BUSM Receives Federal Grant to Obtain High-Tech Teaching Tool

BUSM Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs John Wiecha, MD, MPH, from the Department of Family Medicine, has received a $247,654.00 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to acquire the Laerdale ™ simulation mannequin. The mannequin, which is programmed to simulate a patient experiencing an emergency medical situation, will be used by professors in the classroom to help prepare students for working with actual patients.

The mannequin, called the SimMan® 3G, is programmed to mimic patient scenarios, such as a heart attack or stroke, giving students a hands-on educational experience about how to react and treat a patient in duress. The mannequin will help teach student about physical exam skills, and how to manage and treat patients with common medical issues, such as asthma and congestive heart failure, among others.

The grant will also allow for the purchase of a torso teaching tool that produces true-to-life actions, such as a person breathing or a heart beating, which will help students learn about the sounds made by the heart and lungs.

This grant is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.