A longstanding leader in healthcare simulation, UCF’s College of Nursing has been awarded its third global honor for excellence.
The college’s Simulation, Technology, Innovation and Modeling (STIM) Center recently received full accreditation in human simulation by the Association of SP Educators, which is the highest honor given by the organization and recognizes an organization’s adherence to the standards of best practices to ensure growth, integrity and safe application of human simulation-based education practices.
UCF is one of just 19 simulation centers worldwide and the only program in Florida in the inaugural Association of SP Educators accreditation cohort — elevating the university to an elite group of leaders with accreditations or endorsements from all three healthcare simulation organizations.
Leading in Simulation
Last month, UCF also received re-endorsement from the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning for continued excellence in applying simulation standards of best practice in education.
UCF’s endorsement dates back to 2022, when it was one of nine programs worldwide to receive the inaugural Healthcare Simulation Standards Endorsement.
Additionally, UCF recently earned re-accreditation in teaching and education from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare — an international honor the university has held since 2020. UCF was awarded an additional accreditation in research.
“These three international accolades highlight how UCF is continuing to lead at a global level in healthcare simulation education, research and practice,” says Mindi Anderson, associate dean for simulation and immersive learning at UCF’s College of Nursing and one of the college’s internationally certified healthcare simulation experts. “Through excellence in simulation, UCF is able to ensure nursing students at all levels graduate practice-ready with hands-on clinical skills as well as strong judgment, decision-making, communication and critical thinking skills — ensuring quality, compassionate and safer patient care.”
Each year, UCF’s STIM Center provides more than 12,000 simulation-based contact hours to undergraduate and graduate students using high-technology manikins, augmented and virtual reality applications, and hologram technologies.
It continues to innovate in the evolving field and is currently piloting the use of artificial intelligence with simulation in nursing education.
In Fall 2025, UCF’s STIM Center will expand its physical footprint and future impact with its new space in the Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion on the Academic Health Sciences Campus in Lake Nona.
The Helene Fuld Health Trust STIM Center will feature state-of-the-art simulated patient suites, a clinical skills exam suite and dedicated space for virtual reality and immersive research.
