Simulation at Scale: What It Really Takes Behind the Scenes

In this episode of Advancing Health Care Through Simulation, Lisa George is joined by Tom Waring and Bree Weyland from the NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation for a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to deliver a large-scale, high-impact simulation experience.The conversation centers on a recent Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) simulation, which brought together over 115 students from multiple health disciplines across Alberta. Designed around a realistic building collapse scenario, the simulation required learners to collaborate across the full continuum of care—from on-scene triage with paramedics and firefighters to treatment in both rural and tertiary hospital environments.Tom and Bree walk through how this complex event was built from the ground up, offering insight into the often unseen role of simulation technologists (SimTechs) in designing, coordinating, and executing immersive learning environments.Key themes explored in this episode include:how early involvement in planning shapes what’s possible in simulation designthe process of building realistic patient characters to drive clinical decision-makingthe importance of standardized patient (SP) preparation and consistency at scalehow makeup, environment design, and storytelling contribute to immersionmanaging real-time communication across a distributed simulation environmentadapting on the fly when carefully planned scenarios inevitably break downhow learners evolve from individuals into high-functioning teams under pressurethe growing role of AI tools (like in-house platforms) in simulation developmentthe future of the SimTech profession as it expands into design, research, and educationThis episode highlights that simulation is not just about equipment or scenarios—it’s about people, planning, adaptability, and creating environments where learners can safely experience the complexity of real-world healthcare.About:NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit hereThis series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca