South Middlesex Times

As a fourth-year medical student, Colleen Donovan encountered a significant moment during a course that involved working with a team to save a patient in cardiac arrest. Reflecting on the experience, she said, “I remember being terrified, realizing that someday, maybe soon, I would encounter a critically ill patient, and the only thing standing between that patient and death would be my skills.” Donovan is now the director of the simulation program at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) and serves in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.

During her residency at the University of Pennsylvania, Donovan recognized the need to bridge theoretical knowledge with practical care. She became an advanced cardiovascular life support instructor at Penn Medicine Clinical Simulation Center. “I thought that if I had to create repeatable lessons for my students, the act of teaching would reinforce the fluency I was striving for,” she explained.

Currently an associate professor at RWJMS and an emergency medicine physician, Donovan is known as a leader in medical simulation. Her accolades include receiving New Jersey's Outstanding EMS Physician award and earning the Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator-Advanced credential.

Donovan emphasized hands-on training using lifelike manikins as crucial for building confidence among students. “Our goal is to have medical students who are ready to care for patients,” she stated. The high-stress environment of hospital work makes simulation an essential tool for preparing students without risking harm.

Simulation-based learning is mandatory for all RWJMS medical students and occurs in a renovated space within the Medical Education Building. Students train with four manikins named Robert, Roberta, Bobby, and Baby. They also access additional resources through partnerships with other Rutgers schools.

The technology allows integration across various disciplines. "Almost any cue from a real patient can be programmed into a manikin," said Donovan. Since 2014 as director of RWJMS's simulation program, she has developed over 100 cases ranging from routine practices to emergencies.

Training exercises conclude with debriefings where performance is reviewed and feedback provided. "Collaboration and clear communication are foundational," noted Donovan regarding teamwork in healthcare settings.

Les Barta collaborates with Donovan on expanding simulation learning at Rutgers Health by designing immersive environments for future healthcare professionals. "Colleen has been instrumental in helping reimagine interdisciplinary health care training," Barta remarked.

Looking forward, Barta and Donovan are planning the relocation of RWJMS’s Simulation Program to Helix by June 2026—a facility featuring advanced rooms designed for enhanced training experiences. As they prepare for this transition, Donovan remains focused on equipping students with necessary skills under pressure: “What it really comes down to is giving students confidence...to step up...no matter what comes in.”