NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull Marks Simulation Week with Hospital-Wide Training to Advance Patient Safety and Clinical Readiness
The event brought together clinical teams across multiple specialties to practice high-risk scenarios, strengthen communication and prepare for real-world patient care
Oct 05, 2026
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull celebrated Simulation Week on September 25 with an interdisciplinary simulation event designed to strengthen clinical readiness, teamwork, communication and patient safety across multiple medical specialties. Held in Woodhull Hospital’s Third Floor Auditorium, the event, themed “Simulation Found Me,” brought together over 100 over physicians, nurses and allied health professionals from Emergency Medicine, Cardiology, Respiratory Therapy, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Anesthesiology, Medicine, Nursing and Pediatrics. Through hands-on demonstrations, clinical scenarios and team-based learning, participants had the opportunity to practice critical skills in a safe environment before applying them in real-world patient care. The event highlighted how simulation can help teams prepare for complex and high-risk situations, strengthen interdisciplinary communication, build confidence with emerging technology and improve patient outcomes.
“Simulation allows our teams to practice not only the clinical skills required to provide excellent care, but also the communication, coordination and trust that are essential when every second matters,” said Sandra Sneed, Chief Executive Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull. “By bringing our disciplines together in a learning environment, we are strengthening our readiness and reinforcing a culture in which safety, teamwork and continuous improvement remain at the center of everything we do. This is how we continue moving Woodhull from Good to Great.”
Simulation-based education has become an increasingly important component of healthcare training because it allows clinicians to practice rare, complex and high-acuity situations without risk to patients. At Woodhull Hospital, simulation supports teams throughout the organization by creating opportunities to refine clinical techniques, test systems, strengthen communication and prepare for emergencies.
“Simulation gives our OB/GYN and Maternal Child Health team a chance to practice together, strengthen communication, and prepare for emergencies we hope never occur. This fair reflects the strong commitment of NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull to being ready for every patient, every birth, every time,” said Wendy C. Wilcox, MD, Chief of OB/GYN at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
“Simulation is not just about practicing skills. It is about building safer systems, mastering teamwork, and protecting the lives entrusted to us,” said Jonna O. Mercado, MD, Chair, Department of Medicine, and Designated Institutional Official at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
The event also highlighted the growing importance of simulation as healthcare technology continues to evolve.
“Healthcare is moving fast, especially with robotics. Simulation bridges that gap between shiny new technology and real-life operating rooms—giving our surgical teams the repetitions they need to build confidence and deliver the best possible care for every patient,” said Javier Andrade, MD, Chair of Surgery and Chief of Perioperative Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
“Simulation prepares us for the unexpected, it brings our teams together to practice, collaborate, and build confidence, so when a real-life event happens, we are ready with the skills, tools and teamwork our patients need to recover and heal. It was important for us to partner with the Jacobi IMSAL team and be able to bring all the departments together, because it gave staff the opportunity to share and be interactive on what we use to prepare for our patients,” said Ada Villatoro-Bussa, Associate Executive Director, Inpatient Care Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
For nurses, simulation provides an opportunity to build competence at every stage of professional development.
“Simulation supports nurses throughout their careers as they advance from novice to expert,” said Kathy Campbell, RN, Interim Chief Nursing Officer at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
Emergency medicine teams also use simulation to practice high-acuity situations that may occur infrequently but require immediate, coordinated action.
“Simulation is helping our Emergency Department staff perform high-acuity, low-occurrence procedures more safely and accurately. It has also been tremendously valuable in training our staff to work as a team during resuscitation events,” said Robert G. Chin, MD, Chief of Emergency Services at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
Respiratory Care teams participated in the event to reinforce technical skills and team-based care.
“Simulation empowers our respiratory care team to strengthen skills, build confidence, and deliver better care to every patient,” said Rick Andreas, RRT, PA-C, Deputy Director of Respiratory Care at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
Pediatric teams emphasized the importance of practicing lifesaving responses in a controlled environment before emergencies occur.
“In pediatrics, preparation can make all the difference. Simulation gives our teams a safe space to practice lifesaving responses, refine procedural skills, and strengthen communication—from managing respiratory distress and resuscitation to performing lumbar punctures. During Simulation Week, we celebrate this commitment to teamwork, readiness, and safer care for every child entrusted to us,” said Leslie A. Hayes, MD, Chief of Pediatrics at NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull.
The event reflected Woodhull Hospital’s broader commitment to high reliability, continuous learning and interdisciplinary collaboration. By allowing teams to train together across specialties, simulation helps identify opportunities for improvement before they reach the bedside and reinforces the shared responsibility every staff member has in delivering safe, high-quality care.
###
MEDIA CONTACT: Julissa Herrera, NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
#218-26
About NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull
NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull, part of the NYC Health + Hospitals health care system, is the major tertiary care provider in the borough of Brooklyn. It is a premier health care organization for key specialties, including surgery, women’s health, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, renal services, ambulatory care/primary care, emergency medicine, and behavioral health services. Last year, the hospital received close to 480,000 ambulatory care visits and close to 100,000 emergency room visits. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org/woodhull, and stay connected on Facebook.
About NYC Health + Hospitals
NYC Health + Hospitals is the largest municipal health care system in the nation, serving more than a million New Yorkers annually in more than 70 patient care locations across the city’s five boroughs. A robust network of outpatient, neighborhood-based primary and specialty care centers anchors care coordination with the system’s trauma centers, nursing homes, post-acute care centers, home care agency, and MetroPlusHealth—all supported by 11 essential hospitals. Its diverse workforce of more than 46,000 employees is uniquely focused on empowering New Yorkers, without exception, to live the healthiest life possible. For more information, visit www.nychealthandhospitals.org and stay connected on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.