The SIMex 2024 Congress brought together global leaders to explore the impact of clinical simulation on education and healthcare systems. Through lectures, workshops and research presentations, innovations such as virtual reality, gamified simulation and interprofessional training strategies to improve healthcare were highlighted
Clinical simulation and its contribution to the healthcare system.
Under this slogan, from November 20 to 22, the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM hosted the Eighth International Meeting on Clinical Simulation (SIMex 2024), where national and international leaders reflected on the implications of simulation on health care.
The event featured an outstanding program of keynote lectures. Erick Lopez, Hugo Olvera and Laura Hernandez opened with a talk on the present, past and future of clinical simulation, setting the tone for three days of intensive learning. Cristina Diaz-Navarro, Chair of the Society for Simulation in Europe (SESAM) presented the scientific evidence on the efficacy of clinical simulation, while Ashley Franklin, President of the International Nursing Association of Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) addressed professional integrity as a basis for simulation teaching and assessment.
Jack Jaeger and Jarrod Young, from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) highlighted simulation as a tool for improving quality and patient safety, and Ángel Tamariz Landa reflected on the enabling processes in medical care, integrating simulation in the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS).
The second day began with Jesika Gavilanes from Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU), who emphasized the importance of the standardized patient for effective communication in healthcare, followed by Dr. Eduardo Montalvo, who explored simulation in surgical skills training. Irving Omar Sanchez, Head of the Clinical Simulation Unit in Guadalajara, provided perspectives on simulation in low-resource settings, while Pedro Cartaxo Cintra, critical care nurse and treasurer of SESAM, discussed its impact on the development of communication skills and teamwork. While Dr. Fryda Medina, from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) addressed simulation in medical-surgical specialties.
On the last day, Dr. Lesly Rivera Contreras (IMSS) discussed simulation applied to the care of specific populations. Contributions from Erica Hinojosa, president of SimGHOSTS, explored technological innovations applied to clinical simulation. A round table moderated by Cristina Diaz-Navarro, Pedro Cartaxo and Irving Omar Sanchez discussed the transformative role of simulation in the healthcare system. During the closing session, Dr. Diaz-Navarro highlighted the challenges of professional development in clinical simulation.
The closing remarks were made by Dr. Ana Carolina Sepúlveda Vildósola, Director of the Faculty of Medicine of the UNAM.
Workshops and research presentations
The Congress also featured a series of innovative workshops that brought together healthcare professionals and academics, creating a dynamic environment for learning and implementation of cutting-edge practices.
Attendees explored key topics such as simulation accreditation and certification, strategies for improving quality of care through psychological safety and feedback, and the integration of sustainable and cost-effective solutions in clinical simulation. In addition, the importance of interprofessional simulation design to optimize hospital systems was highlighted.
These workshops provided practical tools and up-to-date knowledge, underlining the relevance of clinical simulation as a pillar in the training of healthcare professionals and in the continuous improvement of healthcare systems.
The SIMex 2024 Congress was also the setting for the presentation of several research papers that highlighted the relevance of clinical simulation in health education. The studies ranged from the use of virtual simulators, such as ClinicalEmu©, to the perception and satisfaction of medical students, to the implementation of virtual research laboratories to optimize learning. Other work explored the impact of gamified simulation on the neurological development of nursing and midwifery students, as well as the use of virtual reality for learning cardiac anatomy. This research underscores the effectiveness of simulation as an innovative educational tool and its potential to improve students’ clinical competencies.
The SIMex 2024 Congress, for the eighth consecutive year, reaffirmed its commitment to excellence in clinical simulation, consolidating itself as a space for innovation, reflection and collaboration that pushes health education towards new frontiers.
SiMex 2024 Organizing Committee
Dra. Laura Silvia Hernández Gutiérrez
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