Simulation is essential for training competent healthcare professionals. By recreating realistic clinical scenarios for the purpose of education, healthcare simulation allows learners to safely practice and translate their theoretical book knowledge into tangible bedside clinical skills without risking patient harm. Healthcare simulation has repeatedly been proven, in multiple healthcare professions, to significantly improve the attitudes, skills and behaviours of individuals and teams. This effectiveness has been widely recognized, as several healthcare profession training programs now mandate simulation-based education activities in their accredited curricula.

At McMaster University, the Centre for Simulation-Based Learning serves a central hub of healthcare simulation activities in Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS). Our core mission is to create inclusive, high-quality simulation education experiences that help learners enrolled in FHS programs provide safer, more effective patient care. In addition to this core mission, the CSBL is dedicated towards simulation faculty development and supporting other proven applications of healthcare simulation, including interprofessional collaboration, research and quality improvement through testing and gaining understanding of systems and human actions.

To accomplish our mission, the CSBL provides a comprehensive set of simulation services in our state-of-the-art 10,000 square foot simulation centre located within the McMaster University Medical Centre in Hamilton, Ontario. These services are offered through two main programs:

1. Standardized patient program
2. Technology-based simulation program

Our standardized patient program pioneered and disseminated use of standardized patients in teaching and assessment and is world-renown in its tradition of excellence and scope. Concurrently, our technology-based simulation program is a nationally recognized innovator and leader of simulation education that utilizes a wide variety of partial task trainers, high-fidelity, computerized manikins and, most recently, immersive virtual environments. In recognition of our commitment to high-quality administration, education and ethical practice, the CSBL has gained and maintained the accreditation status by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada since 2016.

We are proud to support a full range of healthcare professions enrolled in FHS, including the undergraduate medical education program, postgraduate medical education program, midwifery education program, physician assistant education program, School of Nursing, School of Rehabilitation Science and bachelor of health science program. Our centre hosts frequent faculty development and continuing professional development sessions. While we remain steadfast in our mission, the CSBL remains enthusiastic to grow as a global contributor in the dynamic and exciting field of healthcare simulation.

We welcome all those who are interested in healthcare simulation to join us in this exciting journey.