Dr. Kelly Foltz-Ramos is the Director of Simulation and Innovation and an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. She serves as a State University of New York (SUNY) Nursing Simulation Fellow and Co-Convener, leading the development of simulation-based training and a simulation repository for over 70 nursing programs across New York State. She also serves as Chair of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) Research Special Interest Group. Dr. Foltz-Ramos’ research focuses on virtual reality simulation, the use of wearable technology and artificial intelligence to measure shared mental models in healthcare teams, and simulation-based empathy training. She is the principal investigator for REACHvr, a project that combines online learning and virtual reality to improve preparation for caring for patients from rural and underserved communities. An active member of INACSL, the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH), and the Canadian Alliance of Nurse Educators using Simulation (CAN-Sim), Dr. Foltz-Ramos is committed to advancing the use of emerging technologies to enhance healthcare education and improve learner and patient outcomes.

Dr. Melinda Haas is the Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Nursing Programs and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Nursing. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a dedicated educator with experience in curriculum development, clinical instruction and academic leadership. Dr. Haas plays a key role in shaping undergraduate nursing education ensuring alignment with national standards and the evolving needs of the healthcare workforce. Her scholarly work focuses on the needs of nurses in clinical practice. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Information Science where her research explores how nursing faculty and students access and apply pharmacological knowledge to improve patient care and reduce medication errors. Her work aims to inform curriculum design and support evidence-based strategies for enhancing medication-related competencies in clinical settings. Dr. Haas is actively involved in regional and national organizations and her contributions have been recognized with awards such as the Business First 40 Under 40 and the WNY NAPNAP Nurse Practitioner of the Year. She is committed to fostering equitable educational opportunities mentoring future nursing leaders and advancing the integration of research practice and pedagogy in nursing education.