The Society for Simulation in Healthcare > About SSH > News > March 2015 Newsletter > Newsletter page 3
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Research Committee Update
Debra Nestel & Kevin Kunkler


As the new Chair and Deputy Chair of the Research Committee, we are finding our way. We are indebted to the wonderful work of those who have gone before, especially the immediate past Chair, Joshua Hui. The structure of the work of the new Research Committee is designed to increase levels of participation for Deb NestelSociety members. The Committee will be compromised of members who represent a spectrum of expertise and experience as researchers in healthcare simulation. However, we are proposing a number of task forces and finite project groups for which we will be asking members to join. This is where the really exciting work will be done. The proposed groups are listed below.

Research Resource Taskforce to support and commission development of resources and activities focused on the development of healthcare simulation research. This group will focus on the development of a Society research portal for web-based resources to house existing and new resources. They will also focus on the development of a program of activities (e.g. workshops, webinars etc.) outside of the conference program.

Research Mentor Project
to support the development, implementation and evaluation of a research mentor program for members of the Society.

Research Scholar Advisory Taskforce to support specific scholarly activities of the Society such as awards and to develop a consulting service for scholarly activities such as grant writing and review. The mechanisms for this service will be the charge of the taskforce.

Research Conference Group Taskforce to support the conference activities of the Society in abstract calls and review and the promotion of research within the scientific program.

Research Strategic Planning Taskforce
to support specific project opportunities such as establishing global research infrastructure and a global healthcare simulation strategy.

Together with the Research Affinity Group, these Taskforces and Project groups will report to the Research Committee.

In essence, much of the creative work of the Research Committee now resides within these Taskforces and Project groups. We hope you will find them attractive and find time to contribute.

We will shortly be calling for members to register their interest and look forward to working with you.

Technology Committee Update
Thomas Talbot & John Vozenilek


This year, our prime mission is to focus on advanced technologies associated with healthcare simulation and its ancillary applications. The technology Technology Committeecommittee is pursuing three priorities:

  1. We are looking at ways to bring knowledge and competency with advancing technologies to the SSIH membership; probably through special technology-focused IMSH programming. A top contender for 2016 is a special track on virtual and augmented reality displays.
  2. We are exploring innovative ways for educators and authors experiences to share resources and lower the barrier to create.
  3. We desire to recognize innovators and share the fruits of their accomplishments through a contest or special event to be held each year. We are currently considering a Simulation Hack-a-thon for 2015. Such a competition would be modeled on academic and industry sponsored events in other industries.
The Technology committee is looking for great ideas and our members are always eager to hear from our SSIH colleagues.

Education Committee Update
Tara Lang & David Marzano


Greetings! As the new Chair and Vice-Chair of the Education Committee, we want to sincerely thank the committee members for all of the hard work and Education Committeewonderful progress they have made over the past year. We look forward to the new organizational structure that will allow for greater member involvement and input, with applications for committee members and interest in Project Groups being elicited shortly!

The three projects that the committee will be concentrating on over the next year will include:
  1. Leadership content track for IMSH 2016
  2. Creation of an Educational Resources Portal on the SSH website
  3. Establishment of an Education Mentorship Program.
We hope that you will seriously consider joining the Education Committee Team and help shape the future of SSH!

Meetings Oversight Committee Update
Bob Armstrong & Wanda Goranson


The Meetings Oversight Committee is focused on supporting the IMSH 2016 planning process. Our immediate activities include supporting the selection process for IMSH Plenary speakers. Our goal is to select speakers with topics supporting our conference theme of Discover, Share, Lead. We participated in the Meetings Oversight Committeeon-site planning committee meeting in San Diego in February. The venue is a good fit for IMSH, and is really in the heart of the downtown San Diego restaurant and bar district.

Our long-term activities include formalizing the Meetings Oversight Committee processes. The goals is to create a transparent set of mechanisms that guide the Committee’s recurring activities and areas of oversight, including the Plenary selection process, IMSH and other event planning schedules, planning committee progress and performance, conflict of interest procedures, and the process of selecting regional and international event venues and partnerships. Be on the lookout for updates as we work to meet these goals over the coming year.