UAB Clinical Simulation welcomes new SimUAB® Fellow

This past July, UAB Clinical Simulation welcomed Briana Miller, M.D., to its team as a simulation fellow.

Specifically, Miller is completing the SimUAB® Simulation Fellowship, a year-long program that prepares the fellow to assume a leadership position in delivering and managing a health-care simulation program.

Miller is a clinical instructor and fellow in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine, having completed an emergency medicine residency at UAB earlier this year.

This isn’t Miller’s first foray into simulation. Having worked with UAB Clinical Simulation/OIPS on a scholarly project during medical school, she’s been involved as a learner and, later in residency, as a facilitator. Additionally, she’s pursuing a Master of Science in Healthcare Simulation within the UAB School of Health Professions.

To Miller, health-care simulation isn’t just a compelling subject — it’s a dynamic learning tool.

“Clinical simulation has the ability to accomplish so many goals,” she said. “It can be used to teach teamwork skills, communication skills, procedures and complex medical decision-making — in almost any scenario.”

Through the fellowship, Miller hopes to develop her skills in simulation development, facilitation and debriefing in all modalities of simulation, including immersive, in situ, procedural and systems.

Additionally, Miller said she hopes to further explore the role of simulation in quality and patient safety.

“I have always known I wanted a career in academic medicine, and fellowship training in simulation will strengthen my educational skills and provide the foundation I need,” she said.

Miller’s duties find her working closely with emergency medicine residents by facilitating their monthly immersive and procedural simulations, as well as developing new simulations for them. She also works with third- and fourth-year medical students rotating through the ED on their monthly simulations with OIPS in Volker Hall.

Meanwhile, Miller said she’ll observe a wide variety of simulations to further her understanding of the scope of simulation, including mobile, virtual reality and interprofessional programs. The fellowship also entails a scholarly project, for which she’ll identify potential patient safety issues and testing systems prior to the opening of a novel patient care area.

“UAB’s fellowship program is very well-rounded and gives a perfect balance of support and autonomy, and the team has been incredibly welcoming,” she said. “My favorite part of working with simulation is that moment when you can see a learner just ‘get it.’ Often, this happens after the simulation during a debriefing. Knowing that simulation is helping a participant improve their patient care or understand a concept better is the most fulfilling feeling.”

“Having a simulation fellow is a wonderful opportunity to help develop a future leader in simulation,” said UAB Clinical Simulation Vice President Marjorie Lee White, M.D., MPPM, M.A. “It’s a win-win-win!”

For more information about the UAB Simulation fellowship, visit here.