Advertise on podcast: Advancing Healthcare Through Simulation

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George welcomes Jocelyn Rempel, Chair in Older Adult Health at Mount Royal University, Founding Director of the Centre for Health and Innovation in Aging, gerontology nurse, educator and researcher, and co-founder of Rise Care, a health innovation company dedicated to improving care for older adults. Jocelyn shares how education, simulation, virtual care and emerging health technologies are helping older adults maintain their independence while preparing healthcare professionals to deliver compassionate, person-centered care across hospitals, communities and home settings. The conversation explores why older adults should be active partners in designing healthcare innovations, how wearable technologies could help reduce falls, and the growing role of remote monitoring and virtual care in supporting healthier aging. Jocelyn also discusses how simulation can help organizations test new technologies before implementation and explains why collaboration across healthcare, industry and education is essential to improving care. In this episode, you'll learn: Why healthcare education must prepare learners for care across hospitals, homes and communitiesWhy older adults should help design the technologies intended for themHow wearable vestibular stimulation technology could improve balance and reduce fallsThe growing impact of virtual care and remote patient monitoringHow simulation can safely test new technologies, workflows and models of careWhy collaboration is essential to improving care for an aging populationWhat gives Jocelyn optimism about the future of healthy aging and healthcare innovationWhether you're a healthcare professional, educator, researcher, student or innovator, this episode offers practical insights into building more accessible, person-centered care for an aging population while embracing new technologies that support independence and quality of life. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George sits down with David Campbell, an internal medicine specialist, endocrinologist, and health services researcher whose work focuses on diabetes, chronic disease management, health equity, and improving care for socially disadvantaged populations. Dr. Campbell explores the growing pressures facing healthcare systems, from workforce shortages and rising chronic disease rates to increasing social inequities that directly impact health outcomes. He explains why effective healthcare extends far beyond clinical visits and why factors such as housing, income, food security, racism, trauma, and access to social supports play a critical role in determining patient outcomes. The conversation also examines the importance of integrated care teams, patient-oriented research, pragmatic clinical trials, health informatics, and the future role of evidence-based decision-making in healthcare systems. Topics discussed include: The growing burden of chronic disease in modern healthcareHow poverty and cost-of-living pressures impact diabetes careWhy healthcare systems struggle to address social determinants of healthThe value of integrated, team-based healthcare modelsLessons from healthcare systems in the United Kingdom and OntarioWhy patient voices must be included in healthcare innovationPragmatic trials and real-world healthcare researchThe Calgary Diabetes Mobile Clinic initiativeThe role of health data, AI, and learning health systemsWhy empathy, trust, and human connection remain essential in healthcareThe future of healthcare innovation and evidence-based policyDr. Campbell offers a powerful reminder that improving healthcare outcomes requires more than better treatments. It requires understanding the realities of people's lives and designing systems that work for everyone. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Healthcare Through Simulation, host Lisa George welcomes Dr. Anthony Seto, Clinical Associate Professor at the Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, emergency physician, educator and one of Canada's most creative innovators in simulation-based education. Anthony's unique career combines emergency medicine with filmmaking, DJing, event medicine and lifeguard training to create memorable learning experiences that emphasize teamwork, communication and learner engagement. His innovative approaches include Draw & Doodle Sim, TeamSIM, Beep Beep Sim, escape room style learning and low fidelity simulations that demonstrate impactful education doesn't require expensive technology. Throughout the conversation, Anthony explains why creativity often matters more than realism, how gamification improves teamwork, and why educators should not let limited budgets prevent them from creating meaningful simulation experiences. In this episode you'll learn: How filmmaking and DJing shaped Anthony's approach to simulation designWhy low fidelity simulations can be just as effective as high-tech simulation labsThe story behind Draw & Doodle Sim and the research that validated the conceptHow event medicine teams use simulation to prepare for unpredictable emergenciesWhy TeamSIM separates teamwork from medical content to improve learningHow escape room concepts became Beep Beep Sim for on-call emergency trainingPractical ideas educators can implement with little or no budgetEmerging trends including AI, virtual reality, tele-simulation and psychological safetyWhy creativity and learner engagement remain at the heart of effective simulationWhether you're new to simulation or an experienced educator, this episode offers practical ideas for creating engaging learning experiences regardless of your available technology or resources. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

