Dear Friends,

It’s hard to believe that I am past the mid-point of my tenure as President of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). It has already been a memorable experience that was witnessed several milestones and achievements for the organization. I am very proud of the recent launch and publication of the Consensus Statement on Simulation-based Practice in collaboration with the Society for Simulation in Europe (SESAM). This groundbreaking statement, developed also in collaboration with representatives from 50 simulation societies across 67 countries, underscores the transformative power of simulation in healthcare education, training, and practice. The Global Consensus Statement calls upon policymakers, healthcare leaders, education institutions, and simulation practitioners to take decisive action to advance simulation in healthcare. This includes advocating for sustained resources, mandating the use of simulation, promoting best practice standards, and fostering research collaborations. The full Global Consensus Statement can be accessed through the Simulation in Healthcare Journal.

On August 1, I had the honor to open an historic event to announce a pioneering partnership between the SSH and the Sociedad Mexicana de Simulación en Ciencias de la Salud (SOMESCIS) through the launch of a groundbreaking Accreditation agreement, facilitated by the newly established Commission for International Simulation Accreditation (CISA). This initiative represents more than a decade of rigorous development and refinement of accreditation standards by SSH, tailored to support International Affiliate Organizations like SOMESICS.

I also recently attended the annual SSH SimOPs meeting July 17-19 hosted at Children’s Hospital Colorado in Denver, Colorado. This annual event showcases education, products, services, and group-think opportunities all specific to healthcare simulation operations specialists. It one of the most comprehensive opportunities in the world for those who work for hospitals, colleges/universities, government, and simulation centers to come together, to learn and to network together.

The Gordon Center was prominently featured in the Spring 2024 issue of University of Miami Spring Magazine. The articles highlighted the innovative work the Gordon Center is carrying out to integrate the use of artificial intelligence into the delivery of education and training. Also featured was our emergency response training programs and the opening of the Gordon Center’s first regional training hub in Tallahassee to provide its innovative, collaborative active shooter response training to law enforcement. Supported by funding from the Florida Department of Education, the curriculum expands traditional active shooting response to include basic medical training for law enforcement officers.

Finally, all of us at the Gordon Center are so proud of Dr. Ivette Motola, Director of our Prehospital and Emergency Training division and Gordon Center Assistant Director for her promotion to full Professor of Surgery – a testament and recognition of her significant and wide-ranging impact in teaching, research and scholarship, curriculum development and community outreach.

Barry Issenberg, MD

Director
Gordon Center for Simulation and Innovation in Medical Education
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine