About Us
KT Waxman, DNP, MBA, RN, CNL, CHSE, CENP, FAONL, FSSH, FAAN
Director and Faculty
(925) 413-1929
Dr. KT Waxman is an international nurse leader and executive with extensive experience in academic and healthcare settings. She is a Professor and the Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program at the University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing. She is also the director of the Western States Simulation Alliance (WSSA) at Healthimpact and is the editor-in-chief for Nursing Administration Quarterly (NAQ). An internationally known speaker and author, Waxman is past president of the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) and past board member, serving as treasurer for the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). She is a past president of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
Her work has been published extensively and can be found in the Journal for Simulation in Healthcare, Clinical Simulation for Nursing, Journal of Nursing Education, NAQ, JONA, Nurse Leader and other journals. She has authored/edited 5 books and numerous book chapters on finance and budgeting and simulation.
Dr. Waxman received a DNP from the University of San Francisco, with an emphasis on health systems leadership and a concentration in clinical simulation. She holds the following certifications: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL), Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP), Certification as a Simulation Healthcare Educator (CHSE), and is a fellow in the American Academy of Nursing (FAAN), the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (FAONL), and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (FSSH).
Alexandra Duke, DNP, RN-BC, CEN, CHSE, CNE®cl, EBP-C
Director and Faculty
(424) 422-5903
Dr. Alexandra Duke is a DNP nurse leader with clinical specialties and national certifications in emergency and medical-surgical nursing. Additional areas of expertise include evidence-based practice, academic clinical nursing education, and healthcare simulation. In her former roles, she worked as a Nursing Education Consultant for the California State Board of Registered Nursing and an accreditor for the American Nurse’s Credentialing Center (ANCC) for accreditation review of nurse residency programs across the country.
As a Certified Nurse Educator, having taught across various programs and levels of nursing education, Dr. Duke seeks to respond to complexities in higher education by leveraging liberal arts strengths in programmatic evaluation, innovative curricular practices, analytical methods, and clinical scholarship. Additionally, she is established as an esteemed leader, mentor, and advocate for quality and excellence in nursing education. Her career is dedicated to generating knowledge to support the work of nursing institutions and regulatory agencies in translating evidence to prepare future generation nurses—research interests and scholarship center on developing scientific pathways to bridge intersections between nursing regulation and education.
In 2021, Dr. Duke joined the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) faculty in the DNP program. She has taught various online courses and served as chair and co-chair on DNP projects spanning diverse phenomena, including topics focusing on protocol development for tick-borne disease specialists, stress reduction initiatives for critical care nurses, provider knowledge, attitudes, and confidence regarding accelerated diagnostic protocols, and anesthesia considerations for chronic marijuana clients in surgical settings. Dr. Duke is an advocate and a strong proponent of DNP education and believes DNP graduates are positioned to interface with diverse constituents across systems within the breadth and depth of their dynamic roles.
Faculty
Leslie Catron, M.A.Ed, BSN, RN, FAHCEP, CHSE
Leslie is the Manager of the California Health Sciences University Simulation Center. Overseeing the establishment of this new highly functional center with standardized patients, augmented reality and mannequin simulation, she collaborates in developing interactive curriculum for the college of osteopathic medicine, training new faculty in simulation, and providing guidance on assessment in simulation. She is a member of the university provost council and interprofessional committee. This follows ten years of simulation experience from faculty in a community college nursing program to a Clinical Education Specialist Simulation Coordinator at Valley Children’s Healthcare. In both programs, she developed and implemented sustainable interprofessional simulation programs including disaster training. Leslie has been a nurse for 45 years starting in the NICU. She obtained her M.A.ED in 2009 and a Certificate in Simulation Education in 2012. Leslie was a Fellow in good standing with the Academy of Health Care Education Professionals 2008-2017. She was nominated for RN of the Year in Education for the Central San Joaquin Valley in 2014.Brett A. Dodd, RN, MBA, MSN, CHSE, CHSOS, CEN, CCRN-K, CFRN, TCRN, CPEN, CNLM
Brett Dodd is the Associate Director for the Women’s Guild Simulation Center at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA. He spent 6 years in the pre-hospital environment working as a paramedic and has been a Registered Nurse for over 20 years. His background is emergency and flight medicine, disaster management, trauma, critical care, education, and simulation. In his current role, he coordinates, develops, and uses simulation to create highly immersive multidisciplinary educational programs. Brett is an instructor for the Certified Healthcare Simulation (CHSE) Educator Review course. He serves as a member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare’s CHSE Review Committee and serves as a course director and instructor for various national courses using simulation to enhance educational opportunities.
