Simulation Fellowship
Teach and be educated through experiential learning
The Vanderbilt Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship is a Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM)-approved one-year program designed to provide graduates with the knowledge, skills and experience to become leaders in simulation and medical education.
We are currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Educational Curriculum
Fellows will work closely with our simulation faculty to develop expertise in all aspects of Emergency Medicine Simulation.
They will gain a deep understanding of the principles of curriculum development and receive mentorship from experienced simulation educators in the conception, design, implementation and assessment of simulation-based educational programs.
Fellows will become adept at operating, programming and maintaining a wide variety of medical simulation technologies, including high-fidelity human patient simulators, partial task simulators, screen-based simulation technologies and virtual reality simulators. They will develop proficiency in applying different simulation techniques in a wide range of learning environments.
Fellows will develop expertise in teaching and debriefing learners at all levels of training, including emergency medicine residents, medical students, nurses and prehospital care providers. They will also have opportunities to provide simulation-based training to learners in other acute care specialties, such as Trauma, Obstetrics and Critical Care through collaborative interdisciplinary simulation activities.
Fellows will learn the theoretical framework of simulation-based medical education. They will gain an understanding of the role of immersive learning in teamwork training, patient safety and systems improvement.
They will also acquire an understanding of the administrative and operational aspects of leading and managing a simulation center.
Fellows have protected time to design and implement a research agenda that is individualized based on specific interests. The fellowship has excellent support from the Vanderbilt EM research division. The simulation and research faculty will provide close mentorship to ensure that fellows have the guidance and resources needed to complete their research project by the conclusion of their fellowship.
Fellows are expected to attend at least one national simulation conference such as the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare. They will also have the opportunity to complete a national simulation faculty development course.
Fellows are encouraged to participate in an international experience in Guyana, providing simulation-based education to Emergency Medicine residents at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation. They will coordinate this with the Division of Global Emergency Medicine.
Specific components of the fellowship curriculum will be tailored to each individual fellow to match his or her academic interests and career goals.
Clinical Activities
Fellows will receive a faculty appointment and will work in the Vanderbilt emergency department as clinical instructors. During their scheduled clinical shifts, fellows will function as attending physicians and junior faculty members, supervising and teaching residents and medical students as well as providing clinical care to patients within the emergency department.
Application Process
We are currently accepting applications for one fellowship position for the 2026-2027 academic year. Applications remain open and will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Applicants must be graduates of an ACGME-accredited emergency medicine residency program and be board-certified or board-eligible through the American Board of Emergency Medicine prior to the beginning of the fellowship.
Thank you for your interest in the Vanderbilt Emergency Medicine Simulation Fellowship!
To apply, please email the following materials to the fellowship director, Dr. Jeff Heimiller:
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of interest
- Three letters of recommendations (including a letter from your residency program director)
- For additional information regarding the fellowship and application process, please email Dr. Jeff Heimiller.