Clinical simulation expert joins UNMC

Pamela Boyers, Ph.D.

UNMC welcomes Pamela Boyers, Ph.D., a medical educator, whose expertise in interprofessional simulation education in health care will help lead a bold initiative to transform health care education.

Effective immediately, Dr. Boyers will serve as associate vice chancellor for clinical simulation at UNMC, where she will spearhead UNMC’s Interprofessional Experiential Center for Enduring Learning, known as the iEXCEL℠, initiative.

Through iEXCEL℠, learners will acquire knowledge, and learn and practice professional skills using a wide variety of simulation modalities in order to practice patient care before encountering real-life situations.

Dr. Boyers has extensive knowledge and experience in this area having most recently served as executive director of the University of Toledo (UT) Interprofessional Immersive Simulation Center (IISC) and assistant professor in the department of surgery.

“Dr. Boyers has a wealth of knowledge on integrating simulation technology into the curriculum of health care professionals,” said Dele Davies, M.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs. “With her experience at UT and prior, she will be invaluable as we continue to create a networked interprofessional simulation center that is unique to Nebraska.”

“iEXCEL℠ provides an extraordinary opportunity for the University of Nebraska Medical Center to provide much needed leadership in the field of health care education,” Dr. Boyers said. “While the focus for iEXCEL℠ is directed to the education of health care professionals, the ultimate recipients will be the patients who receive their care. The ultimate goal is to improve patient safety by teaching procedures, communication skills, and teamwork in safe simulated health care settings.”

Earlier this year, the Legislature approved $25 million for construction of a simulated education building at UNMC, as well as $2 million for operations and maintenance of the new facility. Additional funding support for iEXCEL℠ and the proposed Global Center for Advanced Interprofessional Learning will come from other private and public sources.