Our Vision

Exceptional patient care and outcomes through simulation.

Our Mission

We advocate and advance simulation to improve healthcare education, patient safety, and quality improvement; and connect all healthcare and human service professions, disciplines, and care delivery sectors.

Our Values

• Creative disruption 
• Respect
• Best practices
• Community
• Collaboration
• Transparency

From coast to coast to coast, we acknowledge the ancestral and unceded territory of all the Inuit, Métis, and First Nations people that call this land home. We invite you to learn more about the lands where you are located.

Simulation Canada is a national not-for-profit organization that originally grew from the integration of SIM-one and the Canadian Network for Simulation in Healthcare.

Key Milestones

2023	Launch of the Advanced Keystones certificate program.
2022	Launch of our new website.
2021	Launch of the Virtu-WIL national virtual simulation project.
2018	Our members vote unanimously to change our name to “Simulation Canada,” reflecting the renewed scope, energy and vision of the integrated network. We offer our first course entirely in French.
2017	Our members vote unanimously to finalize the integration of SIM-one and the Canadian Network for Simulation in Healthcare.
2016	SIM-one launches its membership programs, officially shifting from a government-funded to a member-based organization.
2012	SIM-one incorporates as a non-profit. Launch of the provincial SPECS (equipment inventory) and Seniors Care projects.
2011	Inaugural SIM Expo.
2010	Public launch of the SIM-one brand. Launch of the education portfolio and the Keystones certificate.

Our skills-based Board of Directors is elected by our Organizational Voting Members at the Annual General Meeting.

Read more about our Organizational Members and the Roles & Responsibilities of Voting Members.

Haj Mohammed Abbad – Chair of the Board

Haj Mohammed Abbad is the director of the Center of Expertise in Health Simulation (EXeSS) of the Faculty of Nursing (FSI) of the University of Montreal (UdeM). A graduate in administration from the Faculty of Medicine of UdeM, he has more than 15 years of experience in management in the university environment and in the Quebec health network. His expertise includes digital transformation in the university setting, human resources management, team management, project management and business development.

In 2017, Mr. Abbad instigated the creation of the “Centre de simulation de la FSI, UdeM”, one of the largest centers of its type in Canada. Under his leadership, the Center meets the highest educational, scientific and ethical standards. In 2018, the Centre de simulation de la FSI obtained accreditation from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, a first in Canada for a Faculty of Nursing. Winner of the Excellence in Teaching Award, “Innovation” category of the Vice Rectorate for Studies and Student Affairs of UdeM in 2019, Mr. Abbad is a seasoned university administrator and strategist, recognized for his avant-garde vision and his analysis of new educational technological trends in connection with the continuous improvement of the quality of education.

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Diane Sénécal – Treasurer

Dr. Sénécal is vice president, Academic and Student Success at Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB). Prior to her arrival at CCNB in 2020, she worked at Collège Boréal as director of Academic Development and Educational Technologies and then as dean of Business and Community Services. Dr. Sénécal holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D) from Western University and a Master’s degree in Business Administration – Innovation Leadership (MBA) from the University of Fredericton.

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Rachel Hunt – Secretary

Rachel led the award-winning content department at Diply, Canada’s largest digital media company, with 70 million monthly followers. There, she developed a content strategy and determined creative direction for five Diply brands while managing a team of 70 in-house and freelance creative professionals.

Content is both an art and a science, requiring iteration, innovation, and a good sense of humour—all while achieving ambitious performance goals. At Diply, her team’s work distinguished us from the competition, earning us the Canadian Innovation Award in Arts and Entertainment in 2018. Diply topped Deloitte’s Fast 50 list of Canada’s high-growth tech companies in 2017, and generates 5 billion social impressions monthly.

