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SickKids

Learning Institute Teaching and Education (LITE) Training Opportunities 

LITE Fellowship in Simulation

The Learning Institute Fellowship in Simulation is intended to facilitate the development of the skills and expertise necessary to use simulation both independently and collaboratively for teaching, assessment, quality improvement and research in diverse settings.

The fellowship is designed for health care professionals with an interest in simulation who spend time doing clinical work. Individuals are not required to be enrolled in a graduate degree program, but are required to complete a scholarly project. The project needs to fit within the scope of expertise of at least one Learning Institute Simulation Educator, Scientist or approved Certified Simulation Instructor, who will formally agree to serve as the supervisor. Examples of acceptable scholarly projects are an educational research study or the design, implementation or evaluation of an educational innovation, including:

  • Teaching strategy/method/model
  • Assessment tool
  • New/revised program/workshop
  • New/revised curriculum

The duration of the fellowship is a minimum of one year. Acceptance to the Learning Institute Training Experience (LITE) Program's Simulation Fellowship will be based on demonstrated interest in simulation, academic excellence, scholarship and research experience and funding.

Medical trainees must be appointed in their home department (e.g. Paediatrics, Anaesthesia, Surgery). Nurses and other health professions candidates must be appointed in the appropriate professional department. All Fellows in this stream are required to register with the SickKids Research Training Centre (RTC); however, they are not eligible for RTC funding.

LITE Simulation Fellows are expected to spend:

  • 50 per cent or less of time on clinical or professional activities.
  • 50 per cent or more on scholarly activities related to their LITE Simulation Fellowship.
  • This includes both dedicated time at the Learning Institute Simulation Center, as well as, scholarly activity.
  • Time at the Learning Institute Simulation Center must include a minimum 2-4 consecutive weeks at the Simulation Center, for a total of no less than 12 weeks.

Dependent on the training experience (Elective, Certificate or Fellowship), LITE trainees may select from a variety of in-house, as well as, collaborative courses for additional structured learning. Examples are listed below:

  • Educational Research Seminar Series (mandatory for Health Professions Education LITE trainees)
  • Research Training Centre courses in statistics offered at the Research Institute at SickKids
  • Department of Paediatrics Medical Education Scholarship Rounds, Journal Club
  • Centre for Faculty Development Best Practice in Education Rounds (BPER)
  • Wilson Center Research Rounds
  • Simulation courses offered through the Learning Institute
  • Selected offerings by the Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQUIPS)

Applications for Electives, Certificates and Fellowships should be submitted a minimum of three (3) months in advance of the start date. Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the LITE Program Committee.

To initiate the application process, please complete the LITE Program Declaration of Interest form and submit it to Carrie Mendolia, Administrative Assistant.

A member of the LITE Program Committee will then contact you to discuss the formal application process. All applications will be viewed by the LITE Program Committee.

LITE Certificate in Paediatric Simulation

The Certificate in Paediatric Simulation provides the opportunity for trainees to be exposed to the innovative use of simulation for education, assessment, quality improvement and research in diverse settings.

The Certificate in Simulation is a stream for both health care and non-health care professionals that is intended to provide more in-depth exposure to the use of simulation for pediatric education. The duration of the Certificate is a minimum of three (3) months.

Trainees pursuing a Certificate in Simulation are required to complete a small scholarly project. The project needs to fit within the scope of expertise of at least one Learning Institute Simulation Educator, Scientist or approved Certified Simulation Instructor, who will formally agree to serve as the supervisor. Examples of acceptable scholarly projects are an educational research study, quality improvement initiative or the design, implementation, or evaluation of an educational innovation, including:

  • Teaching strategy/method
  • Assessment tool
  • New/revised program/workshop
  • New/revised curriculum
  • New series of scenarios 

Acceptance into the LITE Simulation Certificate program will be based on demonstrated interest in simulation, academic excellence, scholarship experience and funding.

Upon completion of the Certificate in Paediatric Simulation, the trainee is able to:

  • Describe different modalities available for simulation-based education
  • Design a scenario appropriate to learning objectives and level of learner
  • Demonstrate effective pre-brief prior to simulation sessions
  • Demonstrate the use of best practices when facilitating a simulation session
  • Teach and/or assess crisis resource management skills during team training simulations
  • Teach and/or assess procedural skills on a mannequin or task trainer
  • Demonstrate an effective debrief and provide feedback skillfully
  • Evaluate a simulation session and modify as necessary
  • Learn the capabilities and limitations of high-fidelity patient simulators
  • Participate in a simulation research or quality improvement project
  • Other – self determined by trainee – see learning contract

  1. Meet with the Simulation Team to establish an orientation to equipment and session schedule.
  2. Read the recommended articles on medical simulation.
  3. Attend ALL workshops (unless already completed and based on availability), for example - Simulation Instructor workshop, Video Debriefing, SimPad Training, Scenario Development.
  4. Develop and facilitate at least one complete scenario using the Simulation Scenario Template.
  5. Attend as many simulation sessions during the Program (PEM, CCU, resident-code team):
    • Operate the simulator for at least five scenarios
    • Attend and contribute to as many debriefings as possible, including as a co-debrief
    • Facilitate at least one debriefing as a lead
    • Help with set-up and take down of scenarios
  6. Host a Journal Club.
  7. Participate in a new/ongoing simulation research or quality improvement projects with the Simulation team.
  8. Record self–reflections of the experience.
  9. Write a one-page summary of the certificate experience.
  10. Complete the program evaluation form.

