Suzan (Suzie) Kardong-Edgren PhD, RN, ANEF, CHSE, FSSH, FAAN is an internationally known speaker, consultant, and educational researcher with over 150 publications. Dr. Edgren was a consultant on the landmark National Council of State Boards of Nursing National Simulation Study that determined that up to 50% of traditional clinical could be replaced with high quality simulation. She served as the Editor-in-Chief of Clinical Simulation in Nursing for 10 years; and is currently the Editor-in-Chief of 2 new interactive online review guides for those seeking certification in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. She has been awarded both the National League for Nursing Deborah Spunt Lectureship and the Michael Gordon Lectureship in Simulation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Edgren served as chair of the Research Committee for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the Vice President of Research for the INACSL. She is a Fellow in the Society of Simulation in Healthcare, the Academy of Nursing Education Fellows, and the American Academy of Nursing. Dr. Edgren is the 2021-2022 President of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation in Nursing (INACSL), a Senior Fellow at the Center for Medical Simulation in Boston, and an Associate Professor at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston.

Dr. Penni Watts is the Director of Clinical Simulation and an Associate Professor at the UAB School of while also serving as the Assistant Director of the UAB Office of Interprofessional Curriculum. Her background includes critical care and emergency room nursing and 20 years as an educator in nursing and healthcare. She currently provides leadership in design, implementation and evaluation of interprofessional (IP) curriculum at UAB. She has expertise in the design and delivery of professional development programs, faculty training for promoting IP teamwork in healthcare, curriculum implementation strategies for IP education. Dr. Watts has led simulation initiatives across the UAB campus and has been director of simulation in the School of Nursing for over 13 years. She received her formal training at the Center for Medical Simulation having completed both the basic and advanced instructor courses.

Dr. Watts professional service includes leadership positions in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and INACSL leading the CHSE-A Subcommittee of the SSH Certification Council and serving as the Chair of the INACSL Standards Committee. Her work focuses on excellence and quality in simulation both helping support those seeking certification and leading the efforts on the revisions and development of the revised Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice. Dr. Watts has widely published on clinical simulation and has led numerous presentations across a multitude of conferences for the last 15 years. She has also led many webinars and podcasts focusing on best practice in simulation.

Dr. Watts was named as a Fellow in the American Academy of Nursing and a Fellow in the Academy of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Watts was also recognized for her leadership and innovation in simulation as a recipient of the INACSL Spirit of Simulation Award and the UAB Presidents Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Watts is active in international simulation efforts and has mentored and hosted several visiting faculty scholars to her simulation program from Zambia, Turkey, Brazil, and Jamaica. She led a week-long faculty training in Jamaica and Zambia offering hands-on application and implementation of simulation methodologies. Dr. Watts co-developed an online module series to teach international nurse educators how to transition to best practices for simulation in nursing education. Dr. Watts is committed to reaching nurse educators not only globally but also in her region and state. She has led collaborative regional workshops between INACSL & SSH designed to support implementation of INACSL Standards and SSH Certification. Currently she leads simulation faculty development programs for those in her state and region on simulation in nursing education.

Elizabeth Horsley, RN, MSMS, CHSE is a very proud transplanted Canadian and former hockey mom. She is a graduate of Queen’s University (Arts ’89) and McMaster University (BScN ’93). She began her healthcare career as an Operating Room Nurse then transitioned to nursing education in 2003. In 2005 she was the lead on overseeing a half-million dollar grant from the province of Ontario to develop and implement a clinical simulation program in an undergraduate nursing program. In April of 2017 she was recruited to the position of Director of Simulation at The Brooklyn Hospital Center. She has transformed a forgotten simulation lab and random pieces of equipment in to a robust and thriving space in a community hospital. Her role runs the gamut from implementing deliberate practice modules for residents and medical students to incorporating simulation in staff education to enhance the patient experience to developing simulation activities for nursing education.