Jean Dougherty RN, MSN-ed, CPN, CHSE, CCRN-K
Jean Dougherty is a nurse educator and healthcare simulationist with a clinical background in pediatric intensive care. She is a Nursing Professional Development Specialist at Children’s Hospitals Los Angeles.
In her education career she has served in many roles including lead pediatric faculty, clinical instructor, clinical coordinator and simulation director. During her time as simulation director, she was responsible
for growing and building the academic simulation center across multiple programs. She also ran many DEI simulations for her RN and FNP students. She brings that knowledge into her current role where she works with senior hospital leadership and academic partners to build strong academic partnerships to bridge the gap between nursing academics and nursing practice. She helps create new and innovative ways to bridge this gap through didactic, clinical and simulated experiences for pre-licensure students.
Jean is passionate about education and helping build the next generation of nurses.
Marie Gilbert DNP, MA, RN, CHSE
Marie Gilbert is the Director of the Central California Center for Excellence in Nursing. She has worked in healthcare for 30 years and has extensive experience in both the clinical and academic environments.
As current Chair of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Nursing Section, Marie collaborates with colleagues around the country to identify best practices and increase the use of simulation in academia and the clinical environment. Marie has written and lectured extensively and continues to conduct research. Her research interests include inter-professional education, assessment and evaluation and healthcare simulation.
Her involvement in many different and distinct nursing organizations has broadened her reach and expanded her networking abilities not only in the valley but across the state.
Brian Hanlon BS, CHSOS
Brian Hanlon, Simulation Center Specialist, has over 7 years experience in Healthcare Simulation. With a background in videography, Brian brings a creative approach to the day-to-day operations of the Highland Hospital of Oakland’s Simulation Center. Brian enjoys the challenge of bringing a trauma scenario to life through the use of moulage (or special effects make-up).
Connie Lopez MSN, CNS, RNC-OB, CPHRM, CHSE-A, FSSH
Connie Lopez is currently the Northern California Clinical Practice Consultant for the Regional Risk Management and Patient Safety team supporting perinatal and pediatric patient safety programs. She has 10 years’ experience leading Kaiser Permanente’s National Risk Education and Healthcare Simulation Programs and 17 years’ experience researching and implementing interactive educational programs in the clinical setting focused on improving the teamwork and communication of practicing clinicians. Connie has presented perinatal, patient safety and simulation related topics nationally and internationally over the past 13 years. She is a member of the Association for Nursing Professional Development, the Association of Women’s Health Obstetrics and Neonatal Nursing and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and has chaired educational events at both national and international conferences. Connie holds several leadership positions including faculty for the California Simulation Alliance, Board Member At-Large for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and Chair for an international National Patient Safety Advisory Board.
Kati Maxkenzie, MSHS, BFA, CHSOS, CHSE
Kati Maxkenzie is the Simulation Center Manager at Alameda Health System. Since opening in 2018, Kati has overseen the development and integration of the various simulation-based educational offerings including but not limited to, interprofessional mock pediatric traumas, physician residency onboarding and ongoing education, nursing competencies, and community outreach programs. Though Kati began her career in healthcare simulation as a Simulation Specialist, her background is not originally based in healthcare. Prior to discovering simulation, Kati spent over 10 year working in retail and theatre management. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a major in Drama from Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia in 2012. By 2015, she had relocated to California, USA, been introduced to the world of simulation, and had earned her Master’s in Healthcare Simulation from the University of San Francisco. Kati is passionate about the career development of Simulation Operation Specialists. She is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist, was a co-chair on the planning committee for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare 2019 SimOps Conference, and has presented at local, national, and international conferences on multiple topics about simulation operations.
