In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, Lisa George is joined by Tom Waring and Bree Weyland from the NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation for a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to deliver a large-scale, high-impact simulation experience.

The conversation centers on a recent Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) simulation, which brought together over 115 students from multiple health disciplines across Alberta. Designed around a realistic building collapse scenario, the simulation required learners to collaborate across the full continuum of care—from on-scene triage with paramedics and firefighters to treatment in both rural and tertiary hospital environments.

Tom and Bree walk through how this complex event was built from the ground up, offering insight into the often unseen role of simulation technologists (SimTechs) in designing, coordinating, and executing immersive learning environments.

Key themes explored in this episode include:

how early involvement in planning shapes what’s possible in simulation design
the process of building realistic patient characters to drive clinical decision-making
the importance of standardized patient (SP) preparation and consistency at scale
how makeup, environment design, and storytelling contribute to immersion
managing real-time communication across a distributed simulation environment
adapting on the fly when carefully planned scenarios inevitably break down
how learners evolve from individuals into high-functioning teams under pressure
the growing role of AI tools (like in-house platforms) in simulation development
the future of the SimTech profession as it expands into design, research, and education

This episode highlights that simulation is not just about equipment or scenarios—it’s about people, planning, adaptability, and creating environments where learners can safely experience the complexity of real-world healthcare.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca