The Carl J. Shapiro Simulation and Skills Center (SASC) at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) provides training opportunities for learners at all levels and from all disciplines and uses progressive teaching methods to replicate real-life patient care situations, from routine procedures to acute management crises.
The Simulation and Skills Center raises the bar for major academic medical centers with its state-of-the-art facility offering the latest advances in medical and surgical simulation technology to the BIDMC and Boston medical communities as well as to health care students and professionals who visit us from around the globe. Although most academic health centers offer some degree of medical simulation training, the scale and scope of SASC make it one of the most comprehensive simulation training centers in the country.
Our Mission
The Mission of the Carl J. Shapiro Simulation and Skills Center is to:
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train and educate all clinically active health care providers and students at BIDMC as well members of neighboring medical institutions and beyond, through the use of medical and surgical simulation technology;
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further the educational and clinical mission of BIDMC by incorporating the most effective methods of training with the most sophisticated tools available to ultimately ensure that all patients are provided the best and safest care;
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advance the field of educational simulation by exploring innovative methods of teaching, training and conducting contributing research;
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utilize the full range of simulation tools to support individualized learning, both cognitive and procedural;
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promote interdisciplinary teaching and team training, improve communication skills and professionalism; and
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enable all learners to acquire and enhance their skills and knowledge in support of independent, life-long professional growth.
Our History
In 2003, BIDMC established a Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) skills lab to provide surgical students and residents at BIDMC and Boston-area teaching hospitals the opportunity to gain proficiency in basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures, featuring a number of sophisticated educational resources including realistic models, simulators, virtual reality experiences, computer-based material, ultrasound technology, and the world's largest collection of filmed operations. As the most comprehensive facility of its kind in New England, the lab saw rapid growth in the demand for its programs and a vision evolved to not only expand the MIS lab but to broaden training availability to include both surgical and medical simulation and to welcome all BIDMC departments and health care professionals. The Carl J. Shapiro Simulation and Skills Center opened in June 2006, under the direction of David Feinstein, MD, a member of our department of anesthesia, critical care and pain medicine, and Daniel B. Jones, MD, FACS, a former member of our division of minimally invasive surgery.
Our Team
The SASC faculty has extensive experience in simulation technology and education. Supported by a multi-discipline advisory board and curriculum committee, the SASC team works to develop and implement programs and curricula for students and professionals in all medical fields.
Directors
Daniel Ricotta, MD
Senior Director
Ted Gomez, MD
Co-director of Surgical Education Technology
Cullen Jackson, PhD
Director of Research Innovations
Chas Parsons, MD
Co-director of Surgical Education for Internal Programming
Staff
Stephen Craft, MS
Operations Manager
Julian Benitez, NREMT/CCEMT
Simulation Technician
Zoe Brodsky, NREMT
Simulation Technician
Robbin Miraglia, PhD, RN
Simulation and Skills Education Specialist
Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Please contact us for weekend or special event appointments.