The University of South Florida is launching the world’s first university-based undergraduate concentration in Health Care Simulation Operations — a rapidly growing discipline aimed at advancing patient safety and care quality using cutting-edge simulation technologies.
Beginning this fall, the new program will help address a workforce shortage while further establishing USF as a global leader in simulation-based health care education.
Offered through the USF College of Public Health, in collaboration with the USF Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS) — one of the world’s largest free-standing health care simulation facilities — the concentration is part of USF’s Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program and provides a defined pathway for students into a high-demand field dedicated to improving health care quality and patient safety.
USF undergraduate students participate in a hands-on medical skills lab at CAMLS.
“There is a huge need for health care simulation workers, not just in higher education
but also at hospitals, health care systems and the federal level, including the Department
of Defense and Veterans Health Administration,” said Haru Okuda, MD, executive director
of USF CAMLS and associate vice president of interprofessional education and practice
with USF Health. “As one of the largest simulation centers in the world, we recognized
that we could be part of the solution by creating a program that develops graduates
who can support and transform this field.”
Medical simulation plays a critical role in training future health care providers
and has been widely adopted across medical and nursing schools, hospitals and government
agencies. By replicating real-world scenarios, simulation offers hands-on, technology-driven
experiences that enable students and practitioners to refine their skills in a controlled
environment — ultimately leading to better-prepared clinicians and safer, more effective
patient care.
Despite the field’s rapid growth — with the global health care simulation market projected to reach $17.4 billion by 2030 — no major research university has previously offered an undergraduate concentration specifically designed to prepare graduates for careers managing simulation technologies and programs.
USF’s pioneering new program fills this gap, offering a unique curriculum that blends
health care science, information technology, engineering and instructional design.
Graduates will gain expertise in the technical and operational aspects of simulation-based
training, preparing them for roles in hospitals, academic institutions, clinical simulation
centers, federal agencies, military installations and private industry.
Melissa Milner (center), director of clinical simulation at USF CAMLS, speaks to students during a health care simulation exercise.
“This concentration creates a pathway for our students to enter a career that directly
impacts patient outcomes in health care,” said Melissa Milner, DNP, director of clinical
simulation at USF CAMLS. “We have already had a great response from our students involved
in the pilot program, and now we are going to have a robust cohort of graduates with
the skills to design, manage and deliver high-quality simulation experiences.”
The launch follows strong demand for USF’s first health simulation course introduced
in 2023 and a highly successful internship pilot in 2024, which resulted in a 100%
job placement rate for students pursuing careers in simulation operations upon graduation.
The new concentration includes five courses — four didactic courses covering topics such as simulation operations, center management, instructional technologies and theoretical foundations — along with a 120-hour internship with rotations across multiple simulation centers. The overall health sciences major includes foundational classes in public health to support skill development and content targeted for students interested in the wide array of health professions.
William Brandt, a fourth-year undergraduate student at USF, was among the first to enroll in the pilot simulation course and internship, leading to a part-time position with CAMLS as a simulation operations assistant. He plans to pursue a long-term career in the field and will continue his studies through the new concentration this fall.
“This is giving me a great experience and a place where I hopefully will work when I graduate,” Brandt said. “I’m learning technical skills and working in an environment where I can see the impact of what I do. This program is opening doors for students like me to enter an exciting field where we can make a real difference in health care.”
The new program underscores USF’s commitment to aligning academic offerings with strong workforce demand. Other examples include cybersecurity, education, nursing and supply chain — fields that offer students valuable hands-on learning and curricula tailored to industry needs, maximizing their career readiness at graduation.
To learn more about enrolling in the new concentration, contact USF College of Public Health Undergraduate Advising at UG-COPHAdvise@usf.edu.