The Penn State Hershey Simulation Center is an institutionally supported collaboration housed within the Department of Medical Education.  The Center is dedicated to advancing the state of the art in medical simulation. To this end, we incorporate the latest equipment and methodologies into our curricula, as well as develop, test, and validate new educational tools.

The initial collaboration between the Departments of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Nursing has grown into a whole-hospital facility. Because of our interdisciplinary approach, we are able to take advantage of expertise in a number of areas and incorporate them into a curriculum or program as it is undergoing development. This is true not only of multiple disciplines, but also of multiple educational levels.  Additional information is available about our facility.

Mission 

• Use state of the art teaching tools and methodologies to further medical education at all levels of training.
• Advance educational technology by improving on existing tools and applications and developing novel approaches to medical education.

Goals

• Increase the safety, efficacy, and effectiveness of patient care through innovative, interdisciplinary training.
• Promote learning in a safe, controlled environment away from the clinical setting.
• Enable the development of curriculum for training in medical specialties.
• Develop surgical skills training outside the operating room.

Approach

• Address educational needs for computer simulation through:
  • concept
  • development
  • validation
  • distribution
• Integrate cognitive and technical skills.
• Develop industrial collaborations.