Our Achievements Today

This Summer, iCELS welcomed 22 Worcester high school students and recent high school graduates for three sessions at our center as a part of the Dynamic Futures program, an innovative initiative that the UMass Chan Medical School participates in.

The panel discusses simulation as a learning method that is favored by the learners; that benefits both the observers and participants; that plays a crucial role in patient safety strategy; and in addressing high stakes, low frequency events. It also reveals the reason why it takes time to develop a simulation course - so start the conversation soon!

Coinciding with the one-year mark since work-from-home status was declared at UMass Chan Medical School campus on Mar 13^th, 2020 due to COVID 19 pandemic concerns, this year’s Patient Safety Awareness Week falls at a timely juncture. The Joint Commission outlines 2021 National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), which iCELS proudly supports.

The AAMC lauds OSTI as “a stellar example of how member institutions are working to advance the education of students, residents and practicing physicians about opioids, substance use disorder and pain management.”

Featuring an overhead boom with surgical light and monitor to display patient vitals, laparoscopy, endoscopy or fluoroscopy images; as well as a four faucet scrub sink positioned to mimic similar facilities in real-life settings, the Carlin Operating Room was made possible through the generosity of the late iCELS Ambassador Roberta Carlin.

As the new Disclosure, Apology and Offer Law came into effect in Massachusetts in 2012 to encourage open, honest and clear communication between practitioners and patients, a Disclosure and Apology (D&A) skills program involving Standardized Patient simulation is offered via iCELS to help navigate unanticipated outcome.

A production crew from Chronicle spent several days filming interviews with students from the T.H. Chan School of Medicine Class of 2015, as well as UMass Chan faculty members and alumni, before covering the excitement of Match Day on March 20. The specials showed simulation at iCELS as part of the medical students' learning experience.

29 nurses completed the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) course this past winter. "iCELS classroom space and clinical areas were just right for what we needed and truly provided a unique and extensive clinical experience for our students" remarked Karen Hazard, RN, BS, SANE, DPH Coordinator for Central Massachusetts.

This groundbreaking community-academic partnership is supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health.

The course, which takes place at iCELS, receives input from the Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC) to ensure all medical scenarios - where Standardized Patients portray angry, anxious, frustrated and confused patients - address real life issues.