In this episode we sit down with two of the world’s leading names in simulation, Professor Victoria Brazil and Dr Eve Purdy, to talk through more than a decade of their work that began with a monthly in situ trauma simulation at Gold Coast University Hospital and grew into the groundbreaking and foundational research on translational simulation and relational coordination that now underpins modern simulation practice internationally.
We cover the origin of the Gold Coast trauma sim program, why trauma proved such a powerful platform for this work and how simulation evolved from an educational tool into a lever for team performance and systems improvement. Looking into the future we discuss the use of AI in simulation, and ironically, how low tech, visually enhanced mental simulation (VEMS) kits are actually proving to be highly effective simulation tools. We also talk about their new venture, Simulation Simplified, and how their VEMS kits have been incorporated into the new ETM Advanced Course. For more information about Simulation Simplified and VEMS kits, you can head over to their website or flick Eve an email directly from their contact page.
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As promised here’s a link to Vic’s amazing Simulcast – A Hi-Fidelity Podcast About Healthcare Simulation
If you’re interested in the references we discussed during the episode, or you want to read more of Vic and Eve’s incredible work, here’s a selection of articles to get you started!
1. Brazil V. Translational simulation: not ‘where?’ but ‘why?’ A functional view of in situ simulation. Advances in Simulation. 2017;2:20.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-017-0052-3 — Open access
2. Brazil V, Purdy E, Alexander C, Matulich J. Improving the relational aspects of trauma care through translational simulation. Advances in Simulation. 2019;4:10.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-019-0100-2 — Open access
3. Brazil V, Purdy EI, Bajaj K. Connecting simulation and quality improvement: how can healthcare simulation really improve patient care? BMJ Quality & Safety. 2019;28(11):862–865.
DOI: 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009767 — Open access
4. Brazil V, Lowe B, Ryan L, Bourke R, Scott C, Myers S, Kaneko H, Schweitzer J, Shanahan B. Translational simulation for rapid transformation of health services, using the example of the COVID-19 pandemic preparation. Advances in Simulation. 2020;5:9.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-020-00127-z — Open access
5. Nickson CP, Petrosoniak A, Barwick S, Brazil V. Translational simulation: from description to action. Advances in Simulation. 2021;6:6.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-021-00160-6 — Open access
6. Brazil V, McLean D, Lowe B, Kordich L, Cullen D, De Araujo V, Eldridge T, Purdy E. A relational approach to improving interprofessional teamwork in post-partum haemorrhage (PPH). BMC Health Services Research. 2022;22:1108.
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08463-8 — Open access
7. Brazil V, Scott C, Matulich J, Shanahan B. Developing a simulation safety policy for translational simulation programs in healthcare. Advances in Simulation. 2022;7:4.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-022-00200-9 — Open access
8. Brazil V, Purdy E, El Kheir A, Szabo RA. Faculty development for translational simulation: a qualitative study of current practice. Advances in Simulation. 2023;8:25.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-023-00265-0 — Open access
9. Brazil V, Reedy G. Translational simulation revisited: an evolving conceptual model for the contribution of simulation to healthcare quality and safety. Advances in Simulation. 2024;9:16.
DOI: 10.1186/s41077-024-00291-6 — Open access
10. Brazil V, Purdy E, Bajaj K. Simulation as an Improvement Technique. Elements of Improving Quality and Safety in Healthcare. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2023.
DOI: 10.1017/9781009338172 — Open access
11. Victoria Brazil – Exegesis – Doctoral Thesis – Translational simulation: reframing the contribution of simulation to healthcare quality (Bond University)
12. Cheng A, McGregor C. Applications of artificial intelligence in healthcare simulation: a model of thinking. Advances in Simulation. 2025;10:45. DOI: 10.1186/s41077-025-00379-7 — Open access
You can hope the trauma call goes well. Or you can train so it does. Register for the ETM Course now.
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