October 9, 2013

On September 12 and 13, the Drexel College of Nursing and Health Professions hosted the 6^th annual Inside the Simulation Studio Conference in collaboration with the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. Titled “The Brave New World of Simulation: Exploring the Human Factor,” the conference included- for the first time since its founding- a set of pre-conference workshops. Sherry Goodill, PhD, Chair of the Creative Arts Therapies Department at the CNHP, kicked off the pre-conference day with a workshop called “Whole Person Feedback: Bringing the Process Alive.”

On conference day, Leland “Rocky” Rockstraw, PhD, Assistant Dean for Simulation, provided opening remarks and introduced Gloria F. Donnelly, PhD, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions, who then gave a humorous keynote address to talk about the importance and future of simulation.

Inside the Simulation Studio was attended by approximately one hundred people, from faculty to researchers to actors working as Simulated Patients. Many of the topics covered during the two-day event were relevant to the work done by these actors and the faculty and administrators who coordinate and oversee their contributions to simulation lab activities. After the conference, attendees were invited to continue their conversations at a local restaurant, and many did.

The conference was unique, Rockstraw explained, because there was no fee to attend, thus removing a barrier for many professionals interested in participating. The College of Nursing and Health Professions covered the costs of running the event.