Healthcare Simulation Conferences & Workshops

Healthcare Simulation conferences are an absolute must for professionals seeking to start or expand their institution’s simulation programs. As there are very few educational pathways for Medical Simulation professionals, participating in simulation in healthcare conferences like SimGHOSTS, IMSH or INACSL are a crucial step in developing or expanding your institution’s program and developing your professional career.

There are plenty of fantastic global conferences coming up in 2020 that provide a range of focused simulation learning, networking, and vendor engagement opportunities, so save the dates for these special events listed below. Previous annual events are summarized in the drop down fields at the bottom of the page.

**Coronavirus Update** Many events have been cancelled or postponed due to the global spread of COVID19. Please be sure to double check with organizers about all 2020 events!** Don’t See Your Event Listed? Email us to have your healthcare simulation conference listed.

2020 Medical Simulation Conferences & Workshops

Featured Media Partnership Listings:

UPMC WISER Simulation Center Courses
(Administration, Sim Tech Ops, Debriefing, Center Design & More) – Various Dates Throughout the Year
The Winter Institute for Simulation, Education, and Research (WISER) is a world class multidisciplinary training and research facility supporting education, training and patient safety initiatives at UPMC.. WISER is an institute of the University of Pittsburgh with a mission to conduct research and training programs utilizing simulation based education to provide a safer environment for patients of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and its affiliates. WISER offers several courses and programs to help those in the simulation community improve their skills. Their iSIM course is offered in various worldwide locations and have had preceptors from all over the world spend time watching and learning at WISER.

SimGHOSTS Hands-on Simulation Technology Conferences
Join hundreds of Simulation Champions from around the world at our annual international hands-on training events! The “Gathering of Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialists” which will be operating in its eighth year as a US-based non-profit 501(c)3 organization based out of Las Vegas, Nevada.

SimGHOSTS events provide a meeting place for you to exchange ideas and network with technical peers as well as receive specialized training in the design, selection and application of healthcare simulation technologies. You will also have opportunities to meet with simulation-based vendors to engage with the latest in healthcare education technology.

SimGHOSTS 2020 Annual Global Symposium
Converted to Virtual Event! More Info TBA:
August 4-7th
Baylor University
Dallas, TX

SimGHOSTS Saudi Arabia 2020
Princess Nourah University
February 26-28

One Day SimGHOSTS-X Event
POSTPONED April 3rd, UTHSC Memphis, Tennessee

Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine (SESAM) Annual Conference
June 17-19 POSTPONED DUE TO CORONAVIRUS
Milan, Italy
SESAM‘s mission is to encourage and support the use of simulation in healthcare for the purpose of training and research. Join them in Milan, Italy from June 17-19 2020 for SESAM 2020. Discover the latest in healthcare simulation, network with colleagues and make new connections. Visit their industry partners at the exhibition area to find out about the latest advances in Simulation technology, be inspired by world-class speakers and stay ahead with cutting edge simulation research. They look forward to welcoming you to Milan for three days of invaluable learning and discovery!

International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Conference 2020
Converted to Virtual Event! More Info TBA: June 24-27, 2020
Raleigh, NC
Conference Location: Raleigh Convention Center
The INACSL Conference is a leading forum for simulation aficionados, researchers, and vendors providing the ideal environment to gain and disseminate current, state-of-the-art knowledge in the areas of skills/simulation operations and applications in an evidenced-based venue. Healthcare professionals will have the opportunity to network with colleagues and exhibitors, discuss best practices as relates to competencies, safety, and quality performance indicators, and advance the science of simulation.

UIC Professional Development and Certificate Programs for Standardized Patient Educators
One-Week Intensive Program: Standardized Patient Educator Certificate Program – October 26-30, 2020
Two-Day Workshops : Special Topics in Instruction & Assessment with SPs – May 4-5, 2020
Training SPs to Debrief and Give Feedback – September 2-3, 2020
Learn to create compelling standardized-patient based educational programs to enhance health professions education. Designed for simulation educators in the health professions: Directors and staff of simulation and standardized patient (SP) centers Faculty who wish to leverage SPs to enhance their educational programs Intensive sessions focusing on key topics in SP-based education Small class sizes, highly interactive, abundant hands-on practice Sessions are led by Rachel Yudkowsky, MD, MHPE, Bob Kiser, CEC, CHSE, and faculty and staff of the Simulation and Integrative Learning Institute (SAIL) of the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. Founded in 1987 as one of the first standardized patient centers and now a comprehensive multi-modal simulation center, SAIL, formerly the Dr. Allan L. and Mary L. Graham Clinical Performance Center (GCPC), is internationally recognized for innovation in standardized patient education.

