In the ever-evolving landscape of healthcare education, simulation has become a powerful tool for improving skills, fostering collaboration, and enhancing patient outcomes. One institution that stands out in this field is the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM), which has established itself as a leader in medical simulation innovation. Under the leadership of Camille Lalonde Gagnon, the CHUM’s simulation program has taken bold steps to improve healthcare education and expand access to critical skills development.
A SIMZINE exclusive based on the SIM Moove podcast interview with Camille Lalonde Gagnon
In the world of healthcare simulation, innovation and leadership play a vital role in enhancing medical education and improving patient care. While healthcare professionals are often at the forefront of simulation initiatives, non-clinical experts also bring valuable skills to the table — skills that shape the design, delivery, and impact of simulation programs.
In this episode of SIM Moove, a podcast dedicated to French-speaking simulation enthusiasts, host Fouad Marhar speaks with Camille Lalonde Gagnon, Head of the Learning and Simulation Center at the Centre hospitalier de l’Université de Montréal (CHUM). With a background in management and organizational change, Camille shares how her expertise has transformed the CHUM’s simulation landscape, revealing insights into leadership, innovative programs, and the critical role of simulation in inspiring future healthcare professionals.
A Unique Leadership Approach
Camille Lalonde Gagnon holds a unique position as the head of CHUM’s simulation program. Unlike most simulation leaders, Camille does not come from a clinical background. Instead, her expertise lies in management, organizational change, and continuous improvement. This unconventional path has allowed her to bring a fresh perspective to the simulation space.
“I always dreamed of contributing to improving Quebec’s healthcare system,” says Camille. “While I’m not a clinician, my background in management has enabled me to support and enhance simulation programs with a focus on process optimization and impactful learning experiences.”
In 2022, Camille took on the challenge of reorganizing the CHUM’s simulation services, which had faced disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic. As hospitals shifted their focus to vaccination and testing, the simulation center temporarily pivoted away from its core educational activities. Camille’s task was to revitalize the program, rebuild her team, and ensure that CHUM’s simulation services remained effective and relevant.
The Simulation Ecosystem at CHUM
The CHUM simulation center is a vast technical platform featuring more than 80 rooms dedicated to learning activities and clinical simulations. With a team of 15 full-time employees, the center supports over 100 healthcare professionals involved in simulation activities. These professionals represent diverse roles, including educators, scenario designers, and operational specialists.
One of the key innovations Camille introduced was a structured process for managing simulation requests. By implementing a centralized intake system, the team improved its ability to identify and respond to client needs. This streamlined approach enables CHUM to better tailor simulation programs to address specific training objectives, whether for experienced simulationists seeking operational support or for novices requiring full pedagogical guidance.
Defining Clients and Services
One of the unique aspects of CHUM’s simulation model is the adoption of a “client” approach. This term may seem surprising in the context of healthcare education, but it reflects the institution’s commitment to meeting the specific needs of each individual or department that seeks simulation support.
CHUM’s clients include nurses responsible for training within their units, residents pursuing specialized learning objectives, and even external organizations such as pharmaceutical groups and medical associations. By identifying these groups as “clients,” the CHUM simulation team has developed a service-oriented mindset that prioritizes clear communication, goal alignment, and measurable results.
The CHUM Summer Camp: Inspiring Future Healthcare Professionals
One of CHUM’s most innovative initiatives is the Académie de la Relève en Santé, a summer program designed to introduce young students to healthcare careers. This five-day immersive experience offers 15- to 17-year-olds the opportunity to explore various healthcare roles through hands-on simulation activities.
“Our goal is to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals,” says Camille. “By engaging students early and giving them a realistic sense of what these careers entail, we can help address workforce shortages while guiding students toward fulfilling career paths.”
The program combines high-fidelity simulations, procedural training, and immersive experiences such as escape rooms. Participants practice CPR, intubation, and suturing, among other hands-on skills. The highlight of the week is a simulated clinical scenario in which students must respond to a medical emergency, such as a drowning incident, applying the techniques they learned throughout the program.
The impact of this initiative is impressive. Since its launch in 2018, 79% of past participants have pursued healthcare studies, while an additional 11% have entered science and engineering programs. Importantly, 100% of students reported discovering new career options through the experience.
The program’s success has also driven changes in the participant selection process. Initially focused on academic achievement and recommendation letters, the application now emphasizes equity and inclusion. As Camille explains, “We now use a lottery system to ensure we reach students from diverse backgrounds, including those from underserved communities.”
The Power of Partnerships
Funding for the Académie de la Relève en Santé relies on strategic partnerships. The CHUM Foundation has played a pivotal role in securing financial support, with organizations such as Desjardins and Quebec’s Ministry of Innovation contributing to the program’s expansion.
“Measuring impact is key to maintaining these partnerships,” says Camille. “By tracking participant outcomes and demonstrating the program’s value, we’ve been able to secure ongoing support and inspire other institutions to adopt similar initiatives.”
Introducing Emergo: A Tabletop Simulation Innovation
In addition to traditional simulation approaches, CHUM has pioneered the use of Emergo, a unique tabletop simulation tool designed for emergency response training. Originating in Sweden, Emergo allows teams to practice managing large-scale crises using magnetic boards and scenario cards that represent thousands of individual patients.
CHUM’s faculty became the first French-speaking Emergo training center in North America. This distinction has allowed the team to train instructors across the region, enabling more hospitals and emergency services to adopt this innovative training method.
“Emergo allows us to test and refine our emergency response protocols in a highly efficient way,” says Camille. “During a recent exercise, we simulated a major incident involving over 200 patients distributed across multiple Montreal hospitals. This type of large-scale exercise would have been impossible with traditional patient simulation methods.”
Measuring Impact: The Key to Simulation Success
For Camille, evaluating the impact of simulation activities is crucial. “As simulationists, we dedicate significant time to designing, delivering, and debriefing our simulations,” she says. “But the real value comes from measuring how those experiences improve clinical skills, teamwork, and patient outcomes.”
By consistently measuring results, Camille and her team have been able to refine their programs, demonstrate value to stakeholders, and secure ongoing support for simulation initiatives. This results-driven mindset has become a cornerstone of CHUM’s approach to healthcare education.
A Vision for the Future
Camille’s leadership has helped CHUM establish itself as a leader in simulation-based education. By fostering innovation, embracing multidisciplinary collaboration, and prioritizing impact measurement, the team has created a model that inspires both local and international audiences.
“Simulation is an incredible space for innovation,” Camille reflects. “Bringing together diverse perspectives and skill sets allows us to build more effective training programs and ultimately improve healthcare outcomes.”
With CHUM’s commitment to sharing best practices and scaling successful programs, their impact is poised to extend well beyond the walls of the hospital, influencing the broader healthcare education landscape for years to come.
Full conversation available in French on SIM Moove
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