Elizabeth has pursued many advanced training opportunities in simulation including the Comprehensive Simulation Instructor Workshop at the Center for Medical Simulation at Harvard (2015), The Mastery Learning Course at Northwestern University (2017) and The Master Debriefer Course from The Debriefing Academy (2020). In 2016 she was in the first graduating class from the Master of Science in Medical and Healthcare Simulation at Drexel University. She is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and facilitates on-line and in-person readiness review courses for this designation. She is currently serving her second term as Vice-Chair of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Hospital-Based Section. Elizabeth was a member of the writing teams for two of the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice – Prebriefing and Simulation Design. She has an adjunct role with the University of St. Augustine where she facilitates simulation faculty development courses across their five campuses.

She is a self-admitted “hoarder of simulation resources” and her passion is helping novices learn best practices for developing and implementing their own simulation programs.

Elizabeth currently splits her time between Brooklyn and her family home on the Niagara Escarpment in Vineland, Ontario.

Dr. Wilson-Keates is an academic coordinator for the Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University, an online Canadian university. She is the VP for International Affairs for International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) and is a member of the Facilitation Standards Sub-committee for the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM. She holds the CASN Canadian Certified Nurse Simulation Educator credential (CCNSE) and is an active member of several national and international committees including her roles as a Co-chair of the CASN Virtual Simulation Advisory Board and a consultant to Alberta Simulation Educators Group. With clinical experience in adult critical care across Canada and the United States, Barbara has held many nursing positions, including clinical nurse and nursing instructor in classrooms, labs, and clinical placements. As a national and international researcher in simulation pedagogy, Dr. Wilson-Keates is a known consultant for international healthcare providers and faculty on simulation, online education, and virtual healthcare technologies. She is currently involved in a multi-national study of virtual simulation for nursing students across the globe. As co-chair of the CASN Simulation Interest Group, she welcomes everyone to today’s Professional Development Forum.

Dr. Sandra Goldsworthy, PhD, RN, CNCC(C), CMSN(C), CCNSE is a nurse education leader who is recognized as a simulation and critical care expert, researcher and author. She is the recipient of the Canadian Nurses’ Association Order of Merit in Education and was one of 10 University of Calgary inaugural Teaching Scholars. Sandra is author or editor of nine books including: ‘Simulation Simplified: A Practical Guide for Nurse Educators’, ‘Simulation Simplified: Student Lab Manual for Critical Care Nursing’ and ‘The Compact Clinical Guide for Mechanical Ventilation’. Dr. Goldsworthy’s is currently a Teaching Chair of Online and Virtual Experiences and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Nipissing University. Sandra’s previous positions have included: Associate Dean Teaching, Learning and Technology, Director of Blended and Online Learning and Associate Professor (with tenure) in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Calgary. In addition, she held a Research Professorship in Simulation from 2015-2019. The Research Professorship resulted in the development of a research team, research collaborations (locally, nationally and internationally) and design and implementation of more than 15 active research projects of which she is principal investigator. Sandra holds three national certifications: Canadian Nurses Association credentials in Critical Care and Medical Surgical Nursing as well as CASN Canadian Certified Nurse Simulation Educator credential (CCNSE). She is a member of a number of national and international committees including her roles as a Vice President of the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses Association and Co-chair of the CASN Virtual Simulation Advisory Board. Dr. Goldsworthy is passionate about improving patient safety and provider preparation through simulation. Her research program focuses on the impact of simulation in building competence in recognition and response to the deteriorating patient, reduction of medication errors and improving health team communication competencies through interprofessional simulation education.

