Dr. Persico has over two decades of experience in simulation-based education for healthcare learners. Her dissertation research was published, Comparison of Two Debriefing Methods for Nurse Orientation. She is an active member of SSH and INACSL. Dr. Persico is the Chair for the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practices and is the lead for HSSOBP Prebrieifing: Preparation and Briefing. Her extensive publications include a collaboration of simulation experts for the INACSL HSSOBP: Facilitation. Dr. Persico has mentored many simulationists in program design, assessment, evaluation, and IPE learning.

Heather is an Associate Professor at Mount Royal University (MRU) in Calgary, AB, and a current member of the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL). As an ongoing member of an INACSL International subcommittee, she continues to support international INACSL members. As a Registered Nurse for 35 years, Heather has held numerous positions in the adult health population, with most of her experience in cardiology, including the clinical nurse educator role (CNE) prior to joining MRU in 2009. She continues to practice in acute care and maintains currency of practice. Recent research interests in simulation have focused on modalities that support student learning, including understanding the observer and active participant roles in simulation, Tag-Team Simulation. Rapid cycle deliberate practice (RCDP), speaking up for patient safety, and a growing interest in virtual simulation.

Robert Catena is an Associate Professor at Mount Royal University- School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM). He has over 8 years of simulation-based experience. Robert continues to be involved in the SoNM simulation program, contributing to the development and integration of simulation-based education in the SoNM curriculum. In addition Robert continues to be involved as a senior facilitator within the KidSIM Simulation Program at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, with a focus on interprofessional education. Robert has taken many simulation-based professional development courses/workshops notably: the Comprehensive Instructor Workshop from the Center for Medical Simulation-Institute for Medical Simulation (Harvard), TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer, Canadian Certified Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE), and Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE).

Dr. Barbara Wilson-Keates is a simulation consultant and facilitator for healthcare students at the School of Wellness and Health at Red Deer Polytechnic in Red Deer Alberta Canada. Her current research focuses on the regulatory inclusion of simulation for clinical placements best practice simulation learning standards and the challenges of digital inequity across simulation programs. She is currently a board member of Simulation Canada and co-chair of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing Simulation Nurse Educators Interest Group. She has collaborated with simulation researchers and educators in Pakistan Argentina and Chile. As a national and international researcher educator and leader in simulation, Dr. Wilson-Keates is a known consultant for international healthcare providers and faculty on simulation. Dr. Wilson-Keates received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto and her Master of Science from Georgia State University in Atlanta GA with a focus on the development of a state-wide trauma system and her PhD in Nursing Health Systems from the University of Toronto. She is also a Certified Canadian Simulation Nurse Educator (CCSNE) and Certified Canadian Nurse Educator (CCNE).

Dr. Leigh Dunning is a nurse educator who currently serves as the Immersive Learning Coordinator for Undergraduate Nursing at Purdue University Global School of Nursing. In this role, she leads simulation and technology integration initiatives grounded in simulation pedagogy and best practices. Dr. Dunning has over a decade of clinical experience as a medical-surgical and progressive care nurse. Prior to her current position she served as a nursing faculty educator focusing on critical care and capstone nursing students. She holds certifications in medical-surgical nursing and healthcare simulation education. An active scholar Dr. Dunning presents at conferences and serves on committees for organizations such as INACSL and the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH). She is passionate about supporting future nurses in delivering high-quality patient care by providing innovative teaching methods that meet the needs of all learners.

Neena Agarwal Xavier MD is Sr Director in Global Medical Affairs at Eli Lilly and Company. She has served as the founding Director of Didactic Education and Simulation-Based Education at Brenau University Physician Associate Program. She graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and is double board certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology. Her passions in teaching include experiential learning strategies such as service-learning and simulation. She was awarded the 2018 American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Outstanding Service Award for the Promotion of Endocrine Health in an Underserved Population. She was chosen as a 2019 Harvard Macy Medical Educator Fellow and received the nationally competitive Engaged Scholarship Consortium research grant to study service-learning outcomes in PA education. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and son and choreographing Indian dances.