Where Medicine Meets Mentorship: Simulation Academy at Yale Celebrates Class of 2026

The Simulation Academy at Yale celebrated the graduation of its 11th class on May 2. The two-year program exposes New Haven high school students to the world of medicine through hands-on simulation training and mentorship.

Prior to the graduation ceremony, students, families, faculty, and health care professionals heard from a panel of four health care professionals who reflected on their career paths.

The panelists, which included an emergency medical technician (EMT), emergency room (ER) technician, nurse, and doctor, answered questions such as, “tell us about something you wish other health care providers understood about your role” and “what would you tell your high school self about your career today?”

Moderator Tatiana Moylan, MD, director of community outreach and resident simulation, also guided panelists through a live simulation of a medical emergency involving a pregnant woman experiencing pain while at a fast-food restaurant. Each panelist described the actions they would take to ensure the highest possible care for the patient, from arriving on the scene to admitting the patient to the labor and delivery ward.

The graduation ceremony opened with remarks from Leigh Evans, MD, executive director of the Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation, who expressed gratitude to the many individuals at Yale School of Medicine (YSM) and Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) that make this program possible.

Special thanks were extended to Nancy J. Brown, MD, Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of the Yale School of Medicine; Arjun Venkatesh, MD, MBA, Anthony N. Brady Professor of Emergency Medicine; and Thomas Balcezak, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer at YNHHS who recently facilitated a hospital tour for Simulation Academy students which included a visit to the rooftop helipad.

James Bonz, MD, director of procedural simulation at Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation, gave an overview of the Simulation Academy curriculum. He noted that “the growth of students across the two years is very impressive” and described the skills each student develops in years one and two.

In the first year, the program introduces students to a wide range of medical procedures such as CPR, intubation, ultrasound imaging, suturing, and IV placement. The first year also emphasizes the applied sciences that underlie each procedure, helping students draw a connection from the subjects they study in high school to the skills they need for medical professions.

The second year introduces students to realistic simulation scenarios such as labor, neonatal resuscitation, and chest tube insertion. They are also empowered to design simulation scenarios themselves.

Isaac Faustino, mentor and mentor coordinator, and Samreen Vora, MD, director of interprofessional simulation at Yale Center for Healthcare Simulation, discussed the Simulation Academy’s mentoring program, now in its second year. "The program offers mentoring sessions throughout the clinical skills curriculum," said Faustino. The mentoring program provides a space where students receive guidance, encouragement, and support from students and faculty at YSM.

Finally, attendees heard from Dina Natalino, supervisor of College and Career pathways, and Madeline Negrón, superintendent of New Haven Public Schools, who recognized the many initiatives that support students interested in health care careers. The Health Career Academy Pathway, available at Wilbur Cross and James Hillhouse High Schools, gives students a structured academic foundation for health care careers with courses such as “Introduction to Health Professions” and “Medical Terminology.”

In partnership with YNHHS, students can receive tuition reimbursement for up to 20 college credits and be trained as a Certified Nursing Assistant while still in high school, making them immediately employable upon graduation.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of diplomas and was followed by a celebration in the Sterling Hall of Medicine rose garden.

Photo Credit: Antonietta Hallet