Tonya A. Schneidereith, PhD, MBA, CRNP, PPCNP-BC, CPNP-AC, CNE, CHSE-A, ANEF, FSSH, FAAN
Chief Executive Officer, SIMPL Simulation, LLC
Associate Professor, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing
If you placed your confidence in me to serve as an At-Large Director, thank you. Your trust has allowed me to contribute to initiatives increasing SSH's global impact, as well as initiatives internal to our organization. Now, I am asking for your support once more. This time as Secretary, a key leadership role on the Executive Committee.
My career has given me perspectives that span simulation. As a faculty member, I have been the sole simulationist doing everything for my program and I have been part of large, well-resourced teams. As a consultant, my work has taken me into technical and community colleges, universities, and graduate medical education programs, working alongside nurses, physicians, allied health professionals, simulation operations specialists, and educators from numerous disciplines. I have seen simulation thrive with abundant resources and I have watched colleagues create extraordinary learning experiences with almost nothing. These experiences shape how I think, how I lead, how I listen, and how I serve.
I hold an MBA with an emphasis on executive leadership, providing me with formal training in organizational governance, strategic decision-making, and effective meeting management. I apply these principles to run a business that demands meticulous organization, clear documentation, and the ability to facilitate productive conversations among diverse stakeholders. This is not theoretical knowledge for me. It is how I operate.
The Secretary ensures the accuracy of meeting minutes, preserving the integrity of our decisions, discussions, and commitments. Equally important, this role maintains order during meetings. We have all been in rooms where people talk over one another, where enthusiasm overtakes process, and where quieter voices get lost. I bring skills directly aligned with these responsibilities. My facilitation style is respectful and inclusive, yet firm when necessary. I am committed to ensuring all voices are heard, especially those that might otherwise be overlooked.
My vision for the Society over the next three years centers on connection, access, and excellence. With the Internal Relations Committee, I am working to connect seasoned members with those working in isolation who need mentors, resources, and roadmaps to thrive where they are. As part of an Advocacy Committee working group, I am developing messaging that raises awareness of the profound benefits of healthcare simulation. And through our growing Board of Directors presence at IMSH and Sim Ops, I am grateful for the opportunity to meet more of our members, to hear your stories, and learn your pain points. Members deserve to know who we are and what we do. You deserve to talk directly with leadership so that your voice can be heard.
Service to SSH and this community is a commitment I take seriously. On the Executive Committee, my voice will represent the breadth of our membership. Every member of SSH deserves leadership that understands their reality. I respectfully ask for your vote for Secretary.