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Petal Abdool

Dr. Petal S. Abdool is a Geriatric Staff Psychiatrist at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and a Consultation-Liaison Geriatric Psychiatrist at Providence Healthcare. She is the Assistant Program Director for International Medical Graduates and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto in the Department of Psychiatry. She is the inaugural Medical Director of the CAMH Simulation Centre and the Faculty Lead, Simulation Education Integration for the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Her area of research is focused on the use of Simulation in Medical Education and she has led innovative educational interventions such as the use of Virtual Reality to manage opioid overdose and teach clinicians how to conduct a suicide risk assessment.

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Kymberley Bontinen

Kymberley Bontinen is the Manager of Simulation & Learning Strategies within the Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (OCNO) at the First Nationals Health Authority of British Columbia. Areas of practice include acute medicine, home health and palliative care. Kymberley actively participates in the simulation community across Canada and is Chair of the Board of Directors for Simulation Canada and Co-Chair of the Simulation Committee for the Western Canada Collaborative of Health Sciences Educators Society (WCCHSE). Kymberley received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Laurentian University, Master of Science in Nursing from the University of British Columbia and is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and a Certified Canadian Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE).

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Sabrina Boutin

In her current role as Principal Vice President at MEDTEQ+ and Executive Director of a pan Canadian initiative called envisAGE, Sabrina leads the creation of a new network that will help Small and Medium Enterprises accelerate and deliver solutions to support older adults, caregivers, communities and healthcare providers. Her work entails strategic partnerships and collaboration with public and private organizations, government and philanthropy, aimed at creating meaningful lasting changes and social impact. Prior to this position, she spent 8 years has a Health project Director at CEFRIO focusing on Digital innovation adoption and implementation of groundbreaking approaches, codeveloped with various stakeholders and organizations. Sabrina’s 12-year Health care and nursing background is at the core of her experience and gives her a unique perspective and understanding of the various needs and challenges faced when implementing digital solutions in the Health, Education and Social service Sectors. She collaborates with National and International committees to help advance research, push boundaries and bring value to forward-thinking strategies that are integrating innovative and disruptive technologies. She is a frequent speaker at social and digital innovation focused conferences and acts as an Advisor for emerging enterprises specifically in the IoT, AI and Immersive environments (AR, VR, XR).

Sabrina earned a Master in Education from université de Montréal, a Master in Management from HEC Montréal, a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from McGill university and a Certification in Innovation & Entrepreneurship from HEC Paris.

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Denise MacIver

Denise MacIver is an accomplished leader in healthcare education. She has been with the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) for over 23 years, holding various leadership roles including chair of the Diagnostic Imaging programs, associate dean, then, in 2019, she was appointed as the dean of NAIT’s School of Health and Life Sciences.

Throughout her career, MacIver has been recognized for her inclusive leadership style and her commitment to teamwork and innovation. She has been instrumental in advancing healthcare education through initiatives like the establishment of NAIT’s Centre for Advanced Simulation, a state-of-the-art facility providing hands-on learning for healthcare students. Her contributions to healthcare education in Alberta were further acknowledged when she received the Ernest Manning Leadership Medallion, an award recognizing her leadership qualities. She completed her doctorate of education in distance education in 2021.

MacIver’s focus on continuous improvement and collaboration has helped position NAIT as a key player in preparing future healthcare professionals. She is known for her dedication to supporting staff and students, fostering an environment where innovation in education thrives.

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Sandra Monteiro

Dr. Sandra Monteiro is a Faculty of Health Sciences MERIT Scientist appointed to the Department of Medicine, Division of Education and Innovation. Sandra has a second appointment to the Centre for Simulation Based Learning as the Director, Scholarship. Sandra received her PhD in Psychology from McMaster University in 2013 and currently leads a successful international collaboration investigating theoretical models of cognitive processes behind clinical reasoning with application for education and assessment. In 2020, Sandra received the Excellence in Graduate Student Supervision Award from the Faculty of Health Science. In 2021, she received the Meridith Marks New Educator Award. In 2023 she was entered into the KIPRIME fellowship as recognition of her contribution to medical education

