Healthcare simulation conferences are essential for professionals and educators that are seeking to start, expand, or enhance their medical or nursing institution’s simulation programs. And as many professionals in academia know, conferences and events are some of the best opportunities to build your network while also learning about industry trends.
Although many healthcare simulation conferences and events have been postponed or cancelled due to the global pandemic, but there are still quite a few virtual opportunities—and even some in-person events as well. While this is not an exhaustive list of all the great healthcare simulation conferences out there, here are some of the top events happening in 2021 and 2022.
2021 Medical Simulation Conferences & Workshops
European Simulation Research Network Meeting (SiReN)
Date: October 14, 2021
Location: Virtual
The European Simulation Research Network Meeting brings together leaders and emerging scholars in simulation research to think creatively and differently about the future of simulation research. This collaborative group of simulation researchers working at all levels—from novice researchers through to experienced research colleagues—will lead direct mentee-mentor discussions and host mini-workshop-like sessions on relevant simulation research topics.
AlaSim Virtual Healthcare Simulation Conference
Date: October 21, 2021
Location: Huntsville, Alabama
The 2021 AlaSim Virtual Healthcare Simulation Conference—organized by the Alabama Modeling and Simulation Council (AMSC)—is designed to collect, document, display, and discuss the current state of healthcare simulation technology in Alabama and the nation. AlaSim allows a variety of formats for attendees and participants to see, be seen, hear, be heard, teach, and learn about the science and technology of healthcare simulation.
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Annual Meeting
Date: November 8–10, 2021
Location: Virtual
Every year, the AAMC convenes workforce community leaders at two annual events—the AAMC Health Workforce Research Conference (May) and Learn Serve Lead: The AAMC Annual Meeting (November)—to present data and analysis and engage conversations on the health care workforce. The AAMC Annual Meeting serves and leads the academic medicine community to improve the health of all. It focuses on medical education, medical research, patient care, and diversity & inclusion—among others.
ASPiH 2021
Date: November 8–10, 2021
Location: Virtual
The Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH) virtual conference theme for 2021 is “moving upstream: using simulation to improve systems.” The theme is therefore focused on how simulation can be used to improve systems. Improving processes, procedures, guidelines, layout, equipment, checklists, etc. may have wider and longer-lasting effects than a focus on training individuals—and that’s what this conference is all about.
SIMULCON 2021
Date: December 3–5, 2021
Location: Virtual
SIMULCON 2021 is the third annual virtual simulation conference that brings together over 5,000 participants and more than 50 simulation expert speakers spanning over 15 countries. Participants will have the chance to live and pre-recorded speakers, engage in curated workshops, network with simulation enthusiasts from across the world, and share their experiences with simulation in medical education.
2022 Medical Simulation Conferences & Workshops
International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH)
Date: January 15–19, 2022
Location: Los Angeles, CA (hybrid virtual also available)
The International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) is the world’s largest conference dedicated to healthcare simulation learning, research, and scholarship. The conference offers over 250 sessions in various formats, from large plenary sessions to small, interactive immersive courses. It is also considered to be the educational and networking event for the simulation world.
International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL)
Date: June 15–18, 2022
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
The International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) is a leading forum for nurse educators, researchers, nurse managers, and staff development professionals who are looking to disseminate and gain current knowledge in the area of simulation lab management and simulation enhanced education. Nurses and other healthcare professionals will have the opportunity to network with colleagues and exhibitors; discuss best practice research, safety-related outcomes, competencies, and challenges.
ASPE 2022
Date: June 26–29, 2022
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
The Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) Annual Conference is the premier annual conference in the country for the educators dedicated to human simulation. Conference sessions consist of technique demonstrations, research/project posters, workshops, and panel discussions on a wide variety of SP and simulation topics, and technology sessions provide the latest in SP education technology support.
SimGHOSTS USA 2022
Date: August 2–5, 2022
Location: Dallas, Texas
SimGHOSTS USA 2022 is the premier event for people working with medical simulation technology. The annual conference provides an opportunity to network with other sim techs, engage with simulation technology presentations and workshops, and focus on technical and operational aspects of simulation technology.
FDA Public Workshop on Simulation Practices in Health
Date: TBD (previously postponed)
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) previously announced a public workshop entitled “Towards Good Simulation Practices in Health Technologies.” The purpose of this public workshop is to discuss modeling and simulation practices currently used in health technologies by industry and to develop a framework for evaluating and assessing the utility of computational modeling and simulation in health technologies. The key topics to be discussed are the role of computational modeling and simulation in the regulatory evaluation of health technologies and current simulation practices, with the goal of gathering input to inform the development of good simulation practice recommendations. Although this event is postponed, be on the lookout for a new scheduled date in 2022.
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