In the basement of the University of Utah's School of Medicine, Ken Johnson (the director), Noah Syroid (the engineer), and STAN (the simulator) began conducting simulations for medical students and anesthesia residents
2001
Diane Wells Joins the Team
Diane Wells - an experienced Registered Nurse - joins the simulation center as nurse educator
2003
1st Orientation for Clinical Anesthesia Residents
The first of many orientations, this multi-week event assists incoming anesthesia residents with the onboarding and orientation process
2005
New Simulation Area
The center relocates to the 3rd floor of the University of Utah's School of Medicine. This center features a simulated operating room, dedicated debriefing room, and prime location near the hospital's operating rooms
2006
Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Grant
The center is awarded the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation Grant to improve patient safety through simulation-based training. Part-Task and Variable Priority Training (PTT & VPT) is developed and integrated into the resident curriculum as a result
2007
First Medical Device Usability Study
The center begins conducting usability studies for medical device companies such as Philips, Smith Medical, Dräger, Becton Dickinson (BD), and NASA
2008
Health Occupation Program
The center partners with Salt Lake City School District's Health Occupation Program to provide high school students an immersive simulation-based experience. Students were given the opportunity to intubate, defibrillate, and perform CPR
2009
SimMan3G Simulator Arrives
The center switches from METI's STAN simulator to Laerdal's SimMan3G dubbed Robert
2010
American Society of Anesthesiology MOCA Facility
The center becomes one of the first ASA endorsed center to provide Maintenance of Certificaition in Anesthesia (MOCA) in the western United States. It remains the only location in Utah to date
Mock Boards Integrated into Residency Program
In 2010, the center began runnig mock oral boards (OSCEs) to evaluate resident performance and prepare them for board examinations
2012
VitalsBridge
Noah Syroid, Joseph Orr, and Sören Höhne develop a novel device that allows educators to simulate vital signs on real patient monitors. This device later became known as VitalsBridge and is made commerically available through Dynasthetics, a University of Utah derived medical device company
2013
Medical Student Clerkship is Established
The center establishes a 3-week anesthesia clerkship for medical students and surgical residents
Safe Sedation Training
Talmage Egan develops Safe Sedation Training - an interactive online course for moderate sedation, with the assistance of MedVIS, Jim Agutter, Noah Syroid, and Ken Johnson
2014
Sören Höhne Joins the Team
Sören Höhne joins the team as a simulation engineer and soon become the center's technical director
SimJunior Arrives
The center develops curricula focused on pediatric anesthesia care utilizing Laerdal's SimJunior, called Pete, for residents to practice managing adverse events in pediatric patients
2015
The Center Expands
The center continues to grow, adding a North wing featuring a simulated intensive care area and a new SimMan3G - Klaus
Central Line Placement Course
The center introduces a Central Line placement course for incoming anesthesia, surgical, and trauma residents. Providing training to practice the complete procedure under the guidance of a practicing anesthesiologist
2016
Interdisciplinary Trauma Simulations
The center partners with the University of Utah Trauma Service to expose anesthesiologists, surgeons, nurses, and EMTs to fatal (but rare) emergency scenarios in-situ
2017
Elizabeth Thackeray & Beca Chacín Join the Team
Elizabeth Thackeray becomes Co-Director of the Center, and Beca Chacin joins as a simulation engineer
2019
Theodore H. Stanley Annual Update in Anesthesiology Conference
The center joins the University of Utah Department of Anesthesiology's annual conference in Park City, Utah by offering simulation-based difficult airway seminars to conference attendees
2020
Preparing for COVID-19
The center provides COVID-centric simulation and PPE Training to anesthesiologists, CRNAs, and anesthesia technicians in preparation for COVID-19 case loads. The team also assisted in the modification and creation of COVID-19 related educational materials such as infographics, booklets, and posters
2022
Michelle Curtis Joins the Team
Michelle Curtis becomes associate director of the center
2023
Micah Baker Joins the Team
Micah Baker joins the center as the new nurse educator, replacing Diane Wells after her retirement
The Center Relocates
As the University of Utah prepares to build a new School of Medicine, the center is related to Building 379. The new location features a simulated operating room and intensive care unit, as well as a large lobby and 2 debriefing rooms
