Tampa, Florida
Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation at
VA Tampa Healthcare System
Who We Are
Welcome to the Interprofessional Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation (IAFCS) at the VA Tampa Healthcare System in Tampa, Florida. We provide cutting-edge simulation experiences that enhance health care safety and elevate educational opportunities. At the core of our mission lies a commitment to ensuring the safety of both patients and staff. Through rigorous training, we aim to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of health care professionals, fostering stronger, more cohesive interprofessional teams. By doing so, we empower our fellows to deliver exceptional care to our Veterans and caregivers, ultimately enhancing health outcomes and overall well-being.
Overview of the Tampa VA Simulation
Program
The Blaine A. Markee
Simulation Center at the Tampa VA is where innovation meets excellence in health care education. The
center stands at the forefront of simulation training, holding an advanced certification from the
Simulation Learning, Evaluation, Assessment, and Research Network (SimLEARN) – a distinction shared by
only a select few VA facilities nationwide. The Tampa VA has robust partnerships with the University of
South Florida’s (USF) medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and physician assistant programs. With more than 225
full-time equivalents for physician residents, the facility is one of the most active VA sites supporting
medical resident education. The Tampa VA owns a mobile simulation bus which has provided training not only
locally but throughout the state of Florida. Each year, the simulation team and faculty help train more
than 8,000 participants.
The simulation center actively conducts training in mock codes, code stroke, change in condition, the
trauma nursing core course, code team leadership, nursing skills fairs, resident/fellow procedural boot
camps, point-of-care ultrasound, and powered air purifying respirator/personal protective equipment. The
Blaine A. Markee Simulation Center has several collaborations with community partners including but not
limited to the Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS), USF, the University of Tampa
and other local nursing school programs. The co- directors are currently collaborating with the VISN 8
Patient Safety Center of Inquiry on an Assisted Falls Virtual Reality Pilot project and SimLEARN on an
Activations Readiness Assessment as the Tampa VA prepares to open a new bed tower.
The Tampa VA is designated as a 1A VA center, reserved for VA facilities with the highest levels of
volume, patient risk, teaching, and research. Additionally, the hospital has specialties in
rehabilitation, spinal cord injury, mental health, and acute care.
Fellowship Collaborators
- University of South Florida
- University of Tampa
To apply for the IAFCS in Tampa, Florida check eligibility requirements and contact the co-directors at this site.
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MEET OUR
PAST FELLOWS
Joseph Nadler, M.D.
Full-time nocturnist at Palo Alto VA Medical Center with protected simulation time for medical resident education.
Christopher Gaines, M.D.
Full-time emergency medicine physician at a newly opened urgent care center.
Meet Our Co-Directors
Medical Director of Clinical Simulation, Co-Director, Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation at the James A Haley Veterans' Hospital
Dr. Park is enthusiastic about improving patient safety and medical resident education. In 2011, Dr. Park was selected by VA Tampa Healthcare System (Tampa VA) to join one of VA's first cohorts of Chief Residents in Quality and Patient Safety.
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Janet Sprehe, DNP, APRN, CVRN, RN-BC Program Director, Simulations and Recusation Education and Innovation (REdI) Initiative, Director, SimLEARN Innovation Center for Education (SLICE), VISN 8 Simulation Champion, Co-Director, Advanced Fellowship in Clinical Simulation at the James A Haley Veterans' Hospital
Dr. Janet Sprehe has been a staff nurse, nurse manager, nurse educator, nurse practitioner, and consultant for legal counsel in her professional career. She maintains certifications in medical surgical nursing, cardiovascular nursing, and adult nurse practitioner.
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