IMSH 2026: Unbound, this yearโs theme, continued today with the enthusiasm that occurs with the removal of the constraints of the status quo or we have always done it this way, and become unbound to explore new options. IMSH 2026 Days 1 and 2 were a great success. Donโt forget to check out yesterdayโs article. This HealthySimulation.com article by Dr. Teresa Gore will provide a recap of Monday’s IMSH 2026, from San Antonio, Texas.
2026 SSH Pioneer Award for Distinguished Contributions to Healthcare Simulation – Dr. Amitai Ziv
In honor of the extraordinary vision and leadership that have shaped the โwhyโ and โhowโ of conducting healthcare simulation, the 2026 SSH Pioneer Award for Distinguished Contributions to Healthcare Simulation was awarded to Dr. Amitai Ziv. Dr. Ziv stated, โSimulation is not optional – it is our moral responsibility.โ Amitai Ziv is internationally recognized for his transformative contributions to healthcare simulation as a cornerstone of patient safety and quality improvement. As the founding director of the Israel Center for Medical Simulation (MSR), Dr. Ziv pioneered the large-scale, system-wide integration of simulation into healthcare education, assessment, and regulatory processes. He was instrumental in establishing simulation-based training and evaluation as mandatory components for licensure, remediation, and continuing professional development, setting a global benchmark for competency-based healthcare education. Through visionary leadership, rigorous scholarship, and sustained advocacy, Dr. Ziv fundamentally reshaped how healthcare systems prepare clinicians, manage risk, and safeguard patients, leaving a lasting legacy on the global simulation community. During his talk, he also stated that MSR stands for Master – Simulate – Reflect. Congratulations Dr. Ziv on this well-deserved honor.
Concurrent Session: AI Unbound in Simulation: What Worked, What’s Emerging, What’s Next Session
Healthcare education and training are rapidly transforming through Artificial Intelligence (AI). This panel discussion with Amar Patel, Maria Bajaw, Krystle Campbell, Melissa Morris, Julie LeMoine, Alice Martanegara, Dawn Wawersik, Jenny Roye, and Desiree Diaz provided a transformative panel discussion that highlighted the unique integration of AI in healthcare simulation education across a variety of contexts.
Each presenter shared their experiences with both faculty and student integration, which included the use of generative AI standardized patients (SPs), student assessment via video and audio recordings, scheduling, and live time dashboards. The generative AI SPs are created in-house and represent distinct personalities with diverse backgrounds. They are also agents who provide all the elements of the simulation event, from pre-briefing, debriefing, and feedback. Learn more about the global interprofessional AI healthcare simulation collaborative here.
Key Takeaways:
- Ensure human oversight at all times.
- Programs should include clear policies and procedures, as well as specific education for both faculty and students.
- Healthcare simulationists should not be afraid to step outside the box and bring others into the fold to create a shared mental model and ensure the ethical use of AI in healthcare simulation.
View the HealthySimulation.com Webinar Designing Medical Simulation Scenarios with AI and ChatGPT to learn more!
Lou Oberndorf Lecture on Innovation and Healthcare Simulation: Kevin Brown – The Hero Effect
Kevin Brown brought his unexpected life path to bear on defining and branding the Hero Effect that separates world-class organizations and high-performance people from everyone else. He discussed his journey as a father with an autistic son. He challenged some of our original thoughts and beliefs.
Key Takeaways from Kevin Brown include:
- We are all a group of stories – when you look in the mirror, do you see yourself or all the people that have shaped you and your life. We are a sum total of all of our relationships
- What does a hero look like? They elevate people and the performance of others.
- Consider: Heroes are ordinary people doing extraordinary things. OR Heroes are extraordinary people who choose not to be ordinary.
- Everyone is extraordinary. However, we change as we grow older and accept the limits that people and society have placed on us. He challenges us to find our inner child.
- Nobody notices normal, and satisfaction is ordinary. Be extraordinary.
- Own your now and be fully present to those around you. They deserve it.
- Who looks into their mirror and sees you – whose life have you impacted?
View the new HealthySimulation.com Community AI in Healthcare Simulation Group to discuss this topic with your Global Healthcare Simulation peers!
