OB residents take on high-stakes scenarios in simulation

While OB residents at UAB Medicine are no strangers to busy shifts and complex cases, UAB Clinical Simulation’s OB Resident Sim offers a different kind of challenge—one that blends high-stakes clinical decision-making with tender, human-centered communication.

Facilitated by Dr. Margaret Somerall, an OB/GYN physician and attending at UAB Medicine, the immersive simulation experience includes two emotionally and medically charged scenarios. Each scenario is designed to test not only the residents’ clinical responses but also their ability to connect with patients during vulnerable, life-altering moments.

“These are high-risk obstetrical problems that require immediate attention—both physical care and emotional care,” Somerall said. “We want our residents to learn how to act swiftly, but also to slow down when it comes to delivering difficult news. It’s about being accurate and compassionate at the same time.”

The simulation uses standardized patients to help residents practice delicate conversations with patients’ families, emphasizing empathy alongside clinical precision. Somerall emphasized the importance of teaching learners to navigate these conversations thoughtfully, even when the surrounding circumstances feel urgent or overwhelming.

“These emergency scenarios are like heart attacks,” she explained. “It’s life-or-death. But within that, we teach our learners to center the patient as a person.”

Drs. Jennifer Knight and Carly Duncan, two of the participating residents, said the experience gave them space not only to act but to reflect.

“It was a good learning experience,” Knight said. “We got to work together and really think about how we’re approaching things.”

“I liked hearing how others think through situations,” Duncan added. “That’s something I can build into my own algorithm.”

Somerall, a longtime partner of UAB Clinical Simulation, said she would recommend simulation to any of her colleagues.

“The variety of opportunities here is boundless,” she said. “You can take the idea in your head and make it happen.”

UAB Medicine’s Clinical Simulation program offers opportunities for individuals and teams across UAB Medicine and beyond to practice before they deliver care. We encourage all who provide and support patient care to “Sim First.” Together, we can put our patients’ safety first.