The College of Public Health joins an elite group of only 250 organizations in the world to be accredited by SSH - and is the only public health college to be SSH-accredited.
"With this strategic accreditation, we are poised to provide every student in the College the opportunity to extend their learning through immersive technologies and simulation. This interprofessional learning environment offers high-impact skills and critical thinking in a low-risk, safe setting."
Dean Melissa Perry
Introducing First College of Public Health to Receive Prestigious Society for Simulation in Healthcare Accreditation
George Mason University's College of Public Health announces the nation's first Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)-accredited Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation at a public health college. This pioneering facility redefines how health professionals practice and reinforces George Mason's leadership in cutting-edge technology that revolutionizes public health education and workforce development.
Introducing Virginia's First Interdisciplinary Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation
Preparing our students for the future of healthcare requires completely new ways of defining a “classroom” and preparing students for the evolving demands of public health education.
Immersive technologies and simulation bring the learning experience to our students across all our degree programs – delivering hands-on learning in an immersive environment conducive to applying and acquiring skills. Students gain experience across the lifespan - from fetal and neonatal care to pediatric and geriatric care.
The Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation plays an integral role in helping students gain the experiential learning required for on-time graduation and in delivering a curriculum focused health and well-being for all. The lab will play a leading role in providing practicum, field placement, and clinical hours.
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Facilities and Equipment
Lab Facilities
At 8,000 square feet, the lab encompasses modular spaces replicating practice settings or converts multiple spaces for extended reality (XR).
The technology extends beyond the lab and is portable to other classrooms and meeting spaces. Any space can be a VR lab
Three state-of-the-art control rooms, each manages two simulation lab rooms
Lab Equipment
28 high-fidelity VR simulators and augmented reality headsets
Cutting edge software and equipment for teaching curriculum across the lifespan, including pediatric, neonatal, obstetric, and geriatric care
State-of-the-art simulation hardware for. software, and simulation scenarios for pressing public health issues, including opioid use disorder, behavioral health, and memory care
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Curriculum Development
Interdisciplinary Learning Opportunities
Students from all disciplines will use the VR/Sim Lab to gain experiential learning
Standards-based simulation curriculum is integrated into course objectives to ensure a holistic learning experience
The VR/Sim Lab will extend learning opportunities in areas such as OB/GYN, pediatrics, and gerontology where it can be difficult to earn sufficient clinical hours
Facilitated Simulation Debriefs
“The technology is not the innovation—the technology enables the innovation,” says Bethany Cieslowski, VR/Sim Lab Coordinator. “The learning really comes from the pre- and post-simulation briefings where students receive feedback and learn from the actions that result from critical thinking processes.”
Health and Well-Being for All
The VR/Sim Lab will play an integral role in curriculum that promotes health and well-being for all at the College and beyond. Students, faculty, and community partners can simulate learning experiences to build cultural competencies and prepare students for in-person clinical experiences.
Ground-Breaking Accreditation
The College of Public Health is proud to be the nation's first Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH)-accredited facility at a public health college. This pioneering Lab redefines how health professionals practice and reinforces George Mason's leadership in cutting-edge technology that revolutionizes public health education and workforce development.
"There is a growing body of evidence to support VR’s effectiveness in the classroom. Recent research from Mason professor and director of the Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation, Dr. Bethany Cieslowski found that immersive VR training is as effective — as inpatients training for students learning to provide care for acute care pediatric patients."
“The learning really comes from the pre- and post-simulation briefings where students receive feedback and learn from the actions that result from critical thinking processes.”
Bethany Cieslowski, Chief Innovation Officer
“Obstetric and pediatric clinical opportunities are often limited for students– but with simulations, every student can participate in delivering a baby. The technology is not only cool but can help students complete their clinical requirements more efficiently.”
Cheryl Oetjen, Professor, School of Nursing at Mason
"The Center for Immersive Technologies and Simulation is a safe environment for students to learn and develop a plan to treat their patients. It’s a great exercise to improve critical thinking, a must-have quality in medical field.”
Sindhu Mallala, Simulation Coordinator
Mission
Our Mission at the Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation at the College of Public Health at George Mason University is to empower excellence through digital innovation. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we aim to enhance the overarching mission of the College through collaboration, research, and innovation. George Mason University is dedicated to revolutionizing interprofessional education and practice, ultimately advancing healthcare on a global scale
Vision
The Lab for Immersive Technologies and Simulation at George Mason College of Public Health is focused on utilizing simulation to enhance learning and improve clinical practice while advancing the field by:
Prioritizing a learner-centered, service-oriented organization.
Designing and implementing training that incorporates state-of-the-art simulation techniques and equipment for measurable skill transferability and improvements in patient safety.
Incorporating health simulation into the training curriculum for learners, clinicians and staff at all levels in all specialties.
Leveraging simulation as a technique to drive successful change within individuals, interprofessional teams, departments, entities and across the system.
Contributing to the published field of research surrounding innovative applications of simulation-based methodologies.
Cultivating strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors, academic and healthcare organizations to advance simulation.
The programs and services offered by George Mason University are open to all who seek them. George Mason does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, ethnic national origin (including shared ancestry and/or ethnic characteristics), sex, disability, military status (including veteran status), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, pregnancy status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. After an initial review of its policies and practices, the university affirms its commitment to meet all federal mandates as articulated in federal law, as well as recent executive orders and federal agency directives.
