In the world of healthcare simulation, there’s often a lot happening behind the scenes that few get to see. Avkin’s ‘Excellence in Simulation’ Award is all about shining a spotlight on the trailblazers in healthcare simulation — those dedicated individuals who transform healthcare education with creativity, passion, and purpose. This award highlights simulation leaders who impact patient outcomes, push boundaries, and make meaningful, lasting changes in the industry. This year, the Avkin team is thrilled to present the ‘Excellence in Simulation’ Award to Dr. Amy Vermillion from Riverside City College (RCC). Her dedication to innovation and excellence in simulation has not only elevated RCC’s simulation program but has also positively impacted the broader Inland Empire healthcare community.
Dr. Amy Vermillion Wins Avkin’s Excellence Award
Amy Vermillion’s work at RCC exemplifies the very best in healthcare simulation. She has harnessed the power of wearable simulators to provide her students with realistic, hands-on learning experiences that bridge the gap between classroom knowledge and real-world patient care. A remarkable example of her impact involves the use of the Avthor device in skills and simulation learning at RCC. During a clinical rotation, one of her students encountered a patient with a chest tube and recognized a critical issue with the drainage system setup. Thanks to the training and hands-on experience gained through simulation, the student quickly identified and corrected the problem. This resulted in 500ml of fluid drained from the chest cavity which immediately improved the patient’s oxygen levels and overall condition. This kind of life-changing difference is why healthcare simulation matters so much, and is a testament to Amy’s leadership and the strength of RCC’s simulation program.
Beyond individual cases, Amy’s influence extends to interprofessional education initiatives that bring together professionals from five different disciplines, promoting collaboration to improve patient outcomes across the Inland Empire. She has been instrumental to guide RCC’s School of Nursing through an innovative approach to reimagine simulation practices, led the program’s accreditation through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). As a nationally certified CHSE (Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator), Amy is a dedicated resource not just for RCC, but for numerous community colleges in the area, to help uplift and enhance the quality of simulation education across the region.
In the future, Amy plans to expand the program even further. She has completed the AvMentor program with Amy Cowperthwait through Avkin and is in the preparatory phase to integrate standardized patient simulations into RCC’s Mental Health Program in Spring 2025. She has a creative recruitment approach and plans to involve theater students through an current internship course to help bring realistic, dynamic patient interactions to the program.
Congratulations once again to Dr. Amy Vermillion for her outstanding contributions to healthcare simulation. Her dedication, creativity, and commitment to patient outcomes and simulation education have earned her this year’s ‘Excellence in Simulation’ Award, and Avkin is proud to celebrate her achievements.
Thank you, Amy, for inspiration to all of us and a reminder of why simulation is such a powerful tool in healthcare education. Here’s to all you have accomplished — and to all that lies ahead!
View the HealthySimulation.com Webinar Getting Started with Wearable Simulators for Interprofessional Clinical Simulation to learn more about Avkin!
Simulation Award Finalists
In addition to our award winner, Dr. Amy Vermillion, we had a truly exceptional group of nominees for the ‘Excellence in Simulation’ Award, each bringing their own unique perspective and innovation to healthcare simulation. These individuals are making impactful contributions and pushing the field forward in exciting ways.
Corinn Herrell, Simulation Coordinator at Phoenix College, is pioneering inclusive and impactful simulation experiences with the integration of Avkin wearable simulators with Deaf Standardized Patients (SPs). This inclusive approach allows students to gain practical experience working with patients who have diverse communication needs, promoting sensitivity and adaptability in future healthcare professionals. Corinn also brings a powerful element of realism into her simulations by including live patients and family members in end-of-life scenarios, which profoundly affects student learning. Additionally, she utilizes live patients in home health and population health simulations, enhancing students’ understanding of patient care across various settings. Corinn’s use of the Avtone in her scenarios showcases her innovative mindset and commitment to providing comprehensive, real-life experiences in healthcare simulation.
Sarah Pierce, Director of Simulation and Standardized Patients at California Baptist University, has created an immersive, theatrical approach to simulation at her institution, which leverages her theater background to design dynamic simulation experiences that engage all senses. Her use of standardized patients (SPs) extends beyond traditional methods to incorporate detailed costumes, Avkin wearable simulators that includes Avbirth, Avtrach, Avline and Avstick, and to replicate realistic environments — from missionary trips to Thailand to a fully immersive black box theater with projections and sensory elements. Sarah also threw a Titanic-inspired three-course dinner event for program donors to showcase how far she can push the boundaries of immersion in simulation. With collapsible sets, custom SP costumes, wearable simulators, and environments like an EMS training village, Sarah’s program feels like VR brought to life, merging creativity and realism to enhance the learning experience.
Ryne Ackard, Director of Operations at the University of Virginia Simulation Collaboration, is a strong advocate for maternal and fetal health, especially to address birth disparities through simulation. Passionate about DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, Ryne has brought Avbirth into UVA’s newly opened $16.6 million simulation center, which includes state-of-the-art skills labs and debriefing rooms. With a drive for constant improvement, Ryne is exploring ways to enhance fidelity and functionality in simulation equipment to better support both educators and learners. His commitment to innovation and his advocacy for improved maternal health outcomes reflect his deep dedication to pushing simulation to meet the evolving needs of healthcare.
Kevin Glover, Director of the Richard A. Henson Medical Simulation Center at Salisbury University, is known for his forward-thinking approach to simulation and instructional design. As a visionary in the field, Kevin integrates a variety of simulation modalities and uses a paid, on-site trained SP program with the use of wearable simulators to enhance realism in his scenarios. As an advocate for hybrid simulation and wearable simulators, Kevin continues to expand his collection of simulation devices, and his hybrid simulations blend manikins and SPs to mirror real-world situations effectively. In 2023, he led a groundbreaking initiative to introduce local elementary school students to healthcare careers to cultivate an early interest in healthcare and simulation. With a $10 million grant to train hospital-based nurse educators, Kevin’s impact extends from his simulation center to the healthcare industry at large.
Avkin Wearable Simulator Products Include:
- Avbirth, Fully-Automated, Wearable Birthing Simulator
- Avtrach, Wearable Tracheostomy Simulator
- Avstick, Wearable IV Insertion Simulator
- Avline, Wearable Central Line Simulator
- Avtone, Wearable Heart & Lung Sounds Simulator
- Avcath, Wearable Catheterization Simulator
- Avthor, Wearable Chest Tube Simulator
- Avwound, Wearable Wound Simulator
- Avband, Wearable Patient Cueing Device
- Elite Simulation Package
- Manikin Replacement Package
- Vital Signs Package
Later this week, Avkin will participate in a Symposium at George Washington University on Thursday, November 21, 2024. The Avbirth will be used to show how easy the creation of VR/AR Simulations and educational content with limited equipment can be. This is a collaboration between Avkin, George Washington University, AccessVR, Apple, and more! Attend this symposium and see firsthand how Avkin impacts healthcare simulation education for professional learners.
