Health care students need opportunities to practice before they enter a clinical setting. At George Brown Polytechnic, simulation gives them that opportunity.
Through simulation-based education, students in the Faculty of Health Sciences practice clinical skills and work through complex scenarios in an environment that is structured and psychologically safe before they work with real patients.
That approach to experiential learning was on display at the Faculty of Health Sciences' 2026 Health Care Simulation Showcase. The showcase offered a glimpse of how simulation is integrated into health care education at George Brown.
Learning by doing
For health care students, knowing the theory is only part of being ready for practice.
"Simulation is one example of how a polytechnic education connects what students learn in the classroom with the realities of their future careers," says Dr. Hassun Malik, Provost and Vice President, Academic, George Brown Polytechnic. "Across George Brown Polytechnic, we are continuing to strengthen those connections so students can learn by doing and graduate ready to contribute to their fields and communities."
"One of the most valuable aspects of simulation is that learners are allowed to learn from experience. They can encounter a challenging situation, make a decision, receive feedback, reflect on what happened and then try again," says Dr. Wendy Ellis, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences.
Students practice with simulators that represent patients at different stages of life, from premature babies and infants to adults and older adults. They also work with simulated participants, who play the roles of patients, clients, family or other health care professionals to help recreate situations they may encounter in a clinical setting.
"Simulation education represents an important evolution in how we prepare health care professionals for increasingly complex clinical environments," says Ellis.
A national leader in simulation education
George Brown's Simulation Centre provides more than 23,000 square feet of high-tech simulation space designed to replicate health care environments, including hospital, clinic, long-term care and home settings. The Centre includes simulation practice labs, high-fidelity suites, an operating room, a Health eHome apartment, and a range of simulators.
George Brown was the first college and simulation centre in Canada to receive accreditation from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in Teaching/Education. The Centre was reaccredited in 2024.
Dr. Michael Eliadis, Senior Manager of the Simulation Centre, says the value of simulation goes beyond the technology itself.
"It helps build their confidence. It gives them a baseline. It creates some muscle memory, depending on the situation," says Eliadis.
As simulation technology continues to evolve, the Faculty of Health Sciences is also exploring how emerging tools such as artificial intelligence and robotics could support new ways of learning.
Preparing for what comes next
George Brown already uses AI-enabled simulation and virtual tools as part of its broader approach to health care education - the purpose remains grounded in learning.
"By investing in how we educate and prepare the next generation of health professionals, we are investing in a healthier future for our communities," says Ellis.
Learn more about health care programs and experiential learning opportunities at George Brown Polytechnic.