Dr. Elizabeth Wells-Beede, PhD, RN, C-EFM, CHSE-A, CNE is currently a Clinical Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University College of Nursing in Round Rock, Texas. She has been a nurse for over 20-years with most of her years spent as registered nurse in a high-risk obstetric unit. Dr. Wells-Beede, has been a simulationist for over 10-years where she led a simulation program for the Air Force surgeon general initiative for increasing safety and awareness of airmen in medical groups being deployed and stationed overseas. It was in Spangdalem, Germany that she first found herself immersed in what was the start of a budding career as an educator in nursing and simulation.
Dr. Wells-Beede has sought professional development and advancement of her training in simulation including the inaugural INACSL Simulation Education Program (2020), a certificate in Simulation Instruction and Management from Robert Morris University (2013) as well as her Doctorate in Education (2018). She has also recently been recognized with an advanced certification in simulation education (CHSE-A) sponsored by the Society for Simulation in healthcare, and recently joined the ranks of certified nurse educators sponsored through the National League of Nursing. Dr. Wells-Beede has recently served as a member of two writing teams for the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice ™ – Outcomes and Objectives & Professional Development. She is also currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL).
Dr. Wells-Beede has been teaching in academia for 8 years and is continuing to conduct research on the pedagogy of simulation. She has taken part as a co-investigator on several locally and federally funded grant projects where she has collaborated in creating virtual reality simulation(s). Dr. Wells-Beede is also the primary investigator and lead for a federally funded grant to increase the awareness for pre-licensure nursing students on the care of the client in the community and ambulatory care setting through the integration of virtual reality and the core public health competencies.

Margaret Verkuyl is a nurse practitioner and nursing professor at Centennial College for over 17 years. Since 2013, she has been a leader in developing and researching virtual simulations and interactive etextbooks. She demonstrates academic leadership by adapting clinical simulation experiences to virtual learning. She is a pioneer of innovative student learning experiences through the creation of virtual gaming simulations. As an internationally renowned simulationist, her virtual gaming simulations motivate students globally, to think critically while preparing them for dynamic clinical environments through experiential learning experiences.

While gaining international attention, these virtual gaming simulations have become pervasive in nursing education globally. In 2018, she developed an open access Virtual Healthcare Experience which now consists of nine virtual gaming simulations. A conscious pedagogical decision was made to share these experiences freely through the website entitled the Virtual Healthcare Experience found at https://de.ryerson.ca/games/nursing/hospital. As a result, these games have not only made an impact in Ontario but also globally with close to 2 million plays by either individuals or groups of learners in 25 different countries. These experiential learning experiences reflect her personal teaching philosophy to engage learners in experiences and provide reflection opportunities to increase knowledge, acquire skills, develop critical thinking, and engage in clinical decision-making. These simulations are virtual, innovative, branching scenarios of realistic in-person clinical experiences. In the simulations, users develop critical thinking and clinical judgement by making decisions virtually and seeing the consequence of their decisions. Over the last few years, the virtual gaming simulation design was refined through varied research studies to evaluate the design and the impact on student learning. Professor Verkuyl’s rigorous program of research found student learning through virtual gaming simulations to be easy to use and beneficial to learning with positive outcomes related to learner satisfaction, engagement, and enhanced knowledge and clinical decision making.

Professor Verkuyl provides support, tools and workshops for others who are embarking on the journey of creating or using virtual simulations. This year, she led two teams that authored open educational resources for educators on how to embed virtual simulations effectively in curriculum. They will be freely available as an open educational resource at the end of February 2022.
Professor Verkuyl advances the state of science on ways to embed virtual simulation in curriculum to optimize student learning. This topic is important since virtual simulations are versatile in both process and ways to play them. As a result, creative ways are needed for educators related to the process of embedding them in courses and curriculum. What is most profound related to her research is the importance of following effective process of prebrief, enactment, debrief and evaluation when using virtual simulation. Her research found nuances related to the process of using virtual simulation. Most notability, she conducted multiple research studies to determine how to offer an effective debrief when the students play simulations asynchronously. Several different debriefing solutions were uncovered to enhance learning.

Knowledge translation is important to Professor Verkuyl. Since 2016, she has published over 35 peer-reviewed publications, authored two book chapters and presented numerous local, national, and international presentations on virtual simulations. In addition, her work is disseminated at national and international conferences.

