From the Desert to the Coast: A Doctor's Training Journey in the Sim Lab

Dr. Monica Campa, a third-year emergency medicine resident at CHRISTUS Health in Corpus Christi, is no stranger to high-pressure situations.

Originally from Nevada, she was drawn to this residency program for its unique training opportunities, particularly its emphasis on the CHRISTUS Health Simulation Institute. This facility allows Dr. Campa and her colleagues to prepare for the complex, often life-threatening, scenarios they'll encounter as emergency physicians.

The sim lab allows us to practice high-risk but low-frequency procedures, Dr. Campa said. Things like surgical airways, chest tubes, and full-blown trauma resuscitation.

The lab provides high-tech mannequins for simulating patient cases and even 3D-printed models for honing specific techniques like cricothyroidotomies – a rarely performed, lifesaving airway procedure.

While mastering technical skills is crucial, Dr. Campa emphasizes another essential aspect: We also focus on teamwork, leadership, and communication. In an emergency, every second counts, and the sim lab helps us train for that high-stakes environment.

Dr. Shani Italiya, an emergency room physician at CHRISTUS Spohn and Medical Director of the simulation center, shares a similar vision.

He sees the sim lab as a central training hub for all health care professionals in the region, fostering collaboration and preparing everyone to handle real-world crises.

There's only so much you can learn from a textbook,” Dr. Italiya said. “The sim lab allows us to simulate high-pressure scenarios, even ones that are rare or dangerous, so doctors are ready for anything.

Sim Wars: Where Competition Meets Learning

The residency program hosts annual "Sim Wars" competitions to make training engaging.

The participants split into teams and compete while practicing their skills. This year's event was particularly memorable, with a sim lab escape room.

It's competitive, but it's also a lot of fun and a great way to bond with colleagues while learning, Dr. Campa said.

However, the sim lab's benefits reach far beyond training residents.

Emergency room doctors regularly work alongside SWAT teams, Halo flight crews, and the nursing staff.

This level of collaboration fosters strong ties across various medical disciplines and ultimately translates into better, more coordinated patient care, Dr. Italiya said.

The Power of Practice for Patient Safety

Dr. Campa's passion for emergency medicine shines through. After graduating, she'll return to Reno, Nevada, to put her skills into practice. Her training at CHRISTUS Health, especially the intensive sim lab experiences, has helped shape her into a skilled and confident emergency physician.

Practice is everything, Dr. Campa said. While patients might never see the hours we spend in the sim lab, that dedication translates directly into safer, higher-quality care when it matters most.

The more they can train for complex, high-stakes situations in the sim lab, the better equipped they are to handle those real-life emergencies.

For Dr. Italiya, he hopes to get more involved in the community. He wants the sim lab to be used by all medical professionals in the region.

Each time that we create a partnership, we get another interested party who can also help bring in some new equipment and new ideas to keep expanding this simulation center.