Few names in medical education and patient safety are as influential as Professor Doris Østergaard. An anaesthesiologist by training, she has spent decades pioneering the use of simulation to enhance healthcare training and improve clinical outcomes. As a Professor at the University of Copenhagen and Director of Research at the Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES), she has been at the forefront of integrating simulation techniques into medical curricula. Her work has influenced policies, training programs, and research in the field of patient safety. In this interview, we explore her journey, insights on medical simulation, and vision for the future of healthcare education. And we also discover her passion for extreme sports to do together with grandchildren.
Doris Østergaard
Doris Østergaard, MD, DMSc, MHPE, is a Professor of Medical Education and Simulation at the University of Copenhagen and Director of CAMES. An anesthesiologist, she pioneers simulation-based training to enhance healthcare education and patient safety. She leads Denmark’s national anesthesiology training program and serves on key medical education councils.
Welcome to SIM Face, where we highlight the champions who are driving the evolution of simulation and supporting a culture of patient safety. Through their experiences and insights, we aim to inspire and connect professionals dedicated to transforming healthcare education.
Doris, welcome and thank you for agreeing to have this chat with us and our readers. Your extraordinary career spans anesthesiology, medical education, and simulation-based training. Looking back, what pivotal moment or experience ignited your passion for simulation and its role in improving patient safety?
The first time I participated my-self in a scenario and a debriefing was a wakeup call. It was in the early 90ties, I was responsible for education at a department of anaesthesia, and we had invited the team behind the development of a Danish anaesthesia simulator to come and train staff in the department. I think we all saw the great opportunities for learning. At the end of the day, I was asked to join the team.
We then travelled with the simulator to several departments of anaesthesia in Denmark, running courses in rational anaesthesia, a Danish version of David Gaba´s CRM courses. We were happy amateurs, but we were able to establish a safe learning environment and conduct reflective debriefings.
At that time, I was responsible for the national courses in specialist training, consisting of 30 days of theoretical courses. I saw the potential for changing the courses and introducing simulation. We managed to do that over a 4 -year period. What helped us was that we did not try to make extra courses but stopped doing what we had done before – no long lectures, but a lot of simulation.
Your journey is full of achievements, but what was the achievement you are most proud of?
Implementing simulation-based training in the national specialist training program for anaesthesiologist as I just described. Facilitating the journey together with the team, from being a simulation unit in the department of anaesthesia to a regional simulation center for all professions and specialists. In addition, the international collaboration about the instructor courses already in 2004 and the first Ph.D. students in 2007. Last, but not the least hosting the SESAM congress in 2007 with participants from all over the world. We were proud to welcome among other notabilities, David Gaba.
Are there any failures that ultimately led to your success?
We were given the opportunity to move to the top floor of the hospital, but at the first meeting the regional director said that the budget did not allow us to have the full floor. My immediate response was, “then I don´t want to move up there”. I did not think before I spoke. Silence in the room and the director of the hospital ended the meeting. After 3 months of silence, we were allowed to have the full floor which implied hiring a large German helicopter to bring roof material up to cover the new areas.
You have trained many health workers in your professional journey, what qualities do you value most in a debriefer?
The Danish philosopher, Søren Kirkegaard said: “when one really succeeds in leading a person to a certain place, one must first of all take care to find him where he is and start there.”
For me it means trying to understand why a participant did as he did, being humble but also create learning and reflection. Taking responsibility for the scenario and debriefing.
What inspires you outside of your work?
Travelling and meeting people with different backgrounds. If possible, with the whole family, and not being afraid of participating in adventures with the grandchildren such as paragliding, swimming with dolphins and whales. Just to mention a few of the most recent ones.
The summerhouse – gardening and kayaking there is relaxing things to do.
Europe is sometimes seen as lagging behind the US in simulation. Based on your experience, where do you see Europe’s strengths and weaknesses in this field?
Both culture and context differ in the European countries, it means that we can be inspired by each other, but that we need to think of “how can this fit in my own environment?” We need to be open minded all the time. In US people forget this, they are so used to thinks being alike.
I think we are more focused on learning than assessment, that is our major strength. In the Nordic countries, we are social constructivist. We are less business oriented, more interested in sharing ideas, which also characterizes the SESAM community. A strength but can also be a weakness.
There are so many things to do in our community, it makes sense to collaborate and share ideas as much as possible. We cannot afford not to.
In November 2024, the Utstein Meeting on Extended Reality in Medical Education brought together experts to explore the integration of XR technologies in healthcare education. As a key organizer of this event, can you tell us how you envision XR contributing to medical education in the near future? Will it fundamentally change the way health professionals are educated and trained?
Yes, it will fundamentally change training. I see it as a needed expansion of the toolbox of learning tools. I think combining different methods will be the future. We need to continue to select the most appropriate method for a given learning objective, but we need to evaluate what works for whom in what context. We need more research to evaluate the technologies before we know that.
During 2007-2009, you served as president of SESAM, distinguishing yourself as the first woman to hold that position. In fact, also the only one. In your opinion, does the field of healthcare education, but I would say healthcare in general, have significant strides to make in gender inclusivity?
I was extremely proud to be elected as President of SESAM. I thought – and hoped – that I could make a contribution with my experience. Help SESAM grow stronger and bigger. I had the team in Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation (CAMES) to support me. I hope I was elected because the members believed I could do it – independent of my gender.
I hope that women will stand up for opportunities and apply their skills – believe that “I can do it”. I strongly believe in teams representing more than one gender type. It might be more difficult for women to take leadership roles when the family have small kids, but nowadays the father is able to step up and take care of the kids.
In 2024, you were honored with the inaugural SESAM Star Award, recognizing your significant contributions to medical simulation. Tell us how you felt when you heard you would receive this honour?
I had already been celebrated by SESAM and appointed honorary member of the society, so I did not expect that something like could happen. I was amazed – it was a fantastic honour to receive the SESAM Star Award. It made me feel so proud of what we have obtained since SESAM was founded 30 years ago here in Copenhagen. I was part of it, but I did not imagine how fast SESAM developed and the huge impact the society have now. Simulation-based training and the use of simulation as an analysis tool have been implemented all over the world. It is fascinating to see that also LMIC have adapted simulation and how it contributes to making it safer for patients. I am proud of being part of this development – it makes a difference for both learners and patients. Receiving the Star is a moment in my life that I will never forget. I will think of the SESAM community and the valuable relations with friends from all over the world.
Give me a hint, if you could interview somebody, a simulator, who would it be? And why?
I would like to interview the first nursing Anne with the beautiful face of the L’inconnue de la Seine. I would ask her what happened, the day she drowned, and if she is proud of being remembered now as a manikin that can help citizens learn how to assist in a drowning situation. In addition, to ask how she now feels and what she would suggest as a next step in the development.
We usually end this type of interviews with a question that is a little bit outside the usual box. So, what is your greatest irrational fear?
Snakes.
Thank you very much, Doris, for sharing your valuable insights with us. It was a pleasure conversing with you. Your dedication is truly inspiring. We wish you a wonderful day!
To our SIMZINE readers, stay tuned for more stories from the leaders in simulation in our upcoming SIM Face interview.
READ ALSO
