedded actor" in simulation scenarios designed for medical residents transformed into a career-defining passion that now shapes healthcare education at Johns Hopkins and beyond.

Dr. Brown takes us behind the scenes as Associate Dean for Simulation and Immersive Learning at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, where she's pioneered simulation education across all advanced practice nursing programs. Her innovative approach has expanded simulation capacity through virtual reality, adding thousands of additional training hours while maintaining the pedagogical integrity that makes simulation effective. From standardizing simulation curricula to leveraging cutting-edge technology, Dr. Brown reveals how simulation has evolved from a supplementary teaching tool to an essential component of clinical preparation.

The power of simulation comes to life through Dr. Brown's personal experience responding to a roadside emergency. Drawing on skills practiced countless times in simulation scenarios, she instinctively managed a critical airway situation despite being outside her specialty area. This real-world application perfectly illustrates why simulation matters – it creates lasting behavioral changes that translate directly to improved patient outcomes. As Dr. Brown emphasizes, regardless of technological advancements, effective simulation must drive behavior change through meaningful engagement and evidence-based practices.

Dr. Brown's work extends beyond Hopkins through her leadership roles with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, where she serves on the Board of Directors and multiple committees. Her recent policy initiative brought together presidents of major simulation organizations, healthcare education leaders, and policy experts to develop a consensus statement that will shape simulation's role in addressing workforce development challenges. Join us for this fascinating conversation about how simulation is revolutionizing healthcare education and why staying true to its foundational principles ensures it remains transformative for learners and patients alike.

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

What happens when simulation breaks free from hospital walls and becomes embedded throughout an entire healthcare system? Ryan Aga and Don Brock reveal the remarkable transformation at Health Partners, where simulation has evolved from a training method into a life-saving force reaching 14,000 learners annually across eight hospitals, countless clinics, and even rural communities.

Their story unfolds through powerful examples of lives saved, including a cardiac arrest patient given just a 5% chance of survival who later thanked the simulation-trained team for allowing him to witness his grandson's birth. This isn't just about clinical skills—it's about creating a culture where simulation becomes woven into the organizational fabric, with their CEO personally sharing simulation success stories with hundreds of leaders.

Behind the numbers lies a deeply human approach. Don, a retired Air Force flight nurse turned simulation operations manager, brings mechanical precision to Ryan's visionary leadership. Together, they've built a program that reaches every corner of their system, from dental clinics to primary care offices now handling patients with acuity levels previously seen only in emergency departments. They're even building the future healthcare workforce through extensive youth programs in local schools.

The President's Award-winning team doesn't shy away from healthcare's harsh realities—the lingering trauma of the pandemic, financial constraints, and the sobering statistic that 250,000 Americans die annually from preventable medical errors. Their response? A fierce tenacity to improve, an openness to diverse perspectives (including hiring a biomedical engineer to bring fresh insights), and a deep commitment to supporting each other through healthcare's most challenging era.

Whether you're just beginning your simulation journey or looking to scale your existing program, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical wisdom from pioneers who've made simulation an essential, system-wide force for saving lives. Connect with Ryan and Don on LinkedIn to continue the conversation about transforming healthcare through simulation.

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

What if healthcare professionals could practice high-stakes procedures hundreds of times before ever touching a real patient? Dr. Ryan Ribeira is making this vision a reality through virtual reality medical simulation.

As both an emergency physician and the founder of SimX, Ribeira bridges the worlds of clinical practice and technological innovation. His journey began in quality improvement and patient safety, where he recognized that traditional approaches weren't creating the dramatic safety improvements healthcare needed. Looking to aviation's remarkable safety record achieved through simulation, he saw an opportunity to transform medical education using virtual reality.

Traditional medical simulation centers face significant limitations – they're expensive, require dedicated space, and offer limited availability that typically restricts training to quarterly sessions. Mannequins can't display neurological symptoms or traumatic injuries, and capturing the psychosocial complexity of real patient interactions is nearly impossible. Ribiera's solution? Create virtual patients and environments that can be deployed anywhere in minutes.

The impact has been transformative. Healthcare organizations using VR simulation have increased training frequency from quarterly to several times weekly. Modern headsets with improved refresh rates have largely eliminated motion sickness concerns, making the technology accessible to virtually everyone. The technology allows learners to experience rare but critical scenarios repeatedly, building muscle memory and decision-making skills without risking patient harm.

Looking forward, Ribiera envisions AI-generated training scenarios, mixed reality combining physical task trainers with virtual overlays, and biometric monitoring that keeps learners in the optimal stress zone for skill acquisition. These innovations represent a fundamental paradigm shift from "see one, do one, teach one" to "see one, sim a hundred, then do one."

For healthcare educators, administrators, and practitioners facing increasing patient volumes and staffing challenges, VR simulation offers a powerful solution for rapid, effective training. Join us as Dr. Ribiera shares his insights on this revolutionary approach to medical education and his vision for a future where patients never have to be someone's first attempt at a procedure.

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

Wendy LaGrange, VP and Managing Director at Wallcur (now part of 3B Scientific), reveals the vital role of the Corporate Roundtable within the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. This behind-the-scenes organization bridges the gap between industry partners and educators to advance healthcare simulation and improve patient outcomes.

