The center connects education and clinical practice with realistic, high-impact learning experiences. It facilitates the teaching of technical skills and promotes interdisciplinary collaboration, which mirrors real-world healthcare settings in which nurses and other healthcare professionals work together. Students engaged in this dynamic environment develop strong clinical reasoning, adaptability and teamwork skills — all of which are critical for success in healthcare careers. 

In the Gail Graham Lee ’62 Simulation Center, students practice care in medical-surgical, pediatric, intensive care, and labor and delivery environments. The 12 beds have patient-monitoring devices and manikins — which mimic human anatomy and physiology — that simulate various health conditions. In the control room, instructors observe and talk with students, adjust patient variables in real time and record sessions for debriefs. The flexibility of these spaces enables innovative teaching strategies to better prepare students for collaborative healthcare environments.  

“The simulation and skills labs are like nothing I have ever experienced. The technology that is being used makes it feel like the patients are real. Even though we often joke that, ‘It’s just a manikin,’ the manikins are so realistic that when you are in a sim or learning experience, it feels real.” 

— Elizabeth Traina ’25