Photo credit: Doug Nicholson, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
The future of health professions education was on full display at last week’s 3rd Annual Sunnybrook Education Conference.
The full-day event, which took place on October 17 at http://sunnybrook.ca/calendar/event.asp?e=883″ target=”_blank”>Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, focussed on technology-enhanced learning, from simulation to virtual reality to online serious games. The event was designed for the Greater Toronto Area healthcare community and external partners in education.
“Over the last three years, I have attended each of the annual Sunnybrook Education Conferences and all of them have been informative and engaging,” said Dr. Ari Zaretsky, Psychiatrist-in-Chief and Vice President Education at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. “However, I have also noted that there has been a steady increase in depth, breadth and sophistication over time. The Sunnybrook Education Conference is a wonderful opportunity to highlight Sunnybrook’s leadership in technology enhanced teaching and learning.”
http://www.sim-one.ca/aboutsimone/faqs”>Simulation was a big hit at the conference, and was a popular word for event attendees. The conference featured many simulation- and standardized patient-focussed sessions, including:

“Where do I start? The art of scenario development for technology-enhanced simulation-based training”, presented by Agnes Ryzynski, Susan DeSousa and Celina Da Silva;
“Standardized patient methodology: a living educational resource”, presented by Brian Simmons, Nancy McNaughton, Kerry Knickle, Diana Tabak and the University of Toronto Standardized Patient Program;
“A ‘hands-on’ introduction to serious games and virtual simulation for health professions education”, presented by Bill Kapralos.

The conference featured numerous simulation posters and vendors representing top simulation companies.
“The 3rd Annual Sunnybrook Education Conference gave rise to a great deal of thought and discussion regarding topics such as how health professions educators are using social media, rethinking instructional design in simulations, and Dr. Dimitri J. Anastakis’ presentation illuminating those critical success factors to influence change in the educational domain,” said Celina Da Silva, an event participant.
SIM-one—Ontario Simulation Network—was a proud supporter of the 3rd Annual Sunnybrook Education Conference.
Dimitri Anastakis, SIM-one’s founding President and CEO, was the event’s closing keynote speaker. Dr. Anastakis spoke about change leadership in the health professions education sector, as well as the growing importance of simulation, e-learning and interprofessional education.