Juli Maxworthy DNP, MSN/MBA, RN, CNL, CPHQ, CPPS, CHSE, FSSH
Juli Maxworthy is an academic, innovator, and collaborator in the field of nursing practice, with the goal to use innovative practices and technology to improve health care delivery. Her 30 years in healthcare began as a critical care nurse in an open heart and trauma unit. After her last clinical position as VP of Quality and Risk at a District hospital, she made the leap into academia full time by accepting a tenure earning position at the University of San Francisco (USF), her alma mater. Her roles at USF have included teaching in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)/Executive Leadership DNP and Healthcare Simulation programs, Director of the Healthcare Simulation Program, and Chair of the Healthcare Leadership and Innovations Department. Dr. Maxworthy is currently the President-elect for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). She has led the revision of accreditation standards on two occasions, is an accreditation Program reviewer, is one of the editors of the leading healthcare simulation textbook Defining Excellence in Simulation Programs, and has written multiple articles, chapters, and textbooks on a variety of subjects. In 2017, she was inducted into the inaugural class of the SSH Fellows Academy.
Barbara McCamish MSN, MPT, RN, PT, CNL, CHSE
Barbara McCarmish directs the daily operation of the Clinical Simulation Center at Dominican University of California, a position she has held since 2012. Barbara has helped to guide the center to its current state of the art facility through visioning and collaborative work with team members across the university, and the generous donations of community members. The Clinical Simulation Center operates under the School of Health and Natural Sciences, with a focus upon serving students training to be Nurses, Physician Assistants, and Occupational Therapists. Barbara obtained her Master of Science in Nursing with a focus upon Leadership and Management from Sonoma State University (2006) and a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Alabama, Birmingham (1987). Barbara maintains active licenses in both nursing and physical therapy. She also holds two national certifications: Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). Barbara has presented at simulation conferences nationally, and is an active member of the Society of Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) having served as Content Chair for Interprofessional education for the International Meeting of Simulation in Healthcare since 2015. Barbara is a current member of the California Simulation Alliance, the Bay Area Simulation Collaborative, the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning, and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.
Russell D. Metcalfe-Smith MSc.NRP, CHSE-A, CHSOS, FRSPH, FHEA
Russell D. Metcalfe-Smith is an experienced clinician, educator and leader most recently leading the opening and development of the Women’s Guild Simulation Center for Advanced Clinical Skills at Cedars Sinai. Russell worked in the U.K. for London NHS Trust firstly as a Paramedic with London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, then a Resuscitation Services Manager for the largest Mental Health System in London. Lastly he held the position as Head of Resuscitation and Simulation for a 900 Bed Acute Hospital System in SW London for a decade opening a highly successfully simulation center in 2006. A licensed Paramedic with a Bachelor Degree in Healthcare Development and a Master Degree in Medical and Healthcare Simulation. Russell has a passion for improving patient care through the use of simulation as a modality for education and system testing. Russell additionally Chairs the Southern California Simulation Collaborative and Chairs the Hospital Based Section for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. In addition he is a National Accreditation Team Leader for Simulation and holds Fellowships from the Royal Society of Public Health and the Higher Education Authority.
Pooja Nawathe MD, FAAP, FCCM, CHSE-A, CHSOS
Dr. Pooja Nawathe is the medical director of simulation in the Department of Pediatrics. She is a Pediatric Critical Care Medicine physician by background and is the Associate Director of the Congenital Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CCICU). She leads the development and introduction of educational programs for all staff in the pediatric ICU (physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists) with the Women’s Guild Simulation Center. She spearheads the development and implementation of multiple in situ PICU and CCICU curriculums, as well as collaborates with the subject matter experts on the pediatric floor, nursery and NICU to oversee their simulations. As a researcher she studies curriculum development for interprofessional education involving physicians, nursing, respiratory therapist, cardiac surgeon, perfusionist, anesthesiologists and pharmacists. Implementation of these programs has not only been positively received but has also impacted satisfaction scores in the staff but also identified latent safety threats and led to sustainable solutions at multiple levels. With recent certifications of CHSE-A, CHSOS and current designation of Fellow of American College of Critical Care Medicine (FCCM), she is committed to the ideals and practice of interprofessional critical care and its improvement through simulation-based interprofessional education. She serves on the Society of Simulation in HealthCare provisional site accreditation board of review, accreditation and certification council, inaugural CHSOS-A committee and Chair of the Pediatric Section. She is also the co-chair of the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) Research Section Simulation and Education Committee. She also is on the communications committee for INSPIRE (International Network for Simulation-based Pediatric Innovation, Research, & Education) and is a member of IPSS (International Pediatric Simulation Society).