Concurrent Session: The Trial of AI: The People Versus Artificial Intelligence
Step into a dynamic courtroom debate where AI stands trial! Explore provocative questions about AIโs role in healthcare simulation – Can AI assess learners, co-lead debriefings, or teach empathy? Examine issues of trust, bias, and equity as we challenge the boundaries between innovation and ethics in clinical education. Your verdict could shape the future. This interactive session was set up as a courtroom trial (with Judge Wapner’s music playing in the background) to explore ethical, sound, and valid use of AI in the evaluation of a nursing student who was scored low by AI, and then the video was reevaluated by a human and scored passing. The panel included Suzie Kardong-Edgren, Janice Palaganas, Teresa Gore, Cynthia Mosher, Amar Patel, Kirsty Freeman, Melissa Morris, Traci Grove, Dawn Wawersik, Maria Bajwa, William Peck, Devin Marble, and Carrie Gigray. Options: Is AI an ethical and effective partner in healthcare simulation? Yes, No, or It Depends. The goal of this session was to have crucial conversations and stretch how we think to look at every perspective. The result was a hung jury – no clear winning side.
Key Takeaways:
- For AI to be safe, there must be human involvement. Clearly defined Policies and Procedures must be in place, followed, and regularly updated. How long are the recordings and evaluations stored? Can the recording be used for training AI, product development, future research, etc? This requires oversight.
- AI for high-stakes exams: can be used if the student has received formative feedback throughout their program. A summative or high-stakes evaluation should not be the first interaction for AI evaluation for any learner.
- What consent is required – who can view, access, or analyze recordings?
- Consider if a human score learner as unsuccessful and AI scores successful, and vice versa – what do you do then?
- โThe train has already left the stationโ – we need to proceed with caution and purposeful, data-driven decisions for the partnership with AI.
Concurrent Session: Teaching Unbound: Lessons in Practice, Teamwork, and Growth from Mr. Mayagi and Coach Lasso
The presenters, Tonya Schneidereith and Kristen Brown, set out to answer important questions today. In simulation-based education, the goal is not mere perfection, but transformation. Drawing inspiration from two iconic mentors – Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid and Coach Ted Lasso from Ted Lasso. This engaging session explores how simulation educators can foster psychological safety, build readiness through repetition, and reframe mistakes as growth opportunities. Through storytelling, film clips, and practical strategies, participants will learn to create spaces that transcend skill-building and shape professional identity. Combining Miyagiโs wisdom with Lassoโs heart-forward coaching philosophy, attendees will leave empowered to guide learners in discovering who they are and believing in what they are capable of achieving.
Key Takeaways:
- How do we communicate the transformative power of simulation? How do we advocate for its value and align it with the priorities of SSH? The answer lies in the lessons of Mr. Miyagi, Ted Lasso, and in your own work: Build psychological safety for your learnersโcreate spaces where belonging drives boldness and failure leads to transformation
- Use repetition and deliberate practice to prepare learners for high-pressure realities where instinct and readiness save lives.
- Reframe mistakes through curiosityโask better questions, break through judgment, and unearth deeper insights.
- Cultivate resilience and confidenceโnot just in skills, but in your learnersโ ability to trust their growth, their instincts, and their belief in themselves. As simulation educators, letโs stay committed to building belonging, cultivating growth, and advancing the mission of SSH to improve healthcare worldwide. Wax on, Believe on, and leave this space empowered to make simulation unbound.
IMSH 2026 Sponsors
Many thanks to all the wonderful sponsors who help make a conference a success. The vendors and exhibitors display their products and services to all healthcare simulationists the opportunity to interact live with the products and ask in-person questions to the experts. The sponsors also help fund activities and functions that occur at the conference. The IMSH 2026 sponsors are:
- Presidentials Sponsor: Education Management Solutions (EMS)
- Gold Sponsors: Limbs & Things, Simulab
- Platinum Sponsors: Gaumard, Laerdal, Intelligent Video Solutions, Elevate Healthcare, and SimX
Donโt forget to check out all the HealthySimulation.com articles covering the IMSH 2026 event:
