As Simulation Lead for the Northern Medical Program (NMP), Dr. Matthew Wahab oversees the simulation learning activities undertaken by students in all four years of the program, as well as various postgraduate sim training.  An NMP Class of 2016 graduate who completed his Family Medicine residency in Prince George, Matthew is now enjoying being on the other side of learning and helping the next generation develop their skills.

“Simulation was a valuable part of my residency training,” says Matthew, who is also an emergency physician in Prince George. “I loved the teamwork and the ability to put my book learning into practice in a safe environment. This role allows me to continue to help grow this important program and work with our fantastic undergraduate and postgraduate trainees.

“It's very rewarding watching trainees understand concepts in managing sick patients and grow their confidence as a medical practitioner.”

While sim does start earlier in their training, students undertake the most simulation activities during their third year.

“The majority of sim occurs in clerkship in Year 3. We have sessions that are part of most blocks, including ER/internal medicine/pediatrics/obstetrics/trauma/anesthesia,” notes Matthew. “We practice a diverse range of scenarios and procedural skills, including intubation, CPR, lumbar puncture, and delivering a baby. We've expanded the program to the TIPP block in Year 4 as well as pre-clerkship sims for Year students.”

Simulation is a key part of the undergraduate learning experience for medical students as it provides a hands-on way to practice new skills without negatively impacting patient care.

“Simulation allows trainees to put their hard-earned book learning into practice in a safe environment where they don't have to worry about harm to real patients or judgement from their staff/peers. Putting them outside of their comfort zone while maintaining psychological safety allows them to consolidate their approaches, practice procedural skills, and learn the basics of crisis resource management.”

Making it all possible is the Northern Clinical Simulation Centre at the University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George. The centre, and its associated region-wide program, recently celebrated its ten-year anniversary in late 2021. 

“We're very fortunate to have a well-funded simulation centre and a strong partnership between Northern Health, the UBC Faculty of Medicine, the College of New Caledonia and UNBC that makes the northern simulation centre a model for both the north and the province. Our high-fidelity mannequins and task trainers allow us to take our education to the next level.”