Staff and Faculty
The field of simulation is constantly evolving. A broad base formed by our interdisciplinary team brings together insights in clinical care, education methodologies, simulation technologies, and patient communication strategies, to keep pace with and create a launchpad for better outcomes through simulation. Our ultimate goal is increased patient safety and expert patient care.
An Interdisciplinary Team in Action
Melissa Fischer, MD MEd
Executive Director, iCELS
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education (OUME), Curriculum Innovation and The interprofessional Center for Experiential Learning & Simulation (iCELS)
Melissa.Fischer@umassmed.edu
Kathleen Altomare
Staff Accountant
Kathleen.Altomare@umassmed.edu
Tom Bohigian
Simulation Technician
Thomas.Bohigian1@umassmed.edu
Lisa Hanson
Education Program Specialist
Lisa.Hanson@umassmed.edu
Matthew Kersey
IT MedXR Intern
Matthew.Kersey@umassmed.edu
Bridget Latour
Education Program Specialist
Bridget.Latour@umassmed.edu
Cesar Merida
Simulation Technician
Cesar.Merida@umassmed.edu
Melissa Puliafico
Director, Educational Affairs
Melissa.Puliafico@umassmed.edu
Mirela Skaka
Administrative Assistant to Melissa Fischer, MD, MEd
Mirela.Skaka@umassmed.edu
Sylvia Stanhope
Administrative Manager
Sylvia.Stanhope@umassmed.edu
Jason T. Stepien
Simulation Technician
Jason.Stepien@umassmed.edu
Isaac Torres Gutierrez
Education Program Specialist
Isaac.TorresGutierrez@umassmed.edu
Kendra Vandervalk
Education Program Specialist
Kendra.Vandervalk@umassmed.edu
Jorge Yarzebski, BA, CHSE, NRP, FP-C
Simulation Educator, Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
Jorge.Yarzebskijr@umassmed.edu
Anne Weaver, RN, MS, CHSE
Simulation Educator, Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator
Anne.Weaver@umassmed.edu
Partners
Laura Cardin
Training Coordinator, Surgical Skills
Laura.Cardin@umassmed.edu
Mary Zanetti, EdD
Senior Director, Institutional Research, Evaluation & Assessment
Mary.Zanetti@umassmed.edu
Center for Academic Achievement (CAA): Clinical Students
Tracy Kedian, MD
Director, Center for Academic Achievement
Assistant Dean, Academic Achievement
Tracy.Kedian@umassmed.edu
Nneka Onwubueke, MD
Clinical Mentor, Center for Academic Achievement
Nneka.Onwubueke@umassmemorial.org
Deanna Richmond, MD
Clinical Mentor, Center for Academic Achievement
Deanna.Richmond@umassmemorial.org
Lisa Shay
Project Coordinator
Lisa.Shay@umassmed.edu
Visit the CAA Website
The Simulation Interest Group (SimIG) is a UMass Medical School on-campus student organization that was formed to organize events to practice clinical skills in a low-risk simulation environment. SimIG's mission is to bolster medical education and create a generation of better-prepared future physicians that are competent in procedural skills. It aims to integrate more simulation into the medical school curriculum by promoting early exposure to hands-on experience in learning and refining procedural techniques. SimIG events are geared towards teaching pre-clinical students procedural skills that can then be utilized in real world clinical settings, with an emphasis on providing better healthcare to underserved populations.
SimIG Advisors
Melissa Fischer, MD, MEd
Anne Weaver, RN, MS, CHSE
Current SimIG Student Leadership
Jeremiah Hyslip School of Medicine Class of 2023
Olivia Sears School of Medicine Class of 2023
Christopher Zoppo School of Medicine Class of 2023
Recent Past SimIG Student Leadership
Meghan Harrington, School of Medicine Class of 2022
Trenton Taros, School of Medicine Class of 2022
Sendy Ha, School of Medicine Class of 2021
Harsha Kumar, School of Medicine Class of 2021
Scott Place, School of Medicine Class of 2021
Eileen Bouchard
Standardized Patient Trainer
eileen.bouchard@umassmed.edu
Randy Gates
Standardized Patient Trainer Certification in Process
Jenny Ling Hui Loh
Standardized Patient Trainer Certification in Process
Crystaltina Montagna
Standardized Patient Trainer Certification in Process
Jody Poland
Standardized Patient Trainer
jody.poland@umassmed.edu
Jim Porter
Quality Assurance Observer Certification in Process
Donna Richardson
Standardized Patient Trainer
donna.richardson2@umassmed.edu
Pat Zinkus
Quality Assurance Observer Certification in Process
Standardized Patient Trainer Consultants
Sarah Davis
Standardized Patient since 1999
iCELS SP Trainer since 2012
Laurie LaBrecque
Standardized Patient since 1985
iCELS SP Trainer since 2005
Sarah Rothery
Standardized Patient since 2001
iCELS SP Trainer since 2014
iCELS Reception
Main Contact: icels@umassmed.edu
Carmela Field
James Porter
Jomary Ramos
Nina Sweares
Sim Lab Assistant
Stephanie Carlson
Virtual Event Monitors
Eric Anderson
Carmela Field
James Porter
Mariela Matsumura