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Christine Nielsen

Christine Nielsen became Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science in 2010. Prior, she was Director of Certification. Trained as a medical laboratory technologist, she has a degree in Health Admin, a Certificate of Mastery in Prior Learning Assessment, is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) with an MBA, earned in 2022. During her time at CSMLS, she has worked with subject matter experts, regulators, educators and the Board to implement a key document for accreditation – Boundaries of Simulation, as it relates to implementation of Competency Profiles. CSMLS has had a position statement on the effectiveness of simulation since 2017. She is also serving on the program advisory committee for the Virtu-WIL project with Colleges and Institutes Canada. The CSMLS national and provincial advocacy efforts are one of her responsibilities as CEO, and the most valued service CSMLS provides to members.

She has served the Michener Institute of Education at UHN’s Alumni Association for over two decades and is a Board member with the Oakville & Milton Humane Society.

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Géraldine Pettersen

I obtained my pediatric intensive care medicine diploma from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2007 after completing the two-year residency program and an additional year of advanced training at the University of Montreal. In 2008, I completed my Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Biomedical Sciences.

I’ve been an attending critical care physician at the CHU Sainte-Justine since 2009 and an assistant clinical professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Montreal since 2012.

I have teaching responsibilities inherent to working in a university hospital unit that hosts students at various levels and I’m the head of simulation teaching for the pediatric intensive care medicine program at the University of Montreal.

I’m also the director of the simulation program at the Centre de Simulation Mère-Enfant of CHU Sainte-Justine and the local coordinator for the DES in simulation at the University of Montreal. Over the past year, in collaboration with my emergency department colleagues, we have established a pediatric transport program that provides specialized support to unstable patients who are anticipated to require a transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit.

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Christine Trauttmansdorff

Christine Trauttmansdorff is a government relations specialist with the Willow Green Group. She works with clients in post-secondary and the broader research and training ecosystem to position the education sector as a critical partner in achieving economic and social prosperity for Canada. Prior to founding the Willow Green Group in 2021, Christine worked as a vice-president and in numerous senior executive roles at Colleges and Institutes Canada (CICan), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) and the House of Commons. She has extensive leadership experience in government relations, communications, strategic planning, governance, policy research, partnership development and organizational change. Christine serves on several boards in the not-for-profit sector and volunteers in her community. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Public Administration, both from Carleton University.

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Barbara Wilson-Keates

Dr. Barbara Wilson-Keates is a simulation consultant and facilitator for healthcare students at the School of Community, Wellness and Health at Red Deer Polytechnic. Her current research focuses on the regulatory inclusion of simulation for clinical placements, operationalization of evidence-based simulation learning standards, and the meaning of digital inequity across simulation programs globally. With a critical care clinical background, she is currently co-chair of CASN Simulation Nurse Educators Interest Group, a consultant for the Alberta Simulation Educators Group, and a previous board of director for INACSL. In addition, Dr. Wilson-Keates is actively involved in ongoing revisions of the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice. She has collaborated with simulation researchers and educators across the world, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, and Chile. As a national and international researcher, educator, and leader in simulation, Dr. Wilson-Keates is a known consultant for international healthcare providers and faculty on simulation. Dr. Wilson-Keates received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Toronto, her Master of Science from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA with a focus on development of a state-trauma system, and her PhD in Nursing Health Systems from University of Toronto. She is also a Certified Canadian Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE).

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Jennifer Zelmer

Dr. Jennifer Zelmer is the inaugural President and CEO of Healthcare Excellence Canada (HEC), a charity aiming to shape a future where everyone in Canada has safe and high-quality healthcare. She previously led one of HEC’s two founding organizations: the Canadian Foundation for Healthcare Improvement. Before that, she held senior leadership positions with Azimuth Health Group, Canada Health Infoway, the International Health Terminology Standards Development Organization, and the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Dr. Zelmer has been a C.D. Howe Research Fellow for several years and is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Victoria, as well as a member of several health-related advisory committees and boards. She received her PhD and MA in economics from McMaster University and her B.Sc. in health information science from the University of Victoria.

