Education Spotlight: SMILE 2024 Workshop
From November 13th to 15th, 2024, Kampala, Uganda, hosted the second Simulation for Medical Education (SMILE) Instructor Course at the Simulation Lab at Mulago Hospital. Organized by the Association of Anaesthesiologists Uganda (AAU), the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), the Centre for Health Equity of Surgery and Anaesthesia (CHESA), the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), and Makerere University, the event aimed to equip healthcare professionals with essential simulation education skills.
With the goal of increasing the number of simulation educators and centers in low-resource settings, the course provided participants with the knowledge to become effective simulation instructors. The course, which had been on hold due to the pandemic after its pilot in 2019, garnered significant interest, with 100 individuals applying. After reviewing participant applications based on criteria like relevance and potential impact, 25 were invited, with 18 professionals from Uganda, Kenya, and Cameroon ultimately participating.
The course was led by Dr. Cornelius Sendagire (Makerere University) and Dr. Maytinee Lilaonitkul (WFSA/UCSF), alongside a mix of local and international faculty members, including graduates of the pilot course. Over three days, participants engaged in highly interactive workshops focused on foundational principles of simulation in medical education, various simulation modalities, and how to design, plan, and execute effective simulations. Key topics included integrating simulations into curricula, conducting debriefing sessions, and providing constructive feedback.
Day two offered a hands-on opportunity for participants to design and conduct their own simulation scenarios using high-fidelity mannequins. Participants also received guidance in offering feedback and debriefing learners. The final day focused on a carousel of simulation modalities, allowing participants to explore various tools such as partial task trainers, standardized patients, hybrid simulation, and in-situ simulation. The course concluded with participants conducting mannequin-based scenarios and providing performance feedback to real learners, including anesthesia residents at Makerere University.
Feedback from the course highlighted high satisfaction across all sessions. Participants expressed appreciation for the practical, interactive nature of the course. In particular, the session on conducting debriefings received the highest rating (9.65/10), with the practical exercises on mentoring, reflection, and setting SMART objectives scoring even higher (9.78/10). One participant noted, “I now feel confident that I can implement simulation in my own setting.”
The success of the course indicates a significant demand for simulation education in the region. It provided an engaging learning experience that fostered personal and professional growth among participants. The overwhelmingly positive feedback reflects the course’s interactive, hands-on approach and the quality of faculty and content. Through this initiative, healthcare professionals in low-resource settings are better equipped to improve the quality of training and patient care, ultimately contributing to better healthcare outcomes.
As simulation-based education continues to gain momentum, the success of the SMILE Instructor Course underscores the importance of ongoing collaboration and investment in medical education. By expanding simulation’s reach and effectiveness, the course has helped lay the groundwork for improving patient safety and healthcare delivery in the region.