As a result of her work, she has received numerous prestigious local and international awards. More recently, she was recognized for her work with the following awards: 2020 INACSL “Academic” Leadership Excellence Award; 2018 INACSL, Research Excellence Award, Hayden Vanguard Lectureship and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare: 2021 Article of Influence.

As a lifelong learner, Dr. Laura Gonzalez is uniquely suited for her role as vice president of Clinical Learning Resources. In this position she focuses on product innovation and forecasting future trends, ensuring that Sentinel U® remains on the forefront of simulation education technology.
Considered an early adopter of simulation, Dr. Gonzalez has been advocating for its use in Nursing Education for the past 20 years. She believes simulation is the best way to close the didactic-clinical gap, seeing the virtual world as the next space where nursing students can practice in a risk-free environment. Learners can safely build confidence by honing their skills through the various simulation modules Dr. Gonzalez helps develop.

Dr. Gonzalez is such a staunch supporter of simulation that she has focused her professional nursing and academic career on advancing the science of Nursing Education through the use of simulation and its impact on learner outcomes. Her specific body of work has resulted in more than 20 data-based manuscripts in peer reviewed journals and one clinical skills textbook. Her work as co-principal investigator on a National Science Foundation interprofessional grant helped demonstrate that learners were more engaged and had a higher sense of urgency when interacting with an augmented virtual reality simulator.

Recognized as a world-renowned simulation expert, Dr. Gonzalez holds numerous highly acclaimed appointments and honors. She is one of only 83 advanced certified healthcare simulation educators (CHSE-A) globally. Additionally, she currently serves as president-elect for the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning. Dr. Gonzalez is also a Fellow of the prestigious American Academy of Nurses (FAAN) and the Academy of Nurse Educators (ANEF).

As a seasoned nurse educator with experience teaching across live, hybrid, online and synchronous modalities, Dr. Gonzalez’s expertise extends well beyond the classroom and simulation center and into the laboratory. She is privileged to have been on a team of scientists to receive two patents in augmented reality: System for Detecting Sterile Field Events and Related Methods and a Physical-Virtual Patient Bed System.

Dr. Gonzalez began her studies at Hunter College in NYC where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Dr. Gonzalez holds a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of South Florida. While working as a nursing instructor at the University of South Florida she received her Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Central Florida.

Dr. Wilson-Keates is an academic coordinator for the Faculty of Health Disciplines at Athabasca University, an online Canadian university. She is the VP for International Affairs for International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) and is a member of the Facilitation Standards Sub-committee for the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best PracticeTM. She has experience in adult medicine and critical care in acute care hospitals across Canada and the United States. For over 30 years, she has worked in many nursing positions, including clinical nurse and nursing instructor in classrooms, labs, and clinical placements. As a national and international researcher in simulation pedagogy, Dr. Wilson-Keates is a known consultant for international healthcare providers and faculty on simulation, online education, and virtual healthcare technologies. As co-chair of the CASN Simulation Interest Group, she welcomes everyone to today’s Professional Development Forum.

Dr. Sandra Goldsworthy is a nurse education leader who is recognized as a simulation and critical care expert, researcher and author. She is the recipient of the Canadian Nurses’ Association Order of Merit in Education and was one of 10 University of Calgary inaugural Teaching Scholars. Sandra is author or editor of nine books including: ‘Simulation Simplified: A Practical Guide for Nurse Educators’, ‘Simulation Simplified: Student Lab Manual for Critical Care Nursing. Dr. Goldsworthy’s is currently a Teaching Chair of Online and Virtual Experiences and Associate Professor in the School of Nursing at Nipissing University. In addition, she held a Research Professorship in Simulation from 2015-2019. The Research Professorship resulted in the development of a research team, research collaborations (locally, nationally and internationally) and design and implementation of more than 15 active research projects of which she is principal investigator. Sandra holds three national certifications: Canadian Nurses Association credentials in Critical Care and Medical Surgical Nursing as well as CASN Canadian Certified Nurse Simulation Educator credential (CCNSE). She is a member of a number of national and international committees including her roles as Director of Education for the World Federation of Critical Care Nurses Association and Co-chair of the CASN Simulation Interest Group. Dr. Goldsworthy is passionate about improving patient safety and provider preparation through simulation. Her research program focuses on the impact of simulation in building competence in recognition and response to the deteriorating patient, reduction of medication errors and improving health team communication competencies through interprofessional simulation education.

