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Simulated Patients for Education, Assessment, & Research (SPEAR)

The Simulated Patient Education Research Center is the primary healthcare simulation resource for the healthcare training programs of Augusta University. 

The Mission

To provide Augusta University health professions programs with the environment and expertise necessary to design, develop, implement, and evaluate high-quality simulation-based education.

The Vision

To serve as an internationally recognized and accredited center of excellence, leading both the application and discovery of best practices in health professions simulation to ensure a safe learning environment, conduct valid and reliable assessments, and advance research to, ultimately, improve patient safety and outcomes.  

Who We Are

Who We Are  

Schedule an Activity

Schedule an Activity 

Standardized Patient Program

Standardized Patient Program 

Research

Research

Case Bank

Case Bank

Equipment Inventory

Equipment Inventory

Teaching in Medical Education Simulation (TIMES)

Teaching in Medical Education Simulation (TIMES)

Activity Scheduling Timeline & Contact

Please schedule by the following deadlines for priority consideration.

Spring Deadline

  • October 15th

Summer Deadline

  • February 15th

Fall Deadline

  • May 15th

Contact Us

Spear Center

 Health Sciences Campus

J. Harold Harrison, MD Education Commons

706-721-9945

1301 R.A. Dent Blvd
Augusta, GA 30901

spear@augusta.edu

SPEAR Activity Scheduling Timeline & Contact

We serve many different disciplines including nursing, medicine, allied health, and dentistry.

We offer the full spectrum of simulation services including high fidelity simulation, standardized patients, skills labs and procedural training. Course and faculty development services are also available.

SPEAR logo: Simulated Patients for Education, Assessment, and Research

SPEAR's Commitment to Excellence

The SPEAR team has achieved a significant milestone as Sadiqa Diggs and Ben Maniccia have each become Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialists® (CHSOS®). The Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) has designed this certification for individuals who perform healthcare simulation in an operations specialist role. The exam requires extensive knowledge of topics surrounding simulation, including simulation technology, simulation best practices, healthcare concepts, and instructional design. Eligibility for the certification requires a minimum two-years experience in healthcare simulation operations as well as a bachelors degree or equivalent combination of education and experience within the field.

We are extremely proud of these three for their work to support simulation education within the Simulated Patients Education & Research Center and hope you will join us in congratulating them on their success!

SPEAR Highlights

 

Lakesside students do AU Simulation

Lakeside students practice real world skills at AU simulation center.

Lakeside students practice real world skills at AU simulation center.  
MCG creates medical simulation course for high school students

MCG's medical simulation course

MCG's medical simulation course
Dr. Kumar

Aneshtesiology CME Network

Aneshtesiology CME Network
MCG students teaches scenario

Scenario teaches students to treat patients with intellectual disability

Scenario teaches students to treat patients with intellectual disability
Portraying Patients

Portraying Patients at MCG

Portraying Patients at MCG
Dr. A.J. Kleinheksel

Dr. A.J. Kleinheksel earns advanced certification for simulation

Dr. A.J. Kleinheksel earns advanced certification for simulation  

Recent News

A professionally dressed person stands beside a medical manikin in a clinical operating room and smiles at the camera.

MCG faculty member recognized for work in educational simulation

MCG faculty member recognized for work in educational simulation
A man in a suit stands at the head of a gurney holding an anesthesia mask to a dummy patient while a woman in a lab coat watches a screen to his left

Georgia senators visit university, tour labs in bid to find solutions for rural health care staffing shortages

Georgia senators visit university, tour labs in bid to find solutions for rural health care staffing shortages
Four medical students in scrubs stand around a simulation dummy while an instructor demonstrates a technique.

Augusta University Interdisciplinary Simulation Center celebrates Healthcare Simulation Week

Augusta University Interdisciplinary Simulation Center celebrates Healthcare Simulation Week

 

  SPEAR In the News  

Simulated Patients for Education, Assessment, & Research (SPEAR)

Interested in becoming a standardized patient?

Help future doctors master excellence in patient interaction

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