Simulation training in health care education, which is enhanced by "significant advances in computer technology," is changing the teaching of medicine, according to a commentary piece by Dr. Mika Sinanan, a professor of surgery and adjunct professor of electrical engineering at the University of Washington.

Simulation in medical education is "certain to expand," Sinanan writes, adding that he expects the "human and economic cost of errors" and medical training expenses to drive this process. According to Sinanan, in the future it is expected that physicians will have to complete "hands-on assessment of skills" to remain certified by regulatory and credentialing organizations.

The University of Washington - UW Medicine has developed the Institute for Surgical and Interventional Stimulation, or ISIS, which provides training tools such as desktop suturing models and computerized patient mannequins, according to Sinanan. The simulators allow students to "try out new procedures or instruments and hone their skills," Sinanan writes. Also, surgical teams can practice full procedures in the virtual operation room, which features surgical simulators with computer graphic representations of internal organs.
To read more about the simulation:
University of Washington ISIS - part1

University of Washington ISIS - part2


UW School of Medicine ranks No. 1 among primary-care medical schools for 13th straight year

In Darrington, Wash., UW medical school graduate and preceptor Dr. Gary Schillhammer makes a house call.

The University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine again has ranked first among primary-care medical schools in the country, according to annual rankings of graduate and professional schools provided today by U.S. News & World Report. For the 15th consecutive year, its teaching programs in family medicine and in rural health also ranked No. 1. It ranked fourth in teaching medical students about AIDS, sixth in teaching women's health, sixth in internal medicine, seventh in geriatrics (health care for the elderly), and 10th in pediatrics.

The UW medical school tied with Stanford University at seventh among research schools. The UW was the only medical school in the top seven in both scientific research and primary-care teaching. The UW medical ranked first among public medical schools and second among all medical schools in research funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in fiscal year 2005. Only Harvard Medical School had more NIH funding. By U.S. News calculations, last year the NIH awarded UW School of Medicine faculty $538.8 million in grants.