CALSIM 2020 Inaugural Simulation Conference
POSTPONED until 2021 June 27-28 at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA
This engaging everything-you-need-to-know-about-simulation-based-training will provide participants with evidence-based presentations that explore how simulation can be an innovative tool for learning and training as well as for assessment of performance. Attendees will explore how simulation training can enhance technical and functional expertise, contribute to problem-solving and decision-making skills, and improve interpersonal and communication skills and team based competencies. Breakout sessions offer learners in-depth exploration of simulation design testing, human factors, and interprofessional education, as well as insights into the role simulation can have in infectious disease management and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Join your colleagues for this 1-1/2 day adventure into the world of simulation and learn how evidence-based practices can be put into action through protocols and collaborative approaches that can then be practiced using simulation scenarios.

Human Patient Simulation Network (HPSN) Conferences
HPSN World 2020: More Info Coming Soon!
OB Care & Management Workshop: March 2-3 at Jacksonville University Healthcare
HPSN Regional SimDay Event: Fayetteville, Arkansas – April 7th POSTPONED

CAE‘s largest Human Patient Simulation Network conference is back! In 2020 they will be looking for you to join them around the world and in Orlando and share your passion for healthcare education through simulation. No matter your background, no matter your experience, HPSN World never fails to inspire. Choose from over 100 sessions on simulation-based learning and earn CEUs. Enjoy the stimulating keynote presentations and interactive special events. Select from a range of pre-conference training courses. Be the first to experience exciting new methodologies and technologies. Collaborate and connect with a truly global medical simulation community, and more!

iSIM Courses
(Various Dates Throughout 2020)
By UPMC WISER, UM GCRME, and UH SimTiki
These 3-day internationally renowned workshop programs, created in collaborative effort between WISER at the University of Pittsburgh and the Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education at the University of Miami, is designed as an introduction to fundamental skills and abilities for delivering simulation-based healthcare education through a variety of techniques and technologies. The program emphasizes hands-on activities and active participation to maximize simulation-based instruction skill acquisition. Class group sizes are kept small to allow for maximum participation. The primary audience for this course are healthcare educators wishing to improve their skills as instructors in simulation education.

International Society for Quality in Health Care
CANCELLED August 30 – September 2nd, in Florence Italy (Returning 2021)
ISQua conferences provide a platform for like-minded peers to network, share their ideas and foster innovation all in the hope to improve and support safe health care worldwide ISQua’s annual international conference is taking place from 30th August to 2nd September 2020. Join over 1,500 medical and health care professionals from over 80 countries for our quality in health care conference 2020. The theme of this year’s conference is ‘Emotion, Inspiration and Creativity: Pathways to Global Health Quality’. This year’s health care convention will host over 180 expert presentations and provide ample opportunity for networking among the best and brightest in the international health care quality community.

SimONE SIM Expo
Toronto, Canada – October 19th – 20th
Join Canada’s passionate, interprofessional healthcare simulation community and world-leading experts at the 2020 SIM Expo! SIM Expo continues to be the largest interprofessional and multidisciplinary simulation conference in Canada and they are excited to bring it to Toronto for 2020! Each year, the SIM Expo brings together healthcare leaders in university, college, hospital, emergency services, and community care sectors. Their participants are deans, administrators, educators, clinicians, SIM centre managers and directors, and researchers from all health professions. Most participants are Canadian but it is an open conference and each year they are honored to host some international participants.

New Zealand Association for Simulation in Healthcare 2020 Conference
CANCELLED November 6-7 in Manawa, Christchurch
On behalf of the Canterbury Collaborative Simulation Interest Group (CCSIG), it is with great excitement and pleasure that we invite you to join us for the New Zealand Association for Simulation in Healthcare (NZASH) Conference 2020. The conference theme this year is “Connect and Collaborate”. Although we use simulation to develop better teamwork strategies, are we really connecting with everyone to ensure a positive journey for our patients? When times get tough the Midwife need the Paramedics and Medical staff, the Emergency team need the input from Paediatricians, ICU and Allied Health staff. In 2020, NZASH would like to challenge you to invite and work with a department/speciality you have not considered as part of your team, you will be amazes how much you learn. The programme has been designed with Connection and Collaboration at its centre with workshops, presentations and simulations being designed, delivered and debriefed by a variety of different professions. Demonstrating that simulation whatever the scenario can reach many specialities.

Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH UK) Annual Conference
November 9th – 11th in Birmingham, England
ASPiH is a not-for-profit membership Association comprising of members drawn from healthcare, education and patient safety backgrounds including researchers, learning technologists, workforce development or education managers, administrators, and healthcare staff and students. All have a genuine interest in new and innovative methods of learning, as well as optimizing the use of existing simulation resources within their practice. Their membership bridges undergraduate and pre- registration education as well as postgraduate and post registration training and on-going CPD for all of the health and social care workforce. This annual event is the premiere UK-based event for all things clinical simulation!

