Matthew Charnetski, BS, EMT-P, MS – Class of 2016

Matthew Charnetski, BS, EMT-P, MS is a 2016 graduate of Drexel University’s MS in Medical & Healthcare Simulation Program (MSMS).  Currently, he is the Director of Simulation Learning at New York Institute of Technology at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas.  After graduating the program, he took a position as faculty and Director of Medical Simulation at Nazarbayev University in Astana Kazakhstan.  Both were opportunities that he couldn’t have even imagined before going through Drexel’s MSMS program.

After years of working as a paramedic and in information technology, Charnetski fell into a position as a Simulation Specialist.  Simulation sparked a new career path for him, and he knew he would need to further his education if you wished to advance someday.  That is when he found Drexel University College of Medicine’s MS in Simulation program.

The interprofessional faculty and students made Drexel stand out compared to other healthcare education options.  Additionally, the structure of the program allowed him to work while in school, and the classes were directly applicable to his current potion so that he could apply what he learned instantly.  Charnetski also greatly benefited from the professional relationships he developed with the faculty and fellow students.  "Their mentorship allowed me to grasp the various elements and challenges of simulation including difficult conversations, curriculum design, adult learning, and simulation methodologies," said Charnetski.

Charnetski greatly benefitted from the in-person practicum sessions.  The weeks amassed an international, interprofessional, and high performing group of individuals that represent a majority of the who’s who of simulation.  Every on-campus class left him with a renewed vigor to keep pressing forward, establishing and implementing best practices in his career.

Overall, Charnetski said that “the program has meant the world to me.  The faculty, the staff, my co-students; they have all been part of some of the most meaningful experiences in my life.”

For anyone interested in Drexel’s MS in Simulation program, Charnetski said he would, without hesitation, recommend the program to prospective students.  “This program was one of the best educational experiences of my life.  The growth that this program engendered in me professionally, personally, and clinically cannot be underestimated.  The faculty were both supportive and challenging helping me to achieve, and they have continued to be mentors and colleagues as I advance in my career," said Charnetski.

Learn more about Drexel's MSMS

Roberta L. Hales Appointed Secretary of the International Pediatric Simulation Society (IPSS) Executive Committee and Board Directors

Join us in congratulating Roberta L. Hales, MHA, RRT-NPS, RN, who was appointed Secretary of the International Pediatric Simulation Society (IPSS) Executive Committee and Board Directors.  Members of IPSS will be introduced to the new members of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors at the Members Assembly, IPSSW 2018 Amsterdam, scheduled for 15 May, 16:45 - 17:45 pm.

Hales is one of the key faculty members of Drexel University’s MS in Medical & Healthcare Simulation Program, she leads the Simulation Curriculum Design course and the Debriefing in Simulation course. She is a simulation educator at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with the Center for Simulation, Advanced Education, and Innovation, where she is involved in program development, scenario design, and simulation facilitator training. 

She earned a BS in respiratory therapy from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, an AAS in nursing from Excelsior College, and a Master of Health Administration with concentration in training and organizational development from St. Joseph's University. She is an active member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and the International Pediatric Simulation Society. Ms. Hales has lectured on pediatric simulation-based education at the local, state, national and international level.

Drexel's MSMS Program Welcomes John R. (Jack) Boulet, PhD

This Spring John R. (Jack) Boulet, PhD, will be joining the Master of Science in Medical and Healthcare Simulation program faculty at Drexel University College of Medicine.   Jack will lead our course on the  Principles of Assessment.

Boulet is vice president, research and data resources, for both the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER). Dr. Boulet holds a BSc in mathematics from the University of Western Ontario and both an MA and PhD in education, specializing in measurement and evaluation, from the University of Ottawa.  He is a senior scholar at the University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, an adjunct Professor of medicine at the F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University, and a fellow of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Over the past 20 years, Dr. Boulet has worked on the development of performance-based credentialing assessments in medicine. He has published extensively in the field of medical education, focusing specifically on measurement issues pertaining to performance-based assessments, including objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and various mannequin-based evaluation methodologies. In his role with FAIMER, he has also investigated workforce issues, concentrating on the characteristics of international medical education programs, the international migration of health care workers, the contribution of international medical graduates (IMGs) to the labor force in the United States, and the quality of care provided by IMGs. Dr. Boulet currently serves on the editorial boards for Advances in Health Sciences Education: Theory and Practice, Education for Health, and Simulation in Healthcare.  He is a deputy editor for Medical Education.

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.

MSMS Faculty AnneMarie Monachino has been granted a CHSE-A

MSMS Faculty AnneMarie Monachino has been granted a CHSE-A role.  The Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced (CHSE-A) certification is a portfolio-based certification for leaders in healthcare simulation.  This certification distinguishes those who have proven themselves to be advanced in their practice in healthcare simulation, and serve as mentors and examples to others in the field.

AnneMarie Monachino, MSN, RN, CPN, CHSE-A is a clinical educator at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia with the Center for Simulation, Advanced Education, and Innovation, where she is involved in program development, scenario design, and simulation facilitator training. She also functions as an education nurse specialist in the Department of Nursing Education.

She earned a BS in biology from Chestnut Hill College, an ADN from Community College of Philadelphia, certification as a pediatric nurse (CPN) in 1996, and a MSN with an emphasis on emergency care from Widener University in 2009. She is an active member of the Society of Pediatric Nurses, the Association for Nursing Professional Development and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Ms. Monachino has lectured at the local, state, national and international level on pediatric code readiness, mock code development and the use of simulation to improve patient outcomes.

Consistent with its mission, SSH developed the certification process for educators focused on healthcare simulation. This program has been developed over a number of years with the input of many individuals representing a wide variety of backgrounds and experience in healthcare simulation. 

MSMS Students and Program Director Help Coach Sim Team to Victory.

New Orleans - Drexel University emergency medicine residents won the SimWars National Championship at the Society of Academic Emergency Medicine in New Orleans, LA on Friday.    

Picture left to right Alex Vazzano, PGY2 year; Ben Liss, PGY3; Sara Mistal PGY2; Russell Goldstein PGY3.

The team of second and third year emergency medicine residents included Ben Liss, Russell Goldstein, Sara Misthal, and Alex Vazzano.  They competed on stage against six other talented emergency medicine residency teams from across the country. The victory is a testament to the hard work of the residents and also the quality of training they receive every day at clinical sites and in the simulation lab. 

Andy Godwin, Chair of University of Florida, Jacksonville and a co-creator of SimWars, said "Drexel's residents' management of the simulated mass casualty case was the best run MCI Simulation he's ever seen".

The team was coached by Drexel University EM faculty members: Jessica Parsons, EM Associate Residency Director and Master of Science in Medical and Healthcare Simulation (MSMS) student; Srikala Ponnuru, Emergency Medicine Interim Program Director and Simulation Fellowship Director; Sharon Griswold, Director of the MSMS program; and Amanda Crichlow, MSMS Student and Drexel Medical Simulation Fellow.

Drexel will look to defend their national championship this October at the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) Assembly in Las Vegas.