UM School of Nursing and Health Studies Appoints Director of Simulation

Coral Gables, FL – The University of Miami’s School of Nursing and Health Studies has appointed Jay K. Ober, MSN, APRN, BC, CCRN, CEN, CFRN as Director of Simulation Education, announced Nilda Peragallo, DrPH, RN, FAAN, dean of the school. Ober will oversee simulation activities and program development for the Simulation Center in the new M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing and Health Studies.

Ober is a recognized leader in the field of simulation education, which has its roots in the aviation industry. Prior to joining the University of Miami School of Nursing and Health Studies, he introduced patient simulation into the United States Air Force Reserves (USAFR), where he served as the Director of Aircrew Training, Flight Nurse Instructor, and also formally served as Assistant Chief of Staff Development. He now serves as a tactical Flight Nurse Instructor and newly appointed Chief of Patient Simulation for the USAFR. A former Director of Simulation Education and Training for Laerdal Medical, Ober consults internationally in the fields of nursing, medicine, and allied health on the use of patient simulators, or computerized, life-sized mannequins that can be programmed to imitate a range of health conditions.

“Simulation is the wave of the future for nursing education,” says Peragallo. “Simulation provides students with unique learning opportunities, allowing them to improve their clinical and critical thinking skills in a real-world environment prior to direct interaction with patients. Jay’s wealth of expertise in simulation will enrich the clinical experience for all nursing and allied health students at the University of Miami.”

Ober has been widely recognized for his innovative approach to patient simulation including an award from the United States Air Force, Air Mobility Command for outstanding program management and the development of patient simulation to train Aero Medical Evacuation Crews as well as a distinguished alumni award from Springfield Technical Community College in Massachusetts. A former intensive care nurse, Ober has taught nursing at Springfield Technical Community College, where he received his ADN. He holds a BSN from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, an MSN from Ball State University, and is certified as a Flight Nurse Instructor from the School of Aerospace Medicine in San Antonio, Texas. Ober is currently completing a Ph.D. in nursing with a research focus on improving patient safety and reducing medical errors through simulation education.

Set to open early in 2006, the M. Christine Schwartz Center for Nursing and Health Studies will feature a 2,850 square foot Simulation Center, among the first in the nation devoted to nursing and health science education. The center will include a simulation suite with a variety of patient simulators, a computer micro-simulation lab where students can practice clinical skills with CD-ROMs and other web-based resources, and a conference room. State-of-the-art technology will enable students and faculty on and off site to observe simulation exercises in progress and record scenarios for later study and debriefing purposes.

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Established in 1948 as South Florida's first collegiate nursing program, the School of Nursing and Health Studies has a distinguished tradition of preparing nurses to provide compassionate, quality care to local, national and international communities. Nursing students at the undergraduate and graduate levels are educated by renowned scholars and exposed to a broad range of clinical experiences and cutting-edge research. In February 2005, the School expanded its program offerings to include the University of Miami's Health Science program and changed its name to the School of Nursing and Health Studies. The expanded curriculum includes programs leading toward the BSN, MSN, and PhD degrees as well as the BS in Health Science degree.

Media Contact: Annie Reisewitz
a.reisewitz@miami.edu
305-284-1601