Show Notes: In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George welcomes Carrie Krekoski, Assistant Director of Education at UBC Health, and Julie Tipping, Assistant Professor of Teaching and Program Director of the Gateway Team-Based Teaching Clinic at the University of British Columbia. Together, Carrie and Julie discuss the vision behind the Gateway Team-Based Teaching Clinic, British Columbia's first purpose-built interprofessional primary care teaching clinic. Designed to bring together learners from nine different health professions, Gateway is creating a new model where students learn with, from and about one another while delivering patient-centred care alongside an integrated healthcare team. The conversation explores how Gateway was built from the ground up to support collaborative practice, shared decision-making and patient partnership. Carrie and Julie also share the challenges of launching an innovative clinic within both an educational institution and a healthcare system, and explain how this new model could influence the future of healthcare education and primary care across Canada. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Gateway was designed as an interprofessional teaching clinic first and foremostHow students from nine healthcare professions learn together in real clinical environmentsWhy patients are considered active members of the healthcare teamHow team-based care prepares future clinicians for modern healthcareThe five-year journey to launch the Gateway ClinicThe challenges and opportunities of bringing together nine professional programsHow Gateway is testing new models of collaborative primary careWhy reflection, psychological safety and shared purpose are essential to successful teamsHow lessons from Gateway may shape healthcare education across CanadaWhether you're an educator, healthcare leader, clinician or student, this episode offers valuable insights into how collaborative education can improve both learner experiences and patient outcomes. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George is joined by Dr. Tyler Williamson, Director of the Centre for Health Informatics and Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Calgary, and Teri Price, Executive Director of Greg's Wings Projects and a nationally recognized patient advocate based in Alberta. Together, they explore one of healthcare's biggest challenges: ensuring health information follows patients wherever they receive care. While many people assume their health records are seamlessly connected across the healthcare system, Tyler and Teri explain why fragmented health information continues to impact patient safety, healthcare providers and the overall patient experience. Drawing on Greg Price's story and years of collaborative work through Networked Health, they discuss why interoperability is not simply a technology issue but a human one. The conversation explores: What health data interoperability really meansWhy disconnected information affects patients, providers and the healthcare systemGreg Price's story and the human impact of fragmented careWhy interoperability is fundamentally a people problem rather than a technology problemThe balance between protecting privacy and sharing information for better careThe importance of teamwork across the entire healthcare systemPreparing future healthcare professionals to work in connected, collaborative systemsWhy culture change is just as important as new technologyBill S-5 and the future of health information sharing in CanadaBuilding a safer, smarter and more person-centred healthcare systemWhether you are a healthcare professional, educator, researcher, policymaker or patient advocate, this episode offers valuable insights into how collaboration, policy and shared purpose can help create a more connected future for 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

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George sits down with Eli Kinney-Lang, Assistant Professor at the University of Calgary and Director of the engineering arm of the BCI for Kids Lab at the Alberta Children's Hospital. Eli shares how brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) are creating new ways for children with complex neurological disabilities to interact with the world using brain signals to control devices, communicate and even play games. The conversation breaks down the realities of BCI technology—what it is (and isn’t), how it works in practice and the real-world challenges of bringing it out of the lab and into everyday life. Key themes in this episode include: what brain-computer interfaces actually look like in real-world usehow BCIs help children bypass physical limitations to interact with technologythe challenges of accessibility, including sensor design and real-world usabilitywhy designing for children is fundamentally different and more impactful than designing for adultsthe importance of inclusion, engagement, and user experience in pediatric technologyhow gaming is becoming a powerful tool for learning, connection, and skill-buildingthe role of interdisciplinary collaboration in moving innovation from research to real lifelessons from commercializing pediatric neurotechnology while maintaining a family-centered approachhow play and social connection are often the biggest motivators for children, not just clinical outcomeswhat the future holds for pediatric neurotechnology, including AI, wearable systems, and scalable solutionsOne of the most powerful moments in the episode highlights a child using BCI to independently move his wheelchair for the first time—demonstrating how small technological breakthroughs can create life-changing impact. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George sits down with Sharla King, professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta and Program Director for the Master of Health Sciences Education program. With more than 20 years of experience in interprofessional education (IPE), Sharla shares her journey into the field, her leadership in collaborative practice, and her ongoing work shaping how health professionals learn to work together effectively. The conversation explores the evolution of interprofessional education from early classroom-based models to more integrated, experience-based learning that spans simulation and real-world clinical environments. Key themes in this episode include: how interprofessional education often begins with curiosity and grows into a lifelong focusthe importance of building a “community of practice” across institutions and disciplineswhy resistance to IPE often stems from a lack of understanding, not oppositionpractical strategies for integrating collaboration into already full curriculathe shift toward embedding interprofessional learning across the full continuum from classroom to simulation to clinical practiceinsights from research on assessing interprofessional competencies during clinical placementsthe importance of clarity in expectations between students, educators, and preceptorssimple but powerful collaboration skills like perspective-taking, communication, and relationship-buildinghow curiosity and collaboration are the best entry points into researchthe growing importance of educator identity and professional development in health educationThis episode reinforces a simple but powerful idea: better collaboration in education leads to better collaboration in practice and ultimately, better patient care. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