The Simulation Canada Team is devoted to the advancement and advocacy of simulated learning in health professions education for the benefit of patient care and safety. Please never hesitate to contact us directly with any questions or ideas!

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Nicole Fung

[email protected]
Director, Operations & Events

Nicole Fung has over 21 years of experience in event management, logistics, and operational planning. At Simulation Canada, she leads the organization’s flagship annual conference and oversees the day-to-day business operations. Nicole also supports the coordination and delivery of educational courses and works closely with each member of the team.

Nicole is an honours graduate of Algonquin College’s Interior Design-Advanced program, and its Event Management graduate certificate program. She brings a diverse and practical skillset to her work, ensuring strategic coordination and smooth execution across all areas of the organization.

Nicole would like to acknowledge that she lives and works on the traditional territory of 2 Indigenous communities: Haudenosaunee, Anishinabewaki ᐊᓂᔑᓈᐯᐗᑭ.

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Sara Mezzone-Budd, BA, M.Ed., Ed.D.

[email protected]
Director, Education & Community Engagement

Bringing over 18 years of diverse and dynamic leadership experience in academic administration, Dr. Sara Mezzone-Budd has made a substantial impact across the Ontario post-secondary education sector. Her extensive expertise encompasses overseeing diploma and degree programs, fostering strategic academic partnerships and pathways, and advancing continuing education initiatives within health sciences. Additionally, she has been instrumental in designing innovative corporate training programs and leading groundbreaking healthcare simulation projects, reflecting her commitment to enhancing experiential learning and professional development.

Throughout her career, Sara has played a pivotal role in the leadership of numerous academic programs that feature immersive simulation experiences. She has tailored specialized training programs for hospitals, colleges, and universities nationwide, showcasing her innovative approach to elevating educational quality and practical skills for students and healthcare professionals alike. Her work consistently emphasizes the integration of simulation-based teaching methodologies to bridge the gap between theory and real-world practice, thereby improving healthcare outcomes and professional readiness.

Since joining Simulation Canada in November 2016, Sara has taken on the vital responsibility of guiding the organization’s academic development and implementation of healthcare simulation learning for educators. Her leadership has significantly contributed to elevating the standards and accessibility of simulation-based training across Canada, fostering a culture of continuous improvement in healthcare simulation education through innovative teaching strategies and collaborative partnerships.

Dr. Mezzone-Budd’s educational background is as impressive as her professional accomplishments. She is an alumna of Sheridan College and the University of Waterloo, holding foundational credentials that laid the groundwork for her career. She further earned a Master of Education degree from Athabasca University, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning. In 2024, she achieved her doctorate from the University of Western Ontario, where she focused on higher education leadership. This academic pursuit underscores her dedication to advancing educational practices and fostering leadership excellence within the post-secondary learning landscape, ensuring her ongoing influence and contribution to the evolution of educational excellence.

Sara acknowledges that she resides and works on the traditional land of the Anishinaabe, including the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations of the Three Fires Confederacy. She also recognizes the historical connections of the Wendat and Haudenosaunee peoples to this land. Committed to honoring Indigenous history, Sara promotes reconciliation, respect, and well-being with First Nation, Métis, Inuit peoples, and the broader community.

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Amy Nakajima, MD, FRCSC, MSc

