During his address at IMSH 2023 (already three months ago!), President Haru Okuda announced the Society was launching the SSH Fund – an annual philanthropic campaign to support the future of healthcare simulation.

Before IMSH, 100% of the SSH Board of Directors made a pledge to the 2023 annual campaign. By the end of IMSH, the SSH Fund totaled $47,000 in pledges.

Boosted by that amazing effort, the 2023 SSH Fund will support four programs awarded in 2024, including:

• Expanding the Beverlee Anderson Scholarship Program - need-based awards with larger travel stipends to better support international members.

• Larger research awards to support multi-institutional research advancements.

• A new SimVentors technology award.

• The Chad Epps Lecture endowment.

These four pillars - members, research, technology, and knowledge – are the heart of the Society and pivotal to making extraordinary advances in simulation.

Key to reaching our goal are major gifts.

In that light, Lou Oberndorf kicked off this support with a four-year $50,000 commitment, with $12,500 in 2023. Lou also challenged his fellow CEOs and Society corporate partners to donate to the SSH Fund and support transformational advances in healthcare simulation through technology innovation, research, and capacity building for member attendance from around the world.

You can join a growing number of your SSH Fund-supporting colleagues when you visit the SSH Fund page and make your gift or pledge (payment due by Dec. 31, 2023). In June, the Society plans to launch a more comprehensive website that will show regular updates on the impact of the SSH Fund, programs currently being funded, acknowledgment of donors, and ways to support this important effort.

The 2023 SSH Fund has already received gifts and pledges totaling $99,867 from 83 individuals and three corporate donors, which means we are at 50 percent of our $200,000 goal. Please consider supporting the 2023 SSH Fund and join other members in advancing the future of healthcare simulation and patient safety.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us for more information or if you have questions!

Jennifer Calzada, MA, MPH, CHSE
SSH Board, Director-At-Large | SSH Fund Committee Chair
jcalzada@tulane.edu | 504-813-7174