At SIMZINE, our goal is to shed light on what different professional roles in medical simulation actually involve. In this article, we explore the daily responsibilities of a Sales President through the experience of Sil Fon Tang. From global conferences and live product demos to strategy meetings and team coordination, Sil Fon accompanies us on a discovery of how innovation, travel, and training come together to improve healthcare education and improve patient safety. This personal account sheds light on the challenges, rewards, and impact of working in a field where cutting-edge technology helps save lives every day.
People often ask me what I do for a living. When I tell them I work in medical simulation, the responses vary widely. Some nod politely, pretending to understand. Others ask, “So… you make robot doctors?” Not quite. At MEDICAL-X, we create high-tech patient simulators and task trainers that help medical professionals practice life-saving skills in a safe environment. But explaining what I do is one thing, experiencing it is another.
If there’s one word that describes my job, it would be dynamic. No two days are ever the same. Actually, scratch that—there is one constant: travel. I spend nearly half my time bouncing between time zones, flying from China to America, stopping in Europe, and sometimes catching my breath just long enough to unpack before heading off again. Whether I’m at a conference with our own booth or supporting our distributors at their stands, my mission is always the same: to demonstrate, train, and show the world why medical simulation is not just important, but essential.
The Art of Demonstration
There’s a real art in demonstrating healthcare simulators. You don’t just push a few buttons and say, “Look, it moves!” No, it’s about storytelling. When I showcase one of our high-fidelity patient simulators, I don’t just explain its features, I take people through real-world scenarios.
Picture this: You’re standing in a crowded exhibition hall, surrounded by beeping devices and medical professionals eager to see the latest innovations. In front of you is our neonate simulator, NENASim. You press a button, and suddenly, the tiny baby starts turning blue: hypoxia. The heart rate drops. The audience leans in. You see their expressions change from curiosity to concern. This isn’t just a mannequin; it’s a training tool that teaches healthcare providers how to respond to real-life situation. And when I explain how NICU teams can use this simulator to save fragile newborns, I know I’ve captured their attention.
From Factory Floor to Conference Halls
When I’m not on the road, I’m at our headquarters in the Netherlands. Visitors, such as medical professionals, distributors, and industry leaders, from all over the world come to our factory, eager to see our simulators in action. We roll out the red carpet—live tours, hands-on training, and deep dives into how our products are made. It’s one thing to see a simulator in a brochure; it’s another to witness firsthand how we bring medical training to life.
We also organize company days, bringing together our distribution partners and end-users to learn more about how we can support their needs. These events are a fantastic way to strengthen relationships and ensure our partners fully understand how to use and promote our products effectively.
Beyond demos and travel, I’m also part of the management team. Alongside the CEO and the Director of Production, I am constantly looking ahead:
- What’s next in medical simulation? New products? New market trends?
- What do the customers need?
- How can we push the boundaries of training technology?
These are the questions that keep us moving forward.
The two Big Shows
January is always a whirlwind. It kicks off with IMSH in the United States, the biggest medical simulation conference in the world. This is our stage to unveil our latest innovations, meet with our global distributors, and connect with customers who are just as passionate about simulation as we are. It’s a week of back-to-back meetings, exciting product showcases, and a chance to see what’s happening in the industry.
And just when I think I might get a break, Arab Health comes knocking. Held in Dubai, it’s the perfect opportunity to meet distributors from the Middle East, North Africa, and even as far as Pakistan. This is where business meets culture, where partnerships are built over coffee and conversations. Plus, it’s a chance to catch up with fellow simulation manufacturers and see what new solutions are emerging.
The Team Behind the Scenes
While I might be the one on the road, leading demonstrations and meeting clients, my work would be impossible without the support of a dedicated team behind the scenes. Each department plays a key role in helping me do my job effectively.
Our marketing and media colleagues make sure that our message reaches the right audience. Thanks to their work – videos, brochures, social media content – I can walk into a conference booth knowing our brand and products are already speaking for themselves.
Sales operations is the anchor that keeps everything organized. When I’m in back-to-back meetings across time zones, they ensure that follow-ups are handled, quotes go out on time, and nothing falls through the cracks.
Clinical expertise is also essential. I rely on our medical product specialists to bring authenticity and depth to our training sessions. When I’m presenting to doctors or nurses, it’s their real-world experience that validates what we offer and helps build trust with end-users.
And then, of course, there’s the engineering and production team. They turn concepts into the simulators I present around the world. When I demonstrate a device, I know I’m showing something that’s been built with care, precision, and a deep understanding of what medical professionals need.
In short, I may be the face of our company in many situations, but I’m just one part of a much larger effort, one that allows me to focus on what I do best: connecting with people and showing them the impact of medical simulation.
Why I Love This Job
Despite the constant travel and the long hours, I wouldn’t trade this job for anything.
Medical simulation is more than just a business: it’s a mission.
I get to work with people from all over the world, each with their own background and culture, yet all united by the same goal: to provide better training for healthcare professionals to ultimately increase the quality of care.
One of the most rewarding moments is seeing the impact our simulators have. I’ve had doctors tell me how our devices improved their team’s emergency response times. I’ve seen nurses grow more confident in their skills because they practiced on our simulators before stepping into real-life scenarios. And when I hear that our training solutions have played a role in saving lives, it reinforces why I do what I do.
At the end of the day, that’s what keeps me going. Because when we help train a doctor, a nurse, or a first responder, we’re not just selling a product, we’re contributing to a future where more lives can be saved. And if that means another flight, another time zone, and another demo, well, I better start packing!
READ ALSO
