From Gaps to Growth: Engaging Trainees and Strengthening Education Through Simulation 

23 September 2026 | 18:00 UTC | 2:00 PM ET | 11:00 AM PT

Discover how simulation-based education can transform learning by creating engaging, realistic, and impactful training experiences. This webinar will explore practical strategies for fostering active learner participation, building psychological safety to enhance engagement, and using simulation to address educational gaps that may not be met through traditional clinical experiences or teaching methods. Participants will also learn how to evaluate existing curricula and professional guidelines to identify opportunities where simulation can strengthen trainee education and improve learning outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe at least three strategies for engaging trainees as active partners in simulation-based education
2. Explain how psychological safety influences learner participation and suspension of disbelief during simulation
3.  Identify two to three ways simulation can be used to address educational needs that are not fully met through existing clinical experiences or teaching methods
4. Review an educational curriculum or relevant professional guidelines to identify at least one opportunity where simulation could enhance trainee learning

Meet the Speaker:               

Joseph D. Lynch, MD, FAAP, CHSE,

Joseph D. Lynch, MD, FAAP, CHSE, is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at West Virginia University School of Medicine, where he serves as Pediatric Residency Program Director and Director of Simulation. He develops and leads simulation-based education for residents, medical students, nurses, and interprofessional learners and has created simulation curricula and educational programs for both simulation laboratory and in situ clinical settings. He has served for five years on the Communications Subcommittee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Simulation and Innovative Learning Methods (AAP SoSILM) and is active in the Association of Pediatric Program Directors’ Simulation Learning Community. His educational interests include resident engagement, communication, teamwork, emergency preparedness, and the integration of simulation into training programs. His scholarly work focuses on interprofessional education, emotional intelligence, and the use of simulation to improve learning and patient care.