Greetings!
As we welcome the new year, we extend our warmest wishes to all for a prosperous and fulfilling 2025! This year is filled with exciting opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and impactful research. At CAMLS, we are ready to seize these opportunities and continue driving excellence in healthcare simulation and training.
We started the year on a high note at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) conference in Orlando, FL. Several CAMLS team members delivered insightful presentations on a range of critical issues in simulation and healthcare education. These sessions showcased the cutting-edge work and thought leadership that defines us, offering a platform to share our expertise and represent CAMLS on a global stage.
Beyond the presentations, IMSH was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen connections with key stakeholders in industry, academia, and government. The collaborations and conversations that began at the conference will undoubtedly lead to new initiatives and advancements throughout the year.
As we look ahead, the future is bright for CAMLS and the communities we serve. We are excited to build upon our successes and foster innovation that will shape the future of healthcare. Here's to another year of groundbreaking work, impactful partnerships, and meaningful progress!
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Thank you for your continued support, and we wish you a successful and inspiring year ahead. Let’s make 2025 extraordinary!
Sincerely,
Haru Okuda, MD, FACEP, FSSH
Executive Director, USF Health CAMLS
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Simulation & Beyond: CAMLS Educational Updates
Celebrating Excellence in Healthcare Education
| The start of the year has been a whirlwind of activity for the USF Health CAMLS education team, with three transformative courses hosted in just three weeks. Here are the highlights: |
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS) Course: This premier program welcomed participants from 18 U.S. states and international attendees from Guatemala, the Caribbean, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Costa Rica, Pakistan, and Mexico. Participants refined their surgical skills through hands-on training alongside world-renowned faculty. A sincere thank you to our course directors, faculty, participants, and CAMLS staff for contributing to this success.
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Symposium Update in Allergy and Immunology: This weekend event featured the latest advancements in allergy and immunology, with sessions on severe asthma, food allergies, and biological markers. A rhinoscopy skills lab added a hands-on element, attracting professionals across Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, and related specialties.
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IMSH 2025 Pre-Course: The Business of Simulation:
Global leaders in healthcare simulation convened at CAMLS to explore strategies for financial sustainability in simulation-based education. The program provided actionable insights on funding models, operational efficiencies, and marketing approaches to balance educational excellence with economic viability.
| These three programs exemplify the dedication of our faculty, staff, and participants to advancing healthcare education. Together, we’re shaping the future of healthcare training and practice. |
Advancing Innovation in Simulation
We are also thrilled to highlight recent achievements by the CAMLS education team, whose innovative contributions are transforming clinical training and education.
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Dr. Melissa Milner, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, Director of Clinical Simulation, debuted her Bartholin’s Cyst Task Trainer at the 2025 SimVentors Showcase during IMSH. This cost-effective simulator replicates the anatomy and tactile experience of a fluid-filled Bartholin's duct cyst, equipping OB-GYN practitioners with an invaluable tool to master important, hands-on clinical skills. Her presentation earned global acclaim for its potential to elevate OB-GYN education and patient care.
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Drs. Melissa Milner and Eric Weinstein collaborated on Low-Cost Bleeding Control Task Trainers, showcased at IMSH 2025. These innovative devices simulate real-time bleeding scenarios, enabling hands-on practice in wound packing, tourniquet application, and pressure techniques. Designed to be affordable and accessible, they address critical emergency training needs, particularly in resource-limited regions.
| These milestones highlight the ingenuity, expertise, and dedication of the CAMLS team in advancing healthcare simulation and education. Please join us in celebrating their achievements! | | |
We were honored to welcome 200 mayors, councilmen/women and city managers from across the nation to CAMLS for the inaugural Big Ideas for Cities: An International Summit!
This summit was a pre-convention event hosted by the National League of Cities which brought over 4,000 elected officials and municipal staff to Tampa this week. Among the distinguished attendees were city host, Tampa’s own Mayor Jane Castor and Eric Garcetti, former Mayor of Los Angeles, who joined the conversation virtually from New Dehli to discuss advancing innovation and leadership in cities.
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We were also pleased to welcome the University of South Florida Global and National Security Institute (GNSI) to CAMLS for the USF NATO Edge Reception. The event featured The Chat: CYBR Platform, an innovative initiative uniting leading experts, thought leaders, and policymakers to tackle the ever-evolving landscape of cyber policy.