Melissa Punnoose MSN, RN-BC, CHSE, CHSOS
Melissa Punnoose is the Regional Clinical Simulation Educator for Providence St Joseph Health System Southern California. In her role she designs and facilitates simulation for interprofessional teams, new grad and seasoned RNs, community volunteers, and ancillary staff. She also facilitates simulation for nursing students at Los Angeles Harbor College, where she serves as an adjunct faculty member. Her simulation faculty training includes courses taught by the California Simulation Alliance, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE), and Harvard’s Center for Medical Simulation (CMS). She is a member of CSA, ASPE, SSIH and INACSL. Melissa has presented at local, national, and international conferences on her work in the field of simulation. She serves as an abstract reviewer for IMSH and a faculty member for CSA simulation faculty development courses.
Jenna Reyes EdD, MSN/ED, RN, PHN, CHSE
Jenna Reyes, EdD, MSN/ED, RN, PHN, CHSE, graduated from The University of Alabama with a EdD in Nursing Education. She is passionate about nursing education and the development of clinical judgement to serve the development of nursing students. She has centered her overall research focus on the best practices for supporting and developing nursing students’ ability to practice the art of science of nursing through improved educational practices. Thus, her research focus has included mentoring of nursing students, development of effective study techniques for test success, educational tools to support the development of clinical judgement, including concept mapping and all methods of simulation.
Throughout Dr. Reyes’s career she has spent several years working with students to develop their nursing skills. She has worked in simulation for the past 7 years serving as the regional director of skills and simulation labs, overseeing the development and implementation of simulation pedagogies that best support the development of nursing students. She developed and implemented the current virtual simulation process used at Azusa Pacific University’s School of Nursing to supplement the nursing education processed during the worldwide pandemic in 2020.
Reyes currently serves at Azusa Pacific University’s School of Nursing as the department Chair of the MSN Nursing Education Department while maintaining the simulation lab at the San Diego Regional campus and as part of the simulation team that oversees the experiential learning experiences in the school of nursing.
Cynthia M. Shum DNP, MEd, RN, CHSE-A
Cynthia M. Shum is the Nurse Educator and Simulationist at the VA hospital in Palo Alto. In this position she is responsible for the operations of the center, facilitation of simulation activities throughout the hospital and development of new uses for simulation activities.
Dr. Shum received her DNP at USF studying faculty development in healthcare simulation under the supervision of Dr. KT Waxman. She obtained her undergraduate degree in 1987 from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada and a Master’s degree in Education with a focus on Measurement and Evaluation and specifically research methodologies in 1991.
Dr. Shum is an adjunct faculty at USF and presents at numerous simulation conferences.
Heidi Traxler MSN, RN-CHSE
Heidi Traxler, MSN, RN-CHSE is the Regional Director of Clinical Simulation at Providence St Joseph Health System Southern California. She coordinates and manages the Simulation Programs, including Transition into Practice Simulation, Nursing Simulation, Specialty-Specific Simulation, Interprofessional Simulation and NODA (No One Dies Alone) Simulation. Her simulation faculty training (orientation) includes courses taught by the California Simulation Alliance, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital Center for Advanced Pediatric and Perinatal Education (CAPE), and Harvard’s Center for Medical Simulation (CMS). She has also attended conferences put on by INACSL, SSIH, and ASPE. Heidi has been a podium presenter at several simulation conferences internationally, statewide and regionally. She is a member of the CSA (California Simulation Alliance), SCSA (Southern California Simulation Alliance), INASCL, and SSIH (Society of Simulation in Healthcare). She has been an abstract reviewer for the International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) yearly since 2013.
Amy Vermillion EdD, MSN, RN, FNP, CHSE
Dr. Amy Vermillion is a Professor and Director, Simulation & Learning Labs at Riverside City College (RCC). Amy has helped to guide the School of Nursing through reimagining simulation and achieving accreditation through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). Amy has served as a resource to several community college programs in the Inland Empire. Amy has spearheaded interprofessional education activities with five different interprofessional disciplines at different institutions to improve patient outcomes in the Inland Empire. Amy obtained her Doctor of Education with an emphasis in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix (2020) and a Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of San Diego (2002). Amy is nationally certified from SSH as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE). She currently serves as a co-chair for the CSA Inland Empire Simulation Collaborative and is an active member of CSA, INACSL, and SSH.