Kelly Day graduated from the University Of New Brunswick (UNB) with a BN degree in Nursing in 1997. After graduation, Kelly pursued a career in neonatal nursing and achieved her Perinatal Intensive Care Certificate in 1997 from George Brown College with clinical work at the Toronto Sick Kids Hospital. From there, Kelly worked in perinatal and pediatric care in Fredericton N.B. until 2008, when she was hired as a Nurse Clinician with the Faculty of Nursing at UNB. Kelly achieved her Master’s Degree in the Nurse Educator Stream in 2013 from UNB. Shortly after, Kelly pursued her interest in clinical care, received her certificate from the CASN Clinical Instructor Course in 2014, and later completed the CASN exam for the Canadian Certified Clinical Instructor Certification in 2019. Kelly is presently tenured with UNB as an Associate Teaching Professor. While with the Faculty of Nursing, Kelly’s interests continue to be clinical development, simulation, and strategies that support nursing students in the clinical setting, and perinatal and pediatric care. In addition to her university responsibilities, Kelly has worked diligently with committees such as the Children’s Environmental Health Initiative to create awareness and support healthy environments for children.

Elizabeth Horsley began her nursing career as an Operating Room Nurse nearly 30 years ago. Her involvement with simulation began in 2005 with the initial round of funding for simulation in nursing education from the province of Ontario.

Over the past fifteen years, Elizabeth has focused her career on all facets of simulation from the theoretical basis to best practices of implementation and facilitation. She has pursued numerous educational opportunities including a Master’s degree focusing on simulation, advanced debriefing and curriculum design courses and the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) designation. In 2017 she was recruited to The Brooklyn Hospital Center to develop and implement a simulation program.

Elizabeth is very involved with the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and INACSL. Most recently, she was a member of the writing teams for the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice focusing on prebriefing and simulation design.

She is a self-admitted “hoarder of simulation resources” and her passion is helping novices learn best practices for developing and implementing their own simulation programs.

Anne Redmond BSc, BN, MScN, RN is a sessional Assistant Professor of Nursing and Simulation and Lab Coordinator at Trinity Western University, Langley BC. She has a strong (and long) interest in facilitating nursing education, especially in simulated and practice environments. She is a member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) and a Member at Large of the Western Canada Collaborative of Health Science Educators Society (WCCHSE). Having graduated over 40 years ago from the Victoria General Hospital, Halifax with her first employment at the Izaak Walton Killam Children’s hospital, Anne’s joyful career in teaching has involved clinical education for Dalhousie University and various sessional education positions at the University of New Brunswick and now, Trinity Western. She welcomes and looks forward to participating in this Simulation Forum.

Kim is a new member of the Simulation Professional Development committee and is grateful to be part of the planning for the 2022 event. Kim graduated from the University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing in 1999; her clinical experience has been focused in rural and emergency settings. In 2012 she transitioned from the bedside practice to faculty at Grande Prairie Regional College. 2015 she obtained her MSN from Trinity Western University and completed a knowledge translation capstone project; Creating Capacity for the Inclusion of Nursing History in the Undergraduate Curriculum.

Primarily teaching in years 3 and 4 of the undergraduate program primarily med/surg theory and clinical Kim passionate about inclusion of simulation and strives to provide her students with experiences in each of her courses. Kim is excited to furthering her knowledge and development of simulation this year by completing Keystone APEX certification with Simulation Canada.