Greetings, Friends of WISER,
As fall settles into Pittsburgh and the colors of the season surround us, the WISER team continues to grow, travel, and innovate in the name of healthcare simulation. This past few months. has been filled with exciting developments both here at home and on the road.
In September, members of the WISER team had the privilege of traveling to Kansas City to participate in the 17th Annual Kansas City Healthcare Simulation Conference, held on Friday, September 19, 2025. This year’s theme—“Revisiting the Basics with Today’s Knowledge and Tomorrow’s Technology”—offered the perfect backdrop to reconnect with core simulation principles while highlighting the innovations shaping our future.
I had the honor of delivering the conference keynote on the future of simulation, and was proud to be joined by WISER fellow Dr. Addy Kothare, WISER Director of Operations Tom Dongilli, and WISER Director of Educational Development Bianca Caruso. Together, we led lectures and workshops focused on debriefing, scenario design, and systems integration. The day-long symposium was fun, engaging, and a tremendous networking opportunity with simulation professionals from across the region. We always appreciate the chance to exchange ideas and re-energize through collaboration.
Back in Pittsburgh, we continued our dedication to professional development by hosting another session of the iSIM Fundamentals course at WISER. This program continues to be one of the most sought-after offerings we provide—empowering simulation professionals to build strong debriefing skills, structure scenarios effectively, and integrate simulation into their curricula with clarity and purpose. It’s always inspiring to see the passion and creativity of our course participants, many of whom are new to simulation and eager to make an impact in their home institutions.
One of the most exciting accomplishments this fall was the launch of our new Simulation Operations Specialist Career Ladder. This long-standing goal has been brought to life through a successful collaboration with UPMC Human Resources and the University of Pittsburgh. This career pathway formally recognizes the expertise, professionalism, and dedication of our simulation specialists. It acknowledges not only their longevity and tireless work behind the scenes, but also the evolving complexity and scope of their roles in the simulation enterprise.
We’re proud to share that all eligible WISER Simulation Operations Specialists have now achieved Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS) status—a milestone that demonstrates their mastery of the field and unwavering commitment to excellence. This career ladder creates new growth opportunities while reinforcing the value of simulation operations as a recognized and respected profession within academic medicine.
Globally, our network continues to expand. In addition to hosting international scholars and fellows in Pittsburgh, we are in the final stages of preparing for our annual participation in the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH). We’re thrilled to have multiple presentations and faculty members representing WISER at this year’s conference, and we look forward to reconnecting with our friends and colleagues from around the world. If you’re attending IMSH, we invite you to stop by our booth and say hello.
As always, I remain grateful for the tireless efforts of the WISER team and for the support of our broader community—educators, clinicians, researchers, operations specialists, and simulation champions alike. Together, we continue to use simulation as a tool not only to teach, but to transform healthcare delivery, improve safety, and elevate education across professions and borders.
Until next time—
Happy Simulating!
—Paul