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Lifelong learning drives WVU simulation specialist’s career

Growing up in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, Joshua Bell would spend weekends at the ambulance station where his friend's father worked as an EMT, sparking an interest in healthcare that led him down a path to discovering the David and Jo Ann Shaw Center for Simulation Training and Education for Patient Safety at West Virginia University.

Joshua began his career as an EMT, obtaining certification from Community College of Allegheny County. Following his EMT career, he wanted to continue working in healthcare and public safety, leading to an emergency department tech position where he discovered simulation.

“Being exposed to simulation really piqued my interest because it combined the healthcare education world with the tech world, both of which I really enjoy,” he said.

When a position at a simulation center became available, Joshua jumped at the opportunity to further explore his newfound interest. After spending some time at the center, he saw an opening at STEPS and knew he had to apply.

“I have been a lifelong WVU sports fan, and it was always a dream of mine to live in West Virginia and go to school at WVU, so when I saw the job posting for a simulation technician at STEPS, it was a no-brainer for me to apply.”

In his current role, Joshua enjoys the opportunity to learn every day and help others learn and work on their skills. The unique ability to combine teaching and simulation has allowed Joshua to pursue both interests.

“Being an EMT exposes you to so many areas of healthcare. I always had the desire to learn more about medicine and was always asking questions or looking things up online,” he said. “The position I am in now requires a great deal of knowledge in many different areas of medicine which allows me to continuously learn new things.”

Joshua’s day-to-day responsibilities vary from setting up task trainers for skills labs to cleaning to performing maintenance on simulators, running simulations for WVU Medicine or WVU Health Sciences learners, and teaching.

The state-of-the-art training center includes two 10-bed open lab spaces, 12 patient exam rooms, a large surgical skills unit, an operating room, a mother-child suite, four ICU setups and the latest technology, including augmented reality and virtual reality equipment and high fidelity manikins.

Joshua recently became a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist through the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, the first employee at STEPS to earn the certification.

“An aspect that I really love is when you have a learner that may be struggling with something that you are showing or teaching them, then something you say to them triggers a response and you can see the light come on and you know they get it.”

STEPS provides opportunities for students to learn and enhance their skills before they enter the clinical setting. The ability to train in a safe environment for development and learning benefits students, practicing professionals and patients.

“Simulation provides an area where learners and healthcare providers can practice their skills repeatedly until they are proficient, better preparing them to perform those same skills in the clinical setting.”

-WVU-

as/jw/11/6/24

CONTACT: Jessica Wilmoth
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