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International Collaboration |
We welcomed back faculty and leadership from Gifu University including globally known expert in medical education, Dr. Takuya Saiki, who is the Director of Gifu University’s Medical Education and Development Center. In addition to a tour of CAMLS, their faculty met with researchers and clinicians across our surgical and medical specialties, in the hopes of furthering our partnership and collaborations.
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We were excited to host simulation faculty from four major Japanese medical schools in Japan, Jikei University, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Teikyo University, and Tokyo Metropolitan University. They met with our Executive Director of CAMLS and Associate Vice President for International Programs to discuss future collaborations including future student exchanges and research.
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USF Health CAMLS: Fostering Innovation Through Student Research
USF Health CAMLS is proud to support student researchers, fostering innovation and preparing future healthcare leaders. By engaging students in research, CAMLS promotes critical thinking, hands-on experience, and professional growth, equipping them to tackle challenges with confidence. Collaboration with experienced professionals drives fresh perspectives, innovation, and meaningful contributions to healthcare education and practice.
At the 2025 International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH), CAMLS students showcased projects that exemplify the transformative power of experiential learning and collaboration.
🎓 Undergraduate Research Spotlight
Antonious Y. Rizkalla, a December 2024 USF Biomedical Sciences graduate, presented a study led by Dr. Shannon Bailey, CAMLS’ Senior Human Factors Scientist. The research explored virtual reality’s potential to enhance neuroanatomy education, demonstrating how involving students in real-world problem-solving builds critical skills and career readiness.
🎓 Graduate Research Contributions
Riley Swain, Graduate Research Assistant, presented a study on task performance in extended reality (XR) simulations. Conducted with Dr. Bailey and a multidisciplinary team, this research examined how XR interaction methods, like haptic gloves and hand tracking, can optimize healthcare training, showcasing how student involvement drives innovation in medical education.
🌟 Advancing Innovation Through Collaboration
Douglas Titze, a Computer Scientist in Dr. Bailey’s XR Lab, demonstrated cutting-edge VR technology at the IMSH Tech Experience Area. By integrating haptic gloves into a VR defibrillator assembly scenario, he highlighted how student engagement fosters creativity, collaboration, and impactful learning experiences.
At CAMLS, involving students in research is central to advancing healthcare simulation and education. By empowering the next generation of innovators, we ensure a brighter, more innovative future for healthcare.
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Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) Course
April 7, 2025
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Advanced Trauma Life Support Refresher Course
May 17, 2025
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Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM)
May 19, 2025
Email Frank Whitaker for more information.
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This month we spotlight Jataya Jackson, a dedicated Simulation Operations Specialist who has been an integral part of the CAMLS team for nearly three years!
Jataya has played a crucial role in ensuring the seamless execution of our simulation-based training programs. From setting up complex medical scenarios to maintaining the technology that drives our simulations, her contributions have helped elevate the learning experience for countless healthcare professionals.
Beyond her technical expertise, Jataya’s passion for healthcare and education shines through in everything she does. This drive has led her to an exciting new chapter—she’ll soon be embarking on her journey to medical school! We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and can’t wait to see all the amazing things she’ll achieve as she pursues her dream of becoming a physician. Thank you, Jataya, for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to advancing healthcare education.
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Rising Together: Celebrating Team Milestones
Our team members continue to achieve significant milestones and make meaningful contributions. Here are some recent highlights:
- William Coleman, Conference and Events Planner, earned his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) certification from the Events Industry Council, showcasing his expertise in event planning and management.
- Lauren Siegal, Multimedia Producer, obtained her Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration, expanding her skills with drone piloting for multimedia production.
- Shaterra Blocker, Assistant Director of the USF Health Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice, earned her Master’s in Management and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management from the USF Muma College of Business, enhancing her leadership and project management skills for interprofessional education initiatives.
Congratulations to all for their outstanding accomplishments! Your dedication and success inspire excellence across our team.
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Check out our new 360° tour! |
The CAMLS website continues to enhance the online experience. A new 360° tour of the center is now available. This online tour offers viewers the opportunity to explore bio skills lab spaces, simulation rooms, meeting and classrooms along with various other locations within the building. Check out the new 360° tour and take a look at the maps and floor plans to begin planning your next program today.
Contact the CAMLS business development team to learn more.
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