Clinics in Medical Education

CERTAIN

The Center for Education Research, Technology and Innovation (CERTAIN), led by Dr. Robina Matyal within the Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), is dedicated to advancing educational excellence through continuous learning, innovation, and feedback. CERTAIN integrates cutting-edge technology with evidence-based educational research to develop and refine teaching and assessment strategies tailored to learners.

The Center serves as a hub for faculty development and educational innovation, offering mentorship and support in research design, grant writing, academic publishing, and a wide range of initiatives.

Faculty and Career Development

  • Grant Applications: Support for idea generation, proposal development, and access to necessary equipment and personnel.
  • Publications and Scholarly Articles: Manuscript preparation and database analysis with assistance from fellows and research assistants.
  • Scientific Meeting Abstracts and Presentations: Showcasing faculty research through posters and abstracts.
  • Workshops and Grand Rounds: Coordination and support for interactive teaching events and continuing education.
  • Harvard CME Course – Training the Trainers: Development of a faculty-focused course on teaching and mentorship.

Simulation and Skills-Based Training

  • Simulation-Based Teaching: Including in situ simulation sessions, scenario design, and outcomes dissemination.
  • Virtual Reality-Based Training: Use of Oculus headsets and Vantari platforms to teach invasive procedures, alongside research on feasibility and effectiveness.
  • Just-in-Time Training: Flexible, real-time educational sessions targeted to immediate clinical needs.
  • Hands-on Training for Anesthesia Techs and CRNAs: Skills lab instruction on procedures like central line and arterial line placement.
  • QPath for Ultrasound Training: A 250-case repository for ultrasound education, integrated with QPath and accessible via Docebo.

Trainee Education and Support

  • Intern Course: Annual onboarding program coordinated by CERTAIN fellows, covering both teaching and logistics.
  • Tuesday Education Days (TEDs): Weekly sessions organized with teaching material uploads to the Docebo LMS.
  • Learning Management System (Docebo): Content management and coordination with instructors and trainees for up-to-date educational resources.

Global and Collaborative Education

  • Global Health Curriculum: Structured educational programs developed by CERTAIN for international collaborators, supporting global capacity-building.

OUR CURRENT PROJECTS

In Situ Simulation

Project Summary: 

Our in situ simulation initiative involves weekly 15-minute simulation sessions conducted in a designated operating room for anesthesia residents. These brief, high-yield sessions focus on clinical decision-making, teamwork, and crisis management in the actual clinical environment. The program serves both educational and research purposes and has led to published findings demonstrating its effectiveness. We have successfully expanded the initiative to a community hospital over a three-month pilot period and are now launching a dedicated simulation fellowship to further advance innovation and training in medical simulation.

 

Virtual Reality Simulator

Project Summary:

This study investigates the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) simulation to improve anesthesia residents’ proficiency in central venous access (CVA). We compare VR and mannequin training in first-year residents, assess clinical outcomes, and evaluate the return on investment and scalability of the VR platform for broader anesthesia training.

Rescue Ultrasound Guided Crisis Management

Project Summary:

Our Rescue Ultrasound-Guided Crisis Management program trains anesthesia residents in perioperative ultrasound using advanced simulation technologies, including Vimedix simulators, augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) platforms. Residents participate in structured weekly training sessions focused on transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Each session is followed by objective assessments that track hand motion metrics to measure improvement in manual skills and procedural proficiency. This innovative approach integrates cutting-edge simulation with performance analytics to enhance critical ultrasound-guided decision-making during perioperative crises.

Diagnostic Ultrasound Education and Certification in Perioperative Ultrasound Courses

Project Summary:

Our Diagnostic Ultrasound Education and Certification Course is a comprehensive, structured program aimed at equipping anesthesia residents with the skills necessary for effective point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS). The curriculum includes online modules, hands-on workshops, refresher courses, practice tests, and a formal Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE). Residents also participate in in situ simulation sessions to apply their skills in real-world clinical settings. To promote ongoing practice and confidence, each resident receives a Butterfly portable ultrasound probe for independent scanning. The course culminates in a certification, ensuring residents are competent and confident in diagnostic ultrasound use.

Global Health: RER and POCUS Training

Project Summary:

Our Global Health Education Initiative includes the Recognition, Evaluation, and Resuscitation (RER) Course, designed to teach critical skills such as Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), emergency management, and point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) in resource-limited settings. Delivered through a combination of didactic and hands-on training, the course empowers local healthcare providers with life-saving knowledge and practical skills. We have established impactful partnerships in Pakistan, India, Botswana, and Liberia, collaborating with local institutions to adapt training to regional needs and promote sustainable medical education in underserved areas.

Medical Education Journal

Project Summary:

We have developed an innovative Medical Education Journal focused on evidence-based teaching and learning in clinical medicine. This journal serves as a dynamic platform for sharing educational strategies, curriculum innovations, and best practices with both our local academic community and global partners. Uniquely, it features interactive content, including live links to online modules, assessment tools, simulation cases, and training videos, allowing readers to immediately access and implement resources in their own educational settings. By integrating multimedia elements and practical tools, the journal bridges the gap between theory and application, fostering a collaborative and evolving environment for medical education advancement.

 

Improving Near Miss Identification

Project Summary:

This project aims to characterize healthcare professionals’ perceptions and behaviors surrounding near miss and no harm events in clinical settings, with the goal of improving their identification and reporting.

CERTAIN

Center of Education Research, Technology, and Innovation

The Center of Education Research, Technology, and Innovation (CERTAIN) is dedicated to pioneering innovative approaches that enhance education for both medical trainees and faculty. Our primary goal is to establish pre-clinical proficiency, ensuring an objective demonstration of “readiness to perform” before residents enter the clinical environment. By leveraging the latest research and technological advancements, we create a rigid educational framework that equips learners with the skills and confidence needed for real-world medical practice.

Master’s Thesis Projects

Proficiency Index for Assessing Simulation Performance

Fellow: Dario Winterton
Program: Master’s in Medical Education

Assessing Impact of Regional Block Training

Fellow: Federico Puerta Martinez
Program: Master’s in Medical Education

Simulation for Emergency Medicine

Program: Simulation Fellowship with CMS

Research Projects in Development / Initial Phase

Motion Metrics for Measuring Automaticity of Ultrasound-Guided Needle Tracking Procedures

(T32 Project)

PI: Jacqueline Hannan

Evaluation of Leadership and Emergency Event Management Skills

PIs: Jacqueline Hannan and Lon Setnik (CMS collaboration)

Using Artificial Intelligence to Provide Structured Simulation Feedback

PI: Nadav Levy

Mentorship and Intraoperative Teaching Skills Evaluation

CERTAIN Team Project

Clinics in Medical Education Journal and Website Resources

CERTAIN Team Project

Using Virtual Reality to Maintain Mastery of Skills

CERTAIN Team Project

MEETING OUR TEAM

Jacqueline Hannan, PhD

Staff Scientist

Peva Gbagornah, MD

Project Manager

Shirin Saeed, MD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Huma Hussain, MD

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Chau Tran, MS

Clinical Research Coordinator

Education Lab

Milestones & Memories