USF launches first undergraduate program in health care simulation operations

The University of South Florida is launching what’s believed to be the world’s first undergraduate concentration in health care simulation operations, to fill a critical workforce gap in hospitals, academic centers and federal agencies.

Offered through USF’s College of Public Health, in collaboration with the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), the program will begin this fall as part of the Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences degree. It is designed to prepare students for roles in operating and managing high-tech simulation centers that train medical professionals in real-world clinical scenarios.

“There is a huge need for health care simulation workers, not just in higher education but also at hospitals, health care systems and the federal level,” said Dr. Haru Okuda, executive director of USF CAMLS. “We recognized that we could be part of the solution by creating a program that develops graduates who can support and transform this field.”

Students in the USF program will take five courses covering topics such as simulation center management, instructional technology and theoretical foundations. A 120-hour internship will place students in hands-on rotations at simulation centers, including CAMLS.

The program builds on the success of a 2023 pilot course and a 2024 internship program, which resulted in a 100% job placement rate for participants.

“This concentration creates a pathway for our students to enter a career that directly impacts patient outcomes,” said Dr. Melissa Milner, director of clinical simulation at USF CAMLS. “We’re developing a robust cohort of graduates with the skills to design, manage and deliver high-quality simulation experiences.”