Participating trainees will meet with their Supervisor at least once every two weeks. The Supervisor will act as a facilitator to discuss readings, planning activities, observe teaching activities and provide ongoing feedback. Some trainees may have more than one supervisor. The trainee will maintain an ongoing portfolio of work, complete several professional and teaching reflections and program evaluations.

Dependent on the training experience (Elective, Certificate or Fellowship), LITE trainees may select from a variety of in-house, as well as, collaborative courses for additional structured learning. Examples are listed below:

  • Educational Research Seminar Series (mandatory for Health Professions Education LITE trainees)
  • Research Training Centre courses in statistics offered at the Research Institute at SickKids
  • Department of Paediatrics Medical Education Scholarship Rounds, Journal Club
  • Centre for Faculty Development Best Practice in Education Rounds (BPER)
  • Wilson Center Research Rounds
  • Simulation courses offered through the Learning Institute
  • Selected offerings by the Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (CQUIPS)

Applications for Electives, Certificates and Fellowships should be submitted a minimum of three (3) months in advance of the start date. Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the LITE Program Committee.

To initiate the application process, please complete the LITE Program Declaration of Interest form and submit it to Carrie Mendolia, Administrative Assistant.

A member of the LITE Program Committee will then contact you to discuss the formal application process. All applications will be viewed by the LITE Program Committee.

LITE Elective in Paediatric Simulation

The Elective in Paediatric Simulation is a stream for both health care and non-health care professionals that is intended to expose trainees to the use of simulation for paediatric education. The duration of the elective is a minimum of two consecutive weeks, and may be up to a total of 12 weeks. A non-continuous longitudinal option is available upon consultation with the Elective Supervisor and LITE Program Committee.

The following are required for acceptance into the Elective in Paediatric Simulation:

    • Approval by Trainee's Program Director.
    • Supervisor – the Supervisor must be a credentialed SickKids Simulation Instructor or approved by the Simulation Steering Committee.
    • Capacity within the Simulation Program.
    • Approval by the Simulation on Steering Committee.

Upon completion of the elective the trainee is able to:

  • Describe different modalities available for simulation-based education.
  • Design a simulation scenario appropriate to the learning objectives and level of the learner.
  • Demonstrate effective pre-brief prior to simulation sessions.
  • Demonstrate the use of best practices when facilitating a simulation session.
  • Teach and/or assess crisis resource management skills during team training simulations.
  • Teach and/or assess procedural skills on a mannequin or task trainer.
  • Demonstrate an effective debrief and provide feedback skillfully.
  • Evaluate a simulation session and modify it as necessary.
  • Learn the capabilities and limitations of high-fidelity patient simulators.
  • Other–self determined by trainee.

  • Identify an Elective Supervisor. The Supervisor MUST be a Simulation Instructor. The following meetings must be established with the Supervisor:
    • Initial review of month/longitudinal plan mid elective progress meeting end of rotation review (ITER).
  • Meet with a Simulation Educator to establish an orientation to equipment and session schedule.
  • Read the recommended articles on medical simulation.
  • Attend a debriefing and facilitator workshop (unless completed and based on availability).
  • Develop at least one complete scenario using the simulation scenario template. This includes the following:
    • Objectives of simulation history and role definition
    • Moulage complete medical record (H&P, PreOp, labs, consents, radiology, etc.)
    • All films, ECGs and other documents in computer format (.jpg or .pdf)
    • At least one paper on the behavioral issue(s) in the scenario
    • Debriefing guide
  • Attend as many simulation sessions as available during the elective (Example - PEM, CCU, pediatric resident-code team, etc.)
  • Operate the simulator for at least one scenario
  • Attend and contribute to as many debriefings as possible
  • Facilitate at least one debriefing
  • Help with set-up of scenarios when possible
    Write a one-page summary of the rotation.
  • Complete the Rotation Evaluation Form.

Applications for Electives, Certificates and Fellowships should be submitted a minimum of three (3) months in advance of the start date. Late applications may be accepted at the discretion of the LITE Program Committee.

To initiate the application process, please complete the LITE Program Declaration of Interest form and submit it to Carrie Mendolia, Administrative Assistant.

A member of the LITE Program Committee will then contact you to discuss the formal application process. All applications will be viewed by the LITE Program Committee.

Contact us

Please contact us for further information regarding the Learning Institute Fellowship in Simulation Program.

Zia Bismilla

Staff Pediatrician, Pediatric Medicine Division

Emily Louca

Education Manager, Education Resource Group, Learning Institute

Carrie Mendolia

Administrative Coordinator Education Resource Group, Learning Institute

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