Simulation In Motion Midwest

Welcome to the Simulation In Motion Midwest Consortium, consisting of health simulation providers in North and South Dakota, Iowa, and Montana.

Founded in 2010, Simulation in Motion – Midwest (SIM-Midwest) is a consortium of the Simulation In Motion programs from South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Iowa. Our mission is to deliver high-quality, evidence-based education to providers who might not have opportunities to attend simulation training due to distance, staff coverage, and cost.

The third regional SIM Midwest conference, “Stronger Together – Improving Healthcare Outcomes with Simulation,” is happening in Grand Forks, N.D., on June 5-6, 2025. The conference will bring together simulation enthusiasts from the clinical and academic professions

Register

If you have any problems with the online registration system, please contact the office of Extended Learning at (701)777-0448

ATTENDEE REGISTRATION EXHIBITOR REGISTRATION

Conference details

Uncover the latest innovations and emerging industry trends in healthcare simulation. Achieve hands-on learning with leading healthcare authorities from across the Midwest in this two-day simulation conference. Network with other simulation experts and discuss best practices and ongoing advancements in patient care. This two-day conference includes multiple small workshop sessions to develop actionable steps through learning and observation.

Target Audience: Healthcare Educators, Practitioners, Simulation Technicians, Administrators, Physicians, Nurses, Respiratory Care, Emergency Medical Services, Allied Health, Psychologists, Behavioral Health Providers.

Conference Objectives:

Discuss essential elements of a simulation-based curriculum using an evidence-based approach.
Incorporate strategies to integrate technology and innovation into simulation curriculum and practice.
Describe the traditional and expanded use of simulation throughout healthcare professionals' careers.
Demonstrate innovative and creative implementations of simulation-based learning for adult learners.

Keynote Speakers

Shelly Houser, MSHS

(She/Her/Ally)
Entrepreneur | Speaker | Advocate | Disability Consultant

Shelly Houser is a dedicated advocate for inclusivity with 15 years of experience in disability empowerment and education. A congenital hemi-amputee, she holds a master’s degree in human services and a Bachelor's in Media Studies, which have made her well-versed in the power of simulations. As a former Union Script Supervisor for film and TV, she brings a unique perspective on creating authentic and impactful disability-related training experiences. As the founder of Inclusive Consulting Services, Shelly develops impactful training and presentations to bridge service gaps across healthcare, social services, and emergency response. Her expertise has earned her an advocacy award from the National Council on Independent Living, and she serves on multiple boards, working to create a world where all individuals, regardless of ability, are heard, valued, and included. She is a mother of three boys, Shelly enjoys skiing and hiking in her free time.

Presentations

Enhancing Simulations with Moulage Gelatin: Creating Realistic Injuries and Effects (Class size limited to the first 25 registrants)
Tim Shea

Join Tim for a hands-on session exploring the creation and application of moulage gelatin to elevate the realism of your medical simulations. Learn step-by-step techniques for crafting lifelike blood clots, infiltrated IVs, open and closed wounds, and gunshot injuries. This session will provide practical insights and tips to enhance training scenarios, making them more immersive and impactful.

Enhancing Interprofessional Collaboration through Simulation
Kevin Buettner & Ellen Steidl

Research shows that interprofessional education helps healthcare professionals develop teamwork skills to deliver high-quality care. While it typically involves different professions, less is known about its impact within the same profession across varying scopes of practice. To explore this, the College of Nursing and Professional Disciplines created a simulation where undergraduate nursing students managed a deteriorating patient requiring intubation by nurse anesthesia students. They collaborated to stabilize the patient, followed by a faculty-led debrief and anesthesia-led airway discussion. This session will examine interprofessional education’s role in improving patient care using this simulation as a case study.

Setting the Stage and Closing the Loop: Maximizing Learning Through Effective Briefing and Debriefing
Courtney Maguire

Effective briefing and debriefing are essential components of simulation-based education, significantly influencing learner engagement, psychological safety, and knowledge retention. This presentation will explore best practices for structuring pre- and post-simulation discussions to optimize learning outcomes. Participants will gain insights into evidence-based strategies that enhance reflection, critical thinking, and skill development. By understanding the key elements of briefing and debriefing, educators can foster deeper learning and improve the overall effectiveness of simulation experiences.

When Simulation Goes Wrong: Causes and Solutions
Brian Rechkemmer

This presentation explores the critical factors that can lead to simulation failures in the healthcare field. It delves into common causes like data quality issues, modeling errors, software bugs, and human error. It also offers practical solutions and best practices to prevent and mitigate simulation errors, ensuring more reliable and accurate outcomes. Join us to understand how to safeguard your simulations and enhance their effectiveness.

Enhancing Rural Healthcare Simulation: Practical Applications of AI
Tawni Harvala

Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) can transform rural healthcare simulation in this practical and inspiring presentation. Learn how to leverage AI tools for creating scenarios, streamlining logistics, and enhancing learner engagement. Through real-world examples and actionable tips, you’ll gain insights to overcome challenges and innovate within your simulation programs.