International Pediatric Society for Simulation (IPSS) Symposium
POSTPONED to October 23-26, 2020 April 26-29 in St. Petersburg, Florida
Renowned global experts will gather for the world’s largest meeting dedicated exclusively to pediatric and perinatal simulation. Over three days, attendees will discuss the role simulation plays to provide safe and effective care to sick children and infants, and the continued evolution and expansion of pediatric simulation across the globe. Experience hands-on and immersive simulations at one of the country’s leading centers during pre-conference and afternoon workshops. Learn from the experts and see the highest quality simulators in the market. Learn the latest advancements in pediatric and neonatal simulation. Expand your horizons through the large variety of education sessions in various tracks offered at IPSSW2020. Connect with industry professionals from all over the globe and see the products, services and the latest technology in pediatric simulation!

IPSS Virtual Meeting: Tuesday, April 28 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm EDT
Leaders in pediatric simulation will discuss using simulation as a tool for discovering new processes and procedures during a pandemic. Panelists:
Tensing Maa, MD | Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Jennifer Reid, MD | Seattle Children’s
Stephanie Sudikoff, MD | Yale New Haven Hospital

2020 Medical Simulation Conferences

General Conference Listings:

• International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare – January 18-22 in San Diego, California
• Operational Medicine Symposium – January 22-23 at Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center in San Diego, CA
• 5th Pediatric Simulation Training and Research Society of India (PediSTARS) Conference – February 6-11 in Chennai, India
• Virtual Reality and Healthcare Symposium – March 2-3 in Nashville, Tennessee
• European Society of Anaesthesiology Patient safety Policy Summit – March 3-4 in Brussels
• CANCELLED Patient Safety Movement Foundation’s Annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit – March 5-7 in Huntington Beach, California
• CANCELLED Dutch Society for Simulation in Healthcare (DSSH) Congress – March 18 in Maastricht, Netherlands
• POSTPONED George Washington University Healthcare Simulation Conference 2020 – March 19-20 in Ashburn, VA
• CANCELLED Virtual Medicine at Cedars-Sinai – March 25-26 in Los Angeles, California
• POSTPONED 8º Congreso Nacional Sociedad Española de Simulación Clínica y Seguridad del Paciente – 26-28 Marzo in Granada Spain
• POSTPONED SimGHOSTS-X One Day Event – April 3rd, UTHSC Memphis, Tennessee
• POSTPONED FDA Public Workshop on Simulation Practices in Health – April 13-15 in Silver Springs, MD
• POSTPONED Simulation in Rural Healthcare Conference (SIRH) – April 22-23 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota
• POSTPONED International Pediatric Society for Simulation (IPSS) Symposium – April 26-29 in St. Petersburg, Florida
• CANCELLED MODSIM World – May 5-7 in Norfolk Virginia
• CANCELLED IHI Patient Safety Congress – May 13-15 in Orlando, Florida
• POSTPONED AvKin’s University of Delaware Simulated Participant Conference – May 14-15 in Newark, Delaware
• CANCELLED 5th Biennial 2020 National League for Nursing/Boise State Simulation Conference – May 14 – 16 in Boise, Idaho
• CANCELLED National Forum on Simulation for Quality & Safety – May 29th in Halifax, Canada
• Association of Standardized Patient Educators Annual Conference (ASPE) – June 7-10 in Portland, Oregon
• Scottish Healthcare Skills Network Conference – June 9-10 in Inverness, Scotland
• POSTPONED Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) – June 13-17 in Phoenix Arizona
• POSTPONED Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine (SESAM) Annual Conference – June 17-19 in Milan, Italy
• Converted to Virtual Event! Serious Play Conference – June 23-25, Online
• CANCELLED CALSIM 2020 Inaugural Simulation Conference – June 27-28 at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles, CA
• Converted to Virtual Event! International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning (INACSL) Conference – June  24-27, Online
• Academy of Communication in Healthcare Virtual Research Forum – June 26-27, Online
• CANCELLED Pacific Northwest Healthcare Simulation Collaborative Conference – July 7-9 in Seattle, Washington
• CANCELLED UK Patient Safety Congress – July 13-14 in Manchester Central, United Kingdom
• Virginia State Simulation Alliance (VASSA) Conference – August 3-5 in Williamsburg, VA
• Converted to Virtual Event! SimGHOSTS 2020 Annual Global Symposium – August 4-7, Online
• Converted to Virtual Event! Association for Standardized Patient Educators Annual Conference (ASPE) – August 12-14, Online
• CANCELLED International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) – August 30 – September 2nd, in Florence Italy
• SimONE SIM Expo – October 19th – 20th in Toronto, Canada
• CANCELLED New Zealand Association for Simulation in Healthcare 2020 Conference – November 6-7 in Manawa, Christchurch
• Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare (ASPiH UK) Annual Conference – November 9th – 11th in Birmingham, England
• Laerdal Simulation User Network (SUN) Regional Conferences – Various Dates & Locations

The following sim conferences are biennial and will return in 2021:

• Congreso Federación Latinoamericana de Simulación Clínica y Seguridad del Paciente
• STARS: Simulation and Training for Resilience and Safety (Multiple Industries)
• SESAM/SimGHOSTS/SingHealth S3 Singapore Conference
• Australasian Simulation Congress (Multiple Industries)
• Tennessee Simulation Alliance Conference – Dates & Location TBA

General Workshop Listings:

• WISER Simulation Center Courses (Administration, Sim Tech Ops, Debriefing, Center Design & More) – Various Dates Throughout the Year
• iSIM Debriefing Course from WISER, SimTiki, and GCRME – March 30-31, May 11-12, September 14-15, November 2-3
• Military Moulage Workshops – Various Dates and Locations
• Moulage Concepts Workshops Around the United States – Various Dates
• Mayo Clinic Instructor Courses (Debriefing Basics, Comprehensive, Development) – Various Dates and Locations
• Simulation Professionals of Texas (SPOT) Connections & Collaborations – Various Dates
• The Debriefing Academy Master Debriefer Course – Various Dates & Locations
• George Washington University Simulation Workshops – Various Dates in Washington D.C.
• Jump Simulation Courses: Instructor, Debriefer and More – Various Dates
• Boston Children’s Hospital: Simulation Courses – Various Dates in Boston, MA
• California Simulation Alliance Education Courses – Various Dates around California
• University of Illinois Professional Development Programs for Standardized Patient Educators  – Various Dates in Chicago, Illinois
• Colloque simulation en santé – June 10-11 in Joliette, Canada
• Maryland Community & College Simulation Users Network – June 2-3 in Maryland
• RUSH Simulation and Procedural Bootcamp for Emergency Medical Clinicians – March 18-20 and May 18-20 in Chicago, Illinois
• Level 3 Healthcare Sim Tech Bootcamp April 14-16th, 2020 POSTPONED TO: SEPTEMBER 15TH-17TH,

Don’t see your listing or want to be featured? Email us the event title, dates, location, the link and that you would like to be featured!

Concluded 2020 Featured Events:

Operational Medicine Symposium
January 22-23, 2020
Parma Payne Goodall Alumni Center in San Diego, CA
The 2nd Annual Operational Medicine Symposium will focus on DoD initiatives to enhance military medicine techniques and improve the quality of care of our nation’s warfighters. This symposium will bring together highly regarded medical professions from all services to discuss the practice of medicine in expeditionary environments from battlefield to installation. Topics to be Covered at the Symposium: Examining How the Changing Operating Environment Will Impact Operational Medicine, Update on the Realignment of the Military Health System and the Transition of DHA’s New Responsibilities,Ensuring Military Medical Forces are Ready and Equipped to Care for the Warfighter in Expeditionary Environments, and more!

VR Voice Healthcare Conference
(Use discount code: healthysim)
March 2-3 at Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN
Now in its 4th year, the VR and Healthcare Global Symposium presents a balanced mix of speakers from academia, healthcare organizations and the virtual reality technology industry. This year’s annual event takes place next month at the Vanderbilt University on March 2nd and 3rd in Nashville, TN. With over 60 speakers will present over 2 days in both a plenary and track breakout format, this is the largest conference in the world dedicated to the development of virtual reality in healthcare. And great news, HealthySimulation.com has partnered with the VR Voice team to offer you 30% off your event registration with discount code “healthysim”!

Annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summits
CANCELLED March 5-7, 2020
Huntington Beach, California
The 8th Annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit is co-convened with the International Society for Quality in Health Care (ISQua) and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA), and the European Society of Anesthesiology (ESA) and will bring together all stakeholder groups to discuss novel solutions to the leading challenges facing hospitals today. We invite international hospital leaders, medical and information technology companies, the patient advocacy community, public policy makers and government officials to join us for our 8th Annual event in 2020 and be part of this momentous event as we share our plans post-2020. The Summit featured keynote addresses from public figures, patient safety experts and plenary sessions with healthcare luminaries, and patient advocates, as well as announcements from organizations who have made their own commitments to reach the Patient Safety Movement Foundation’s goal of ZERO preventable deaths by 2020.

Email us to have your healthcare simulation conference listed.