Elizabeth Horsley, worked in simulation for nearly a decade, but credits the Drexel MSMS for helping her become a leader in simulation.

Elizabeth Horsley, the 2015 SIM Citizenship Award at SimOne

Simulation is forever growing, early on many healthcare educators started working in simulation with little knowledge of the trade.  Elizabeth Horsley, a 2016 graduate of Drexel’s Master of Science in Medical & Healthcare Simulation program started her career in simulation in 2005, when the Ontario government provided her university with significant funding to start a simulation program. While simulation was new to her, Horsley stepped up to the role of coordinating the new program.

After working in simulation for nearly a decade Horsley was confident in her role but felt that simulation was such a complex puzzle that she needed to learn more to become truly competent in simulation. One day she stumbled upon an ad for the MSMS and instantly called for more information. Without much planning or thought she started the program in August of 2014, and it became the greatest and most influential experience of her professional and educational careers.

She benefited from the well rounded education she received, the program focuses on simulation, but also covered instructional design, curriculum development, organizational theories, research, assessment, patient safety and of course debriefing. “It was incredible to be taught by people whose work she read and respected including Adam Cheng, Bill McGaghie and Jeff Barsuk” said Horsley.

After graduating from the program Horsley accepted a position as the Director of the Simulation Lab at The Brooklyn Hospital Center.  This was a big move her, she not only moved to another country but also would be starting a simulation center at the hospital. She discovered the position through MSMS program director, Sharon Griswold, MD who was asked if any alumni from the program would be interested in the job opening. 

“Brooklyn Hospital is a community hospital, in an old facility but with an amazing vibe and enthusiasm for simulation. Everyone from medicine, nursing, respiratory, patient safety, and quality improvement want to learn more about simulation and debriefing,” said Horsley. 

For her the knowledge of simulation, and confidence to work across healthcare disciplines in simulation has been the most beneficial skills she gained from the MSMS.  Certainly, moving to another country to start a simulation program would not have been possible without a Drexel MSMS degree.

She recalled one of her favorite memories of the MSMS program was when the first practicum week ended. “It was Friday at 5pm and no one wanted to leave, I have never had that feeling at a work-related or educational event” said Horsley.

Alum Matt Charnetski: Drexel's MSMS put my Simulation Career into Turbo Mode

When Matthew Charnetski first accepted a position as a simulation specialist he was only peripherally aware of the career field. Since completing the Drexel University Master of Science in Medical & Healthcare Simulation (MSMS) he has gone on to establish a simulation center in Kazakhstan and is now the Director of Simulation Learning and a Clinical Instructor at New York Institute of Technology at Arkansas State.

Charnetski is not shy to taking a chance on a new career path, after he received a bachelors degree in biology from Grinnell College he jumped on an opportunity to go to Antarctica with information technology science support specialists as part of a search and rescue team.

After seven years he returned home, and set his sights on becoming a paramedic.  While in school he worked as an EMT and in electronic medical records before becoming critical care paramedic. His simulation career started when he found a position at Des Moines University that married his background in IT and patient care. However, it was not until he enrolled in the Drexel’s MSMS program that his passion for sim truly began.

Charnetski, Class of 2016, says that the MSMS put his simulation career in turbo mode, giving him the tools needed to meaningfully pursue a simulation career. The in-person practicum weeks gave him a renewed excitement and vigor for implementing high quality, rigorous, relevant simulations. 

He was highly impressed by the faculty, describing them as some of the most well-known and respected people in simulation.  They made an enormous impact in his education and practice while helping him become more involved in the simulation community. He suggest that any new students be fearless with the faculty and openly ask them questions; they are supportive both academically and professionally.