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 designthe process of building realistic patient characters to drive clinical decision-makingthe importance of standardized patient (SP) preparation and consistency at scalehow makeup, environment design, and storytelling contribute to immersionmanaging real-time communication across a distributed simulation environmentadapting on the fly when carefully planned scenarios inevitably break downhow learners evolve from individuals into high-functioning teams under pressurethe growing role of AI tools (like in-house platforms) in simulation developmentthe future of the SimTech profession as it expands into design, research, and educationThis 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

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, Lisa George is joined by Tara Klassen, Innovation Lead for Surgical Care Alberta. With a provincial lens and a systems-level perspective, Tara works across programs, pathways, portfolios, and geographies to help clinical and operational leaders navigate what she calls “big, weird, shared, complex decisions.” Tara explains why innovation in surgical care is about much more than introducing a new device or technology. It is about understanding what that innovation makes possible across the entire continuum of care, from referral and diagnostics through the operating room, inpatient recovery, and into community and home care. Her work focuses on helping teams align around uncertainty, clarify shared goals, and move from ideas to actionable recommendations that are safe, feasible, and sustainable within a complex public health system. Throughout the conversation, Tara unpacks some of the biggest barriers to implementing innovation, including funding structures, procurement realities, workflow disruption, and the challenge of introducing change in a system designed to manage risk. She also makes a compelling case for simulation as a core tool in innovation, not just for training, but for testing, validating, and scaling new approaches across both urban and rural settings. Key themes in this episode include: why innovation must be understood at a systems and pathway levelthe importance of early engagement with the health systemhow shared language and shared vision drive successful collaborationwhy simulation should be embedded across the entire innovation lifecyclewhat sustainable surgical innovation looks like over the next decadehow Health Everywhere Hub and A-MEDICO are shaping Alberta’s innovation ecosystemThis episode offers a practical and insightful look at how innovation actually happens inside complex health systems, and what it takes to move from concept to real-world impact. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, Lisa George speaks with Dr. Mary Brindle, pediatric surgeon, health systems researcher, and internationally recognized leader in surgical quality improvement and innovation. Dr. Brindle shares how her clinical work and research have led her to focus on one of the most complex spaces in health care: the operating room. Surgical care is high risk, resource intensive, and deeply dependent on the interaction between people, processes, and technology. That makes it one of the most important places to study how innovation can improve outcomes. The conversation explores the origins of the Health Everywhere Hub, a province-wide initiative designed to bring together clinicians, engineers, digital health experts, community partners, and researchers to solve major health challenges in Alberta. Dr. Brindle reflects on what it was like to move beyond traditional research approaches and work in a faster, more iterative innovation model shaped by collaboration with industry and innovation partners. Lisa and Dr. Brindle also discuss the concept of the Living Lab in health care, and why testing innovation in real clinical and community settings matters so much. Rather than relying only on tightly controlled pilots, Living Labs allow teams to understand how technologies actually fit into workflows, how they are adopted by users, and where they need to change before they can succeed at scale. Other key themes in the episode include: Why collaboration across professions and sectors is essential for meaningful innovationThe biggest challenges currently facing OR teams in CanadaWhy access, equity, communication, and evidence-based care remain core prioritiesHow bureaucracy slows innovation when frontline voices are not fully part of decision-making.The opportunity Alberta has to lead in surgical innovation by creating adaptable, innovation-ready environmentsThis episode is a thoughtful look at what it takes to move from good ideas to real-world impact in surgical care, and why the future of innovation depends on clinicians, researchers, industry, and patients working together. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George is joined by Dr. Mohamed Benfatah, a healthcare simulation researcher and the founder of SIM AI Health, an innovative initiative based in Morocco. Dr. Benfatah is pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence with simulation to transform health care education particularly in resource-limited settings. From nurse anesthetist to simulation educator, Dr. Benfatah shares how simulation reveals the invisible forces in health care, team dynamics, decision-making and communication as well as why it's critical for improving patient safety. He outlines his three core reasons simulation works: turning knowledge into action, engaging emotional memory, and creating reflective learning. The conversation explores: The unique challenges of scaling simulation training across Africa and the Francophone worldHow AI is being used to personalize training, generate realistic scenarios, and support clinical reasoningWhy he sees AI not as a replacement, but as an assistant to human judgmentHis approach to modular, accessible, and locally tailored simulation modelsWhat excites him most about the future of AI, simulation, and extended reality in healthcare educationWhether you’re a simulation specialist or new to AI, Dr. Benfatah’s global perspective offers fresh insight into how technology and heart can work hand-in-hand to make simulation more equitable and impactful around the world. