SSH President's November Message: A Season of Momentum and Connection

As we turn the corner toward the end of the year, it’s clear that our community’s energy and commitment continue to drive the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) forward in remarkable ways.

First, I am thrilled to share that early-bird registration and vendor engagement for IMSH 2026 have exceeded expectations, a testament to the enthusiasm, creativity, and collaboration that define our field. Each year, IMSH brings together simulationists from around the globe, and this year’s early response signals not only a strong return but an even broader engagement across disciplines and regions. Thank you to everyone who has already registered and helped spread the word.

Another highlight is the overwhelming response to the new SSH–DAISY Team Award for Simulation, celebrating extraordinary teams who use simulation to advance compassionate, safe, and patient-centered care. With more than 40 submissions in this inaugural year, it’s clear that simulation is a vital part of healthcare’s human story, where innovation and empathy intersect.

I’m also delighted to congratulate the newly-elected leaders of SSH. SSH recently announced the results of the 2026 Board of Directors election: Matthew Charnetski as President, Michael Spooner as Treasurer, and Marie Gilbert as Director-at-Large, along with the appointed Directors-at-Large David Kessler and Jason Konzelmann. Their willingness to serve ensures that SSH remains strong, forward-looking, and responsive to our members’ needs.

This month, I also want to recognize the growing connections between SSH and other professional societies around the world. My work commitments took me to South Asia, coinciding with the recent PediSTARS meeting in India. At PediSTARS, SSH Immediate Past-president Dr. Barry Issenberg was honored for his global contributions to healthcare simulation. Our Board member, Dr. Vinay Nadkarni, also played a key role at the meeting, as an international advisor (which he has been for over a decade), reinforcing SSH’s commitment to partnership, mentorship, and global collaboration. At the Global Network for Simulation in Healthcare (GNSH) meeting, past-presidents KT Waxman, Bob Armstrong, and Pam Jeffries along with Barry Issenberg, Aaron Calhoun, and myself engaged with society, industry, and thought leaders on how to use simulation to address a myriad of healthcare needs. These engagements are more than symbolic; they embody our shared mission to advance simulation as a worldwide movement for better healthcare.

Building on that spirit of collaboration, I am pleased to share that SSH has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with SESAM (the Society in Europe for Simulation Applied to Medicine). This agreement formalizes our shared commitment to advancing quality-assured simulation practice worldwide. Through this collaboration, SSH and SESAM will:

• Facilitate internationally coordinated advocacy for simulation at the highest level, including representation in political, institutional, and intergovernmental forums;
• Maintain a global forum to identify healthcare needs and exchange perspectives on mutually beneficial pathways forward;
• Defend and advance the role of simulation by promoting its value and evidence base to policymakers, funders, and regulators;
• Support collaborative efforts to define evolving community needs and update recommendations; and
• Nurture and mentor the global simulation community, developing shared tools, research, and innovations that benefit healthcare institutions, their staff, and the patients they serve.

As we build momentum toward IMSH and beyond, I encourage each of you to stay connected, celebrate one another’s successes, and continue to shape the future of healthcare simulation, together.