Healthcare Simulation Fellowships are a great way to grow healthcare simulation professionals to gain knowledge and experience across the medical field. Known for their commitment to professional development, these programs help individual learners, often through intensive training. Such training can include fieldwork, research, independent study, organizational work, graduate study, and more. Ultimately, the primary advantage of a fellowship is the ability to encounter unique experiences that are not typically available to someone in school or who is just starting out in an entry-level position. This HealthySimulation.com article will cover healthcare simulation fellowships currently available, like those from UPMC WISER Sim Center.
Sponsored Fellowship Opportunities
Typically short-term opportunities, fellowships can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months, and in some cases, upwards of a year. They are typically sponsored by an organization, institution, association, or government agency, and the eligibility requirements are thereby established by the respective sponsor. A possible qualification for a potential applicant could include a record of achievement in healthcare education, as demonstrated by letters of reference, publications, teaching evaluations, or prior specialized training or experience in medical education.
Depending on the fellowship sponsor, there may be opportunities to acquire nationally competitive grants, scholarships, and other funding sources. Today, many fellowship sponsors also offer two enrollment options: in-person or online. The duration of a fellowship may be impacted by whether the program is online or in-person.
Regardless of the fellowship’s duration and sponsor, there are numerous potential benefits to enrolling in such a program. For example, learners who enter a fellowship are faced with opportunities that extend beyond the scope of standard academic learning. They can be immersed in new cultural experiences, access to academic seminars, vastly expand their professional network, face experiential learning scenarios, and reach new professional development milestones. Note that experiential learning varies depending on the fellowship program.
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Fellowship Topics in Healthcare Simulation
In terms of healthcare simulation-specific fellowships, topics explored may include the development of a solid foundation in simulation-based interventions for education, clinician resilience, and patient safety. Participants may also be tasked with analyzing and participating in scenarios focused on interprofessional communication and collaboration. Furthermore, there is often an opportunity to receive real-time feedback to improve and refine the fellowโs debriefing skills, as well as to connect with simulation leaders, educators, and quality champions within our worldwide community of practice.
Best Ways to Find or Apply to Clinical Simulation Fellowships
There are several different avenues that can be taken to do so. Learners enrolled in college or other post-secondary education programs may have access to a fellowship research advisor who can help them navigate fellowship and funding options.
While there may be an application cost to apply for a fellowship, fellows may be entitled to some amount of pay while they progress through the experience. According to the University of California Berkeley, โMost fellowship programs provide a living allowance or stipend, yet it is not typically comparable to the salary of a full-time job. Financial compensation can vary greatly with stipends ranging from $10,000 to up to $25,000 for a 9-12 month program. Other incentives may be provided to fellows such as healthcare coverage, student loan repayment assistance, and housing stipends.โ
There are some important aspects to consider in the selection process of a healthcare simulation fellowship. So of the most important aspects are:
- Location Preference
- Duration and Flexibility
- Structure of the Program
- Target Audience
- Cost and Funding Model
View the new HealthySimulation.com Community Medicine Simulation Group to discuss this topic with your Global Healthcare Simulation peers!
Featured Fellowships in Clinical Simulation
Many institutions and organizations also have a tab on their website dedicated to fellowship opportunities. Additionally, finding learners and professionals who are currently or were previously fellows can help provide guidance on the application and acceptance process. Below is a list of current healthcare simulation fellowships available throughout the world. Those interested in applying to one or more of the listed fellowships should navigate to the fellowshipโs webpage using the embedded links:
- Winter Institute for Simulation, Education & Research – WISER (Pittsburgh, PA)
- University of Florida Health The Center for Safety, Simulation and Advanced Learning Technologies Fellowships (CSSALT) (Florida)
- Kaweah Health Emergency Medicine Kaweah Delta Clinical Teaching & Simulation Fellowship (Visalia, California)
- VA Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation (Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, Durham, and Tampa)
- Patient Safety Movement Foundation Kiana Global Interprofessional Patient Safety Fellowship (Remote)
- Summa Health Medical Simulation Fellowship (Akron)
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Medical Simulation Fellowship (Avondale)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham UAB Simulation Fellowship (Birmingham)
- Brigham and Womenโs Hospital STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation at Brigham and Womenโs Hospital International Fellowship in Clinical Simulation (Boston)
- Harvard Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) Center for Medical Simulation (CMS) Simulation Fellowship (Boston)
- Massachusetts General Hospital MGH Medical Simulation Fellowship (Boston)
- Maimonides Medical Center Clinical Simulation Fellowship (Brooklyn)
- University of Virginia Medical Simulation Education Fellowship (Charlottesville)
- Palmetto Health Simulation Medicine and Faculty Development Fellowship (Columbia)
- OhioHealth Learning OhioHealth Simulation Fellowship (Columbus)
- Hartford Hospital Simulation Education Fellowship (Hartford)
- Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Simulation Education and Research Fellowship (Hershey)
- University of Hawaiสปi at Mฤnoa Simtiki Simulation Center, John A Burns School of Medicine SimTiki International Scholar Simulation Fellowship (Honolulu)
- University of California Irvine, School of Medicine Medical Simulation Education Fellowship (Irvine)
- Western Michigan University Stryker School of Medicine Medical Simulation Fellowship (Kalamazoo)
- Northwell Health Northwell Health Emergency Medicine Service Line Fellowship in Health Professions Simulation-based Education (Manhasset)
- Hennepin Healthcare Medical Education & Simulation Fellowship (Minneapolis)
- Vanderbilt University Vanderbilt Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship (Nashville)
- Cleveland Clinic Sim Center Critical Care Simulation Fellowship (Cleveland)
- Yale Center for Medical Simulation Yale Center for Medical Simulation Fellowship (New Haven)
- Mount Sinai Hospital Ichan School of Medicine Simulation Teaching and Research Center Fellowship (STAR) (New York)
- University of Arizona College of Medicine – Department of Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship (Tuscon)
- University of Ottawa DIME/uOSSC Fellowship in Medical Education Research/Fellowship in Medical Education Research and Simulation (Ottawa)
- OSF Jump Simulation Healthcare Simulation Fellowship (Peoria)
- Drexel University Drexel University Simulation Fellowship (Philadelphia)
- Mayo Clinic Simulation Fellowship (Arizona, Florida, Minnesota)
- Brown University Medical Simulation Fellowship at Lifespan Medical Simulation Center
- University of Arizona University of Arizona Medical Simulation Fellowship (Tucson)
- University of South Florida Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation USF CAMLS International Simulation Fellowship
- Columbia University Department of Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship
- University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) International Simulation Education Fellowship
- Indiana University School of Medicine Emergency Medicine Medical Simulation Fellowship
Overall, a healthcare simulation fellowship can help prepare a learner to be an expert in the field of medical simulation. The goal is to help develop the clinical simulation leaders of tomorrow who are capable of advancing the field of medical simulation to new heights. If you know someone involved in healthcare simulation education or learning, we encourage you to share this page with them so that they may consider a medical simulation fellowship as a means to enhance their pursuits! Learn more about healthcare simulation fellowships by reading the articles below.