Moulage Techniques: Crafting Realistic Injuries with Dragon Skin Silicone
Tim Shea (Class size limited to the first 25 registrants)

Enhance the realism of your simulations with Dragon Skin silicone moulage! In this hands-on session, Tim Shea will guide participants through the process of creating high-quality, durable moulage, including open and closed wounds, realistic skin, infiltrated IVs, suture pads, facial suture trainers, and gunshot wounds. Gain practical skills and expert tips to elevate your training scenarios with lifelike, reusable silicone moulage.

Green Tag, Suicide Prevention Training
Meghan Benzing (Please plan to attend part 1 & 2 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.)

The Green Tag Training includes information on recognizing signs of mental health distress, understanding risk factors, and knowing how to intervene effectively. Our goal is to educate participants on suicide prevention, enhancing their ability to support those they come in contact with, and fostering a community-wide culture of mental health awareness and support.

Creating Ultra-Realistic Moulage with Household Silicone
Tim Shea (Class size limited to the first 25 registrants)

Discover how to transform everyday household silicone into highly realistic moulage for medical simulations. In this hands-on session, Tim Shea will demonstrate techniques for crafting lifelike injuries and bodily fluids, including burned hands, massive burns, gunshot wounds, bloody and soiled chux, vomit, urine, and feces. Learn cost-effective methods to enhance the authenticity of your training scenarios with dramatic, immersive effects.

Hospital Obstetric Emergencies
Michelle Walde

Although uncommon, obstetric emergencies often require quick thinking, accurate assessment, targeted intervention, and complex communication. An in-depth discussion will be provided on the management of a variety of obstetric emergencies. The goal being a broader understanding and decreased apprehension of caring for this population.

De-Roling
Erin Snyder

Simulation often recreates high-stress, emotionally charged scenarios, making it crucial for all participants—Standardized Patients, learners, and facilitators—to effectively transition out of their roles. De-roling techniques help release emotions and stress triggered by these experiences, promoting well-being and preventing burnout. This session will explore the importance of de-roling, how to recognize signs of emotional strain, and practical techniques to ensure a healthy and sustainable simulation environment.

Competency Based Education with Simulation
Jacinda Bunch

Competency-based education (CBE) in healthcare simulation develops and assesses clinical skills through deliberate practice and objective evaluation. Unlike time-based training, CBE ensures learners demonstrate proficiency in key areas—clinical reasoning, procedures, and teamwork—before advancing. High-fidelity simulation offers a risk-free, immersive environment to refine decision-making and technical skills, enhancing confidence, patient safety, and workforce readiness.

Measuring Success: Data-Driven Evaluation in Healthcare Simulation
Travis Spier

Effective evaluation is key to improving healthcare simulation outcomes. This session will explore how a digital data management tool enhances data collection, streamlining the tracking and assessment of learner performance. Attendees will gain insights into its practical application within a simulation education program, including real-time data entry, organization, and analysis. The session will also cover the use of pre- and post-assessment questionnaires to measure learner progression and simulation effectiveness. Finally, we will demonstrate reporting functionalities that transform raw data into actionable insights, helping to drive informed decision-making and continuous improvement in simulation-based education.

Building Realistic, Low-Cost Medical Task Trainers: Creative Solutions on a Budget
Tim Shea (Class size limited to the first 25 registrants)

Join Tim for a hands-on session exploring how to create highly realistic medical task trainers using inexpensive, everyday materials. Participants will learn step-by-step methods to build blood pumpers, tracheal and oral suction devices, wound trainers, and wound packing models—perfect for enhancing simulation training on a budget. This interactive workshop is designed for resourceful educators and healthcare professionals looking to maximize realism without breaking the bank. Space is limited to the first 25 registrants, so don’t miss this opportunity to develop cost-effective training solutions!

Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Clinical Practice Using Generative AI Simulation
Ellen Steidl

Generative AI is transforming healthcare education by enabling more dynamic and unscripted simulation experiences. Traditional digital platforms have been limited by scripted responses, but AI-driven simulations allow learners to engage in realistic, adaptive conversations with virtual patients. This presentation explores how generative AI enhances clinical training, bridging the gap between theory and practice. Attendees will gain insights into integrating AI-powered simulations into their educational programs.

Continuing Education

CME

Continuing Education CME: 9 Credit hours will be awarded upon completion of the 2-day conference (Nursing please contact your board of nursing for confirmation to use as continuing education – (The CME for this conference is approved by the North Dakota Board of Nursing). The University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences designates this Live activity for a maximum of 9 AMA PRA Category 1 credit(s)TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CEH

Emergency Medical Services 9 EMS credit hours will be awarded upon completion of the two-day conference.

Travel

Conference Location:

Hotels blocked for June 4 & 5

Hilton Garden Inn:

Hilton Garden Inn Conference Rate

4301 James Ray Drive Grand Forks, ND 58201

Room Rate: $99.00/night

Best Western Harvest Inn & Suites

Best Western Harvest Inn & Suites

Conference number 2926

3350 32 Ave S, Grand Forks, ND 58201 | 701-775-5000

Room rate $99.00 per night

Reservation closure is April 15,2026

If you have questions, please contact the Hosting Program Coordinator:

Colette Greek, MSN, RN, PHN
colette.greek@UND.edu
701.777.4028

Grant funding to support SIM-ND and SIM-Midwest are provided by the Leona M. & Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust.