Clinical Skills and Simulation Center Looks Forward to Expansion

The “Past, Present and Future” reception and tour proudly showcased the CSSC which opened in 2014. The innovative training environment that promotes interprofessional collaboration, teaching and assessment in an authentic clinical setting is at its peak capacity. The need for additional programming and expanded facilities is apparent with more than 4,000 students, physicians, residents and other allied health professionals passing through its doors each year.

College leadership, Alan Kadish, M.D., president of New York Medical College and Touro University, and Neil W. Schluger, M.D., dean of the School of Medicine and professor of medicine, welcomed the guests and reflected on their own training when simulation was not available and their first time doing a new procedure was on a live patient. “This Center allows students to develop their skills in history taking, physical examination, and common invasive procedures in an incredibly realistic environment but without fear of doing harm," said Dr. Schluger. “It also allows them to develop and practice their communication and empathy skills and gain confidence in their abilities.” 

“We are so happy to have all these wonderful people to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of our clinical skills program and to launch the expansion of our Clinical Skills and Simulation Center which will celebrate a decade of operation next year. Clinical skills training helps our learners take what they learn and practice in books and put it to practical use with manikins, standardized patients, advanced task trainers, ultrasounds, virtual reality, you name it. We celebrate active learning and put it into play here at the Clinical Skills Center,” said Katharine Yamulla, M.A., CHSE, director of the Clinical Skills and Simulation Center and senior director of competency-based assessment, who couldn’t help but hide her excitement and enthusiasm for the project. 
 
“We are so grateful for all of our donors who are making this expansion possible that will make an incredible impact on the training of the healthcare providers of tomorrow,” said Bess J. Chazhur, M.S., chief development officer and executive director of alumni relations.
 
The generous donors include Paul Ostrovsky, M.D. ’78, and Rebecca Ostrovsky; David E. Asprinio, M.D., chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and professor of clinical orthopedic surgery, and Kim Flood, M.D.; and Ben Chouake, M.D., a member of the Board of Trustees, and Esther Chouake, M.D.; Lee Pressler, M.D. ’90; Ronald P. Gregoire, M.D. ’74; and the Children's Dream Foundation.

The expansion, which is expected to be complete within one year, includes two additional standardized patient exam rooms, an advanced ultrasound laboratory, and specialty training suites to support orthopedic training, cardio-pulmonary care, labor and delivery, adult and pediatric emergency care, operative simulation, critical care and advanced procedural competences. The suite will be equipped with sophisticated simulators, such as birthing mom and a full-scale anesthesia manikin, laparoscopic simulators, virtual reality training solutions, and will be furnished with scrub sinks to promote best practices for infection control. Additionally, a three-bed patient care unit will function as a multi-purpose simulation room and can be configured as a trauma/triage care unit, emergency department, and/or a post-operative/recovery care unit. Each bed in this until will be in its own examination bay, equipped with a monitor, headwall, and appropriate examination/resuscitation equipment.

The evening also featured talks with standardized patients, live demonstrations and a vendor exhibit which displayed the latest technologies in manikins, task trainers, ultrasound guided procedures and virtual reality.