[email protected]
Director, SIM Advancement & Innovation

Dr. Amy Nakajima completed her undergraduate medical education at the University of Alberta and residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Saskatchewan, receiving her Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) certification in 2000. Amy currently lives and works in Ottawa, the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishnaabeg People. Seeking to be a critical ally, she strives to be mindful of the legacy of colonialism and to promote reconciliation in the work she undertakes, as a clinician, as a teacher, and as an educator. Amy has completed a MSc in Human Factors and System Safety (Lund University) and was accepted in the inaugural cohort of the DrPH Program at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health (University of Toronto). She is an active clinician-teacher, participating in didactic, small group, and simulation-based teaching at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels at the University of Ottawa. She regularly provides faculty development workshops, both locally and at national simulation and medical education conferences. Amy is a member of the Educational Innovation Committee of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC), the Diversity and Inclusion Committee of Bruyère Continuing Care, and the Ethics and Equity Committee of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. A focus of her clinical and academic activities is working with patients who are disadvantaged and for whom social determinants of health constitute barriers to receiving safe and effective care. She provides community-based care at the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health and at Bruyère Continuing Care. Amy has played major roles in creating new online Simulation Canada faculty development courses and in revising and transforming Simulation Canada offerings and transforming them into online formats. Most recently, she participated in the development of the Virtu-WIL program of Colleges and Institutes Canada (CiCAN), on which Simulation Canada was an active collaborator, as its Chair of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.

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Saidat Okaga, MBBCh, MPH, MPA, MED

[email protected]
Project Coordinator

Saidat Okaga is a Public Health Program specialist, with Masters degree in medical education from the University of Ottawa, Canada. She also has masters degrees in Public Health, and Public Administration.

With more than 15 years experience in the field of medical education, she has a proven record in designing, managing, supporting, and overseeing complex and innovative medical programs that aim at advancing healthcare delivery and patient safety.

Saidat has worked with the Ministry of Health Lagos, Africa, and in Canada with Somerset West Community Health Center, Medical Council of Canada, and Colleges and Institutes, Canada as a medical educator. She possesses a wide range of skillsets in program management, administrative, operational, and budgetary support. Saidat works closely with both teams at CICan and Simulation Canada to support the Virtu-WIL project.

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Lorraine Rotz, CPA-CA

[email protected]
Finance Lead

Lorraine Rotz, a Chartered Professional Accountant with over 20 years of financial management experience, currently provides services to small organizations, specializing in not-for-profit organizations and start-up companies. She leads a team that provides better financial management services by ensuring that senior financial skills and a strategic perspective is supplemented by strong accounting and bookkeeping resources. Lorraine’s career has spanned a variety of industries, including venture capital, information technology, entertainment and media, and the not-for-profit/charitable sector.  She has also served on the Board of a number of small charities.

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Venus Sinson

[email protected]
Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications

Venus Sinson brings over 20 years experience in advertising and design to the Communications & Marketing team at Simulation Canada. Her strategic approach to communications ranges from TV to brand and identity programs to online campaigns to numerous multi-media projects. She is experienced in broadcast, print, direct marketing and digital. Some of the brands she was fortunate enough to work with include The Globe and Mail, President’s Choice Financial, Toronto Transit Commission, Xerox, Ontario Science Centre, Rotman School of Management, SickKids Foundation, Canadian Diabetes Association, Human Rights Watch Canada, Right To Play and University Health Network.

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Timothy Willett, MD, MMEd

[email protected]
President & CEO

Dr. Timothy Willett is Simulation Canada’s President & CEO (from 2016) and was previously the inaugural Director of Research & Development. Tim has been working at the intersection of healthcare education, technology and leadership since 2005. He is passionate about the transformational (and overdue) value simulation is bringing to the healthcare education and delivery sectors. As President & CEO, Tim is responsible for the leadership and day-to-day operations. He is honoured to be part of this small but mighty team and the network’s passionate nation-wide community. Tim received his MD from the University of Ottawa and a Masters of Medical Education from the University of Dundee, Scotland. He has served as a curriculum developer and educational researcher for the University of Ottawa, CRI Critical Care Education Network, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Global Network for Simulation in Healthcare, and he has served on the Executive Committee and as Co-Chair of the Competency Working Group of the MedBiquitous Consortium.

Tim is privileged to live on the land of the Algonquin Anishinaabe people, in the territory covered by the Rideau Purchase (Treaties 27 and 27-1/4), where he endeavours to teach his 3 children about stewardship of the land.