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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
Pediatrics

Simulation Instructor Course

Incorporating simulation-based medical education into clinical practice can increase safety, decrease medical errors, improve clinical judgment and promote self-confidence. Different from the traditional see-do-teach educational methods, simulation-based medical education fully immerses learners in a realistic environment that promotes the cognitive, behavioral and technical skills used in clinical practices. This allows learners to pull from their own personal experiences, in a safe way, to analyze and troubleshoot issues that may arise.

This live, 2 ½ day intensive course, trains health care providers at all levels of experience in the skills necessary to initiate a simulation program. The course can accommodate nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians at any academic center or in private practice, nurse practitioners/physician assistants, other allied health specialists, and medical educators.

Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

  • Discuss simulation-based medical education as a learning tool.
  • Engage in all aspects of scenario design and execution.
  • Apply techniques and knowledge learned to create a realistic scenario, set up a simulation environment, and facilitate a scenario.
  • Describe the basis for debriefing and qualities of a good debriefer.
  • Identify characteristics of a difficult debriefing and begin to utilize specific strategies to manage each effectively.
  • Create a safe and nonjudgmental learning environment that promotes enhanced team efficiency and improved patient care.

Course Information

The course registration fee is $3,000 for all non-IU students or employees. The fee includes: a 2 ½ day simulation instructor course facilitated by Indiana University School of Medicine simulation faculty and educators, the course manual, the use of high and low fidelity mannequins, and parking. In addition, snacks and the following meals are provided: day one — lunch; day two — continental breakfast and lunch; and day three — continental breakfast. Course size is limited to the first ten registrants to encourage maximum active participation from all learners. There are no refunds for this course unless it is cancelled by IU School of Medicine facilitators.

Course Dates

The Simulation Instructor Course will be offered Sept. 17-19, 2025. Interested participants can email Alicia Cochran for more information or to register.

Course Agenda

  • Introduction to simulation
  • The process of scenario design and writing learning objectives
  • Use of embedded participants, and standardized patients
  • Enhancing realism in scenarios and the art of moulage
  • Begin scenario development

  • Working breakfast to refine learner scenarios
  • Introduction to debriefing
  • Debriefing videos
  • Other simulations with practice debriefing

  • Building and sustaining a simulation program
  • Learners facilitate and debrief their group scenarios

Simulation Team

11493-Wetzel, Elizabeth

Elizabeth A. Wetzel, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics

Read Bio

Headshot of woman in a black jacket

Lisa Mayer, BSN, RN

Lead Simulation Educator

Perinatal Outreach Education Team

Emily Gunselman, MSN, BS, RNC-OB; Alana Barbato, MD; Blair Welch, MD; Becky Sutton, RN; Donna Mantooth, RN; Carly Steinborn, RN; Emily Cassell, MD; Kristen Roberts, RN

Continuing Education Credits

Indiana University School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Participants can earn 17.25 nursing contact hours (accredited). A certificate is provided to all health care professionals in attendance in accordance with state nursing boards or other professional associations.

Indiana University School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Commercial Support, educational programs sponsored by IU School of Medicine must demonstrate balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor.

Indiana University Health is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Ohio Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (OBN-001-91) (OH-412, 6/1/2019).

This activity has been approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ and ANCC Contact Hours by Indiana University School of Medicine.

Training Location

Training takes place at Fairbanks Hall on the IU School of Medicine campus in downtown Indianapolis. Parking is available in front of Fairbanks Hall that may be accessed by special code. This code is made available to non-IU affiliated participants the week of the course. IUSM/IUSN/IU Health participants: if needed, a lot is located across 10th street designated for EM parking passes.

Directions

Arriving from Methodist, Riley or University Hospitals, participants can use the IU Health Shuttle to Fairbanks Hall; the Simulation Center entrance is next to the main elevators on the fourth floor.

I-70 West to downtown. Take I-65 North at the downtown split (toward Chicago). Get in far left lane of I-65 North and exit on West Street exit. At traffic light on ramp, go left and follow to the bottom of ramp to a second traffic light (11th Street). Follow through 11th St. light one block to next traffic light, 10th Street. Turn left on 10th St. (one way East). Fairbanks Hall is located approximately ½ block on the left (north) side of 10th Street. The Simulation Center is located on the fourth floor; exit left off of the main elevators.

I-65 South to the N. Martin Luther King Jr. St. Exit – Exit 114. Follow south – street becomes West Street. Continue on West St. to the traffic light at West 10th St. Turn left on West 10th St. (one way East) and Fairbanks Hall is approximately ½ block on the left (North) side of 10th St. The Simulation Center is located on the fourth floor; exit left off of the main elevators.

I-70 East to downtown. Exit on West Street and follow north through downtown to 10th Street. Turn right (East) on 10th St. (one way East). Fairbanks Hall is located approximately ½ block on the left (north) side of street. The Simulation Center is located on the fourth floor; exit left off of the main elevators.

I-65 North to the North split (I-65 North Chicago – I-70 East Columbus, Ohio). Merge left I-65 toward Chicago. Stay in far left lane and follow to the West Street exit. At traffic light on ramp, turn left and stay in the left lane. Follow straight through the next light at 11th St. (at the bottom of exit) to the next traffic light – 10th Street. Turn left on 10th St. (one way East) and follow approximately ½ block to Fairbanks Hall on your left. The Simulation Center is located on the fourth floor; exit left off of the main elevators.