SSH President's October Message: Welcome, 2025-26 SSH Board Members!

Greetings SSH Community!

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I hope this message finds you all in great spirits. As we step into October, I am excited to share some updates about upcoming events and programs. Our community continues to flourish thanks to your unwavering dedication and passion for healthcare simulation!

I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to the SSH members who were recently elected by our membership to leadership positions. We are delighted to welcome the incoming President-Elect, Aaron Calhoun, Secretary-Elect, Connie Lopez, and Director-at-Large-Elect, Tonya Schneidereith, who will join the SSH Board of Directors in their new roles starting Jan. 14, 2025.

We are excited to announce that preparations for the International Meeting on Simulation in Health (IMSH) 2025, our 25th anniversary meeting, are well underway. This year's theme, "Looking Back, Reaching Forward," perfectly encapsulates this milestone. Registration is open and rolling — be sure to take advantage of the early registration rate available until October 18.

We are also thrilled to announce a new pre-conference forum, "Healthcare Simulation 2050: Building a Better Future Together." This two-day event will be held on Jan. 9-10, 2025, in Orlando, Florida. The forum will convene simulation experts and healthcare leaders to review the current state of healthcare simulation and to forecast its future developments. This pre-conference forum represents not just an event, but a movement towards safer, more effective healthcare.

Participants will explore workforce training, readiness, and competency, examining how simulation can meet current challenges and anticipate future demands. The forum will feature seven key tracks: EMS/Pre-Hospital Care, Nursing, Undergraduate & Graduate Medical Education, Advanced Practice Providers, Systems Integration (Patient Safety/Quality Improvement), Health Systems/Hospital Leadership, and Health Sciences. In interactive small group settings, attendees will collaborate with experts, drive innovation, and help shape the future of healthcare simulation.

The pre-conference forum is open to both IMSH attendees and non-attendees. Secure your spot by registering now to benefit from the early bird rate before the October deadline. We hope you can join us in a collaborative environment dedicated to enhancing patient safety and quality improvement through simulation!

ELSEWHERE ...

The month of October begins a very busy time of the year for annual meetings of professional organizations and important annual week events. A few I would like to highlight include:

National PA Week - National Physician Assistant Week is celebrated every year from Oct. 6-12 to recognize the contributions of PAs to the medical community and raise awareness of the profession. This week coincides with the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) annual Education Forum that will take place Oct.6-10 in Washington, DC.

National Healthcare Quality Week 2024 will take place from Oct. 20–26, 2024. The National Association of Healthcare Quality (NAHQ) organizes the event to recognize the contributions of healthcare and quality professionals in improving patient outcomes. It also aims to raise awareness of the impact these professionals have on their communities, organizations, and healthcare as a whole.

Hope you all enjoy an awesome October. Take care and stay healthy!

Warm regards,

Dr. Barry Issenberg
2024-25 SSH President