By Erica Techo
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Nursing Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Simulation Penni Watts, PhD, RN, CHSE-A, FSSH (PhD 2015) has been recognized for her dedication to simulation in health care and named a Fellow in the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy.
The Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy is a global group of professional health care simulationists who are recognized for their sustained contributions and impact on the field of health care simulation and to the society. Since 2016, 101 individuals from 12 countries have been awarded this prestigious recognition.
“I am honored and humbled to be recognized among leading simulationists around the world. Simulation is an important aspect of health care and our mission of patient safety,” said Watts. “As a Fellow, we are charged with contributing to advancing the mission and goals of SSH and the Academy. I have a heart for those beginning in simulation, and I hope to continue my work as a fellow supporting other simulationists in their journey through my engagement in the society.”
Fellows of the SSH Academy are selected through a rigorous peer-review process that evaluates the work and contributions in health care simulation and to SSH. To achieve this designation indicates a very high level of contributions and impact. The designation as a Fellow of the SSH Academy is prestigious and important to the health care simulation community as one of the fastest growing fields in health care education.
“Fellows of the SSH Academy are professionals whose expertise in and dedication to simulation is incredible,” said Beth Mancini, RN, PhD, NE-BC, FSSH, FAHA, ANEF, FAAN, chair of the SSH Academy Board of Governance. “The commitment of the individuals in this group to quality simulation and an increasing recognition of simulation as an education and research tool is indeed impressive.”
The UAB School of Nursing has a robust simulation program, including a state of the art simulation space that functions the same as a hospital ward and a home health simulation suite, along with bed labs for skills and procedural simulations
Our simulation work at the UABSON continues to lead the way, expanding experiences across all programs,” Watts said. “Simulation has significant value and impact on students and their learning experience, and we are fortunate that our administration supports this important work. The excellence in our program is a team effort, so I hope this recognition highlights that simulation a team sport, and I could not do what I do without the greatness that surrounds me.”
Watts has worked as an accreditation program reviewer, member of the SSH certification council, chair of the CHSE-A—a subcommittee the supports development as advanced simulationists, and chair of the INACLS standards committee.