• Corporate Roundtable serves as the corporate arm of SSH, bringing together approximately 50 companies
• Started 15 years ago as a small committee, now playing a significant role in shaping healthcare simulation
• Members meet quarterly to align industry goals with SSH's strategic priorities
• Corporate Roundtable hosts workshops focused on research and development, connecting innovators with industry resources
• A new "shark tank" platform is being developed to help bring simulation innovations from concept to market
• Industry representation on the SSH Board of Directors ensures the corporate perspective influences policy and advocacy
• Competition transforms into collaboration when companies unite under the shared goal of advancing healthcare education

To learn more about the Corporate Roundtable or how your company can get involved, visit the SSH website or contact the SSH staff liaison for more information.

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

Ashley Franklin takes us on a fascinating journey through the evolution of healthcare simulation, drawing from her 16 years of experience as a nurse educator who has never taught without simulation technology. As the current president of INACSL (International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning), Ashley offers a unique perspective on how simulation bridges the gap between classroom learning and clinical competence.

The conversation buzzes with excitement about the upcoming INACSL 25 Conference in Denver (June 19-22), featuring keynote speakers Dan Weberg and pilot Amelia Earhart, plus a panel on artificial intelligence in nursing education. Ashley shares the heartwarming tradition of hosting shelter pets in the exhibit hall, where conference attendees can decompress with puppy cuddles between sessions. This practice has even led to adoptions by INACSL members in previous years.

We dive deep into the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice, currently undergoing their sixth iteration with four updated standards being released this summer. Ashley explains how INACSL's endorsement program has recognized 40 high-quality simulation centers across academic and practice settings worldwide, reflecting the organization's commitment to international excellence. Her personal simulation story about first-semester nursing students successfully managing complex fluid and electrolyte scenarios demonstrates the profound impact of well-designed simulation experiences on building student confidence and competence. Ashley leaves us with a powerful message about the importance of speaking up when something isn't working – because modifiable simulation programs lead to better learning outcomes and ultimately, improved patient safety. Connect with Ashley through Texas Christian University or LinkedIn to continue the conversation about advancing healthcare simulation education.

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

Dr. Christine Park invites us to reimagine our relationship with achievement, rest, and purpose in this soul-stirring conversation that transcends typical discussions about simulation in healthcare education.

The former president of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare shares her remarkable journey from surgery to anesthesiology to simulation leadership, culminating in her decision to embark on an early retirement to pursue coaching. What drives this transformation? A profound realization that came through what she calls her "Holy Grail experiment" – questioning what ultimate prize awaited at the end of the achievement path she had been following her entire life. Her surprising discovery: the prize itself held no appeal.

Dr. Park's reflection on measuring life choices by asking "When I die, will I say this was a good use of my time?" offers listeners a powerful framework for evaluating their own priorities. Her discussion of learning to embrace "rest for rest's sake" – inspired by Tricia Hersey's book "Rest is Resistance" – challenges our culture's tendency to define human value through productivity.

The conversation takes fascinating

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

What happens when lifeguard training, soccer refereeing, and healthcare education collide? Dr. Jared Kutzin, current President of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), reveals how his unconventional journey through hands-on learning environments shaped his understanding of simulation long before he knew the field existed.

Dr. Kutzin's story illuminates the power of experiential learning, from his high school days practicing CPR on mannequins to training in burn buildings during fire academy. His realization that these "drills" and "practical exams" were actually sophisticated simulations came during graduate school, where connecting with pioneers at the Center for Medical Simulation in Cambridge opened his eyes to the science behind effective simulation-based education.

As SSH President, Dr. Kutzin shares his vision for advancing simulation globally through initiatives like the Commission for International Simulation Accreditation (CISA) – allowing regional simulation societies to culturally adapt accreditation standards while maintaining quality. He offers nuanced perspectives on emerging technologies, suggesting virtual reality works best for novice learners while augmented reality presents advantages for skills requiring tactile feedback.

Looking toward 2025, SSH is investing in infrastructure improvements including a new website and learning management system, while simultaneously reaching out to underserved communities. The unprecedented decision to hold a board meeting alongside the SimOps conference demonstrates the organization's commitment to the simulation operations community.

Dr. Kutzin's parting advice emphasizes the power of collaboration – not just between simulation organizations, but locally with computer programmers, game developers, and others who can help advance simulation technology. His journey reminds us that the most effective learning often happens through doing, a principle that continues to drive healthcare simulation's evolution worldwide.

Ready to explore how simulation can transform your healthcare education program? Subscribe to the Sim Cafe for more conversations with leaders shaping the future of clinical education.

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.

Send us a text

Step into the vibrant world of clinical education through simulation with this immersive episode of our podcast! As we engage with Erin, a passionate nurse educator from New Zealand, we delve into the powerful impact that simulation training has on healthcare professionals and patient outcomes. Discover how organizations like the International Pediatric Simulation Society (IPSS) are pivotal in uniting practitioners from around the globe to share invaluable resources and insights.

Erin shares her journey into simulation and highlights her groundbreaking course, "Sim to Lead," which prepares healthcare workers to lead critical emergencies effectively. Through rich storytelling, we examine how these simulations not only hone technical skills but also emphasize essential leadership qualities in high-pressure situations.

Join in as we unpack the challenges and opportunities facing the simulation community, encouraging healthcare professionals to find their tribe and engage with others. This conversation is an invitation to rethink the ways we approach clinical education and to embrace the collaborative spirit that makes this field so dynamic.

Are you ready to transform your perspective on healthcare education? Don’t miss out on this engaging discussion, and be sure to subscribe, share, and leave a review!

Innovative SimSolutions.
Your turnkey solution provider for medical simulation programs, sim centers & faculty design.