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this special on-location episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George brings you conversations from “Translating Innovation: A-MEDICO Meets Alberta MedTech Industry,” an event designed to spark connections between researchers, trainees, and industry partners working at the intersection of health innovation and medical device development in Alberta. Funded by the Alberta Ministry of Technology and Innovation, A-MEDICO is a major collaborative initiative led by the University of Calgary, with support from the University of Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic, the University of Lethbridge, and NAIT’s Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS). The goal: unite the province’s post-secondaries, industry partners, and underserved communities to accelerate Alberta’s medical technology ecosystem. Lisa speaks with five key voices from across the innovation pipeline — from early-stage student researchers to experienced entrepreneurs and innovation leaders: Ben Millen - VP of Design, Tangent Design EngineeringBen shares how Tangent helps early scientific ideas move from napkin sketch to real-world medical devices. He explores the challenges of scale-up, regulatory compliance, and building products that are not only functional but manufacturable, safe, and clinically useful. Stephanie Dang - Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering, University of CalgaryStephanie reflects on her transition from biochemistry to biomedical engineering and how automation, collaboration, and mentorship are shaping her journey as a medtech innovator. Dr. Lindsey Westover - Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UCalgaryDr. Westover discusses her work developing BackScanner, a low-cost mobile app that uses 3D imaging to monitor scoliosis without X-rays. She highlights the power of open access tools, clinician partnerships, and user-centered design. Dr. John Wong - CEO & Co-Founder, Fluid Biomed Inc.Dr. Wong shares the extraordinary journey of creating the world’s first bioabsorbable stent for treating brain aneurysms. From surgical insight to startup CEO, he opens up about navigating commercialization, investor alignment, and scaling a life-saving innovation. Dr. Michael Kallos - Professor and Department Head, Biomedical Engineering, UCalgaryAs the architect of A-MEDICO, Dr. Kallos explains how the program creates one big lab across Alberta — connecting students, researchers, polytechnics, and industry under a unified vision for medtech innovation. From translating research into reality to empowering Alberta’s next generation of innovators, this episode is a powerful look at how simulation, collaboration, and bold ideas are reshaping what’s possible in health care. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George is joined by Tyler Tamayose, President and Principal Consultant of Banyan Strategies. A cross-sector leader with a deep background in health care, government, academia, and innovation, Tyler shares his unique journey from early experiences in crisis response to mentoring hundreds of startups. He reflects on the importance of giving leaders space to think, the value of simulation in health care, and what Alberta needs to become a global leader in health innovation. With clarity and conviction, Tyler unpacks the gaps between frontline teams and innovators, the importance of human-centered leadership, and the need to redesign systems that embrace bold ideas and collaborative execution. Whether you’re an aspiring leader, systems thinker, or changemaker in health care, this conversation offers insights, practical wisdom, and inspiration for what’s possible when we think beyond the box. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, host Lisa George speaks with Andrew Karesa, Founder and CEO of blueBell Village, a community dedicated to redefining dementia and memory care through relationship‑focused services and interprofessional collaboration. Andrew shares the personal story that inspired Bluebell Village, beginning with his grandmother’s Alzheimer’s journey. He explains how his vision for a dementia village evolved into Connect, a digital platform that brings caregivers, families, and service providers together to offer coordinated and culturally appropriate care. Their conversation explores the realities of caregiving, the innovation gaps in dementia support, and the urgent need to design systems that respect personal independence and cultural context. Andrew’s work reflects the growing movement toward care models that prioritize relationships, empathy, and inclusion. About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, we sit down with Patty Wickson, a transformative leader with over 30 years of experience in health care innovation, clinical operations, and strategic systems. Patty shares her fascinating journey leading Alberta Health Services’ Innovation Office, where she and her team developed an “Innovation Pipeline” to accelerate health solutions from idea to system-wide implementation. She reveals how her team brought groundbreaking projects to life—like a wound-healing gel that sped up recovery by 56%—and explains the fine balance between agility and evidence in large systems. Patty also shares her approach to cultivating “intrapreneurs” inside health organizations and how to foster frontline-led innovation. From AI’s future in clinical workflows to the power of virtual care in remote communities, this episode explores the key ingredients behind meaningful health transformation—and what health innovators, clinicians, and system leaders can learn from it. Key Topics: How to build a sustainable innovation framework inside large health systemsThe Innovation Pipeline process for rapid adoptionLessons from real-world projects with strong patient outcomesThe role of “intrapreneurship” in driving workforce-led solutionsAdvice for early-stage health innovatorsThe growing opportunities in AI, automation, and virtual careAbout:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca