Simulation - The Southern African Association of Health Educationalists

Chair: Dr Karien Henrico

(University of Johannesburg)

Committee:

Dr Marvin Jansen
(University of Cape Town)

Dr Riaan van de Venter
(Nelson Mandela University)

VISION AND MISSION

To allow Healthcare Professions Educators to collaborate and support one another; to share experiences and promote simulation innovation within Southern Africa.

Background

Simulation is the modelling of behaviour or action by a person. Healthcare simulations may be used in Education, Assessment, Research and Health System Integration.

Simulation encompasses role play, using standardised patients; procedural skills training, using task trainers; team training, e.g. advanced life support using manikins and computer simulations.

Objectives:

Provide quality assurance of simulation teaching, learning and assessment practices.
To promote research in simulation; in particular the role of teaching and assessment, by the development of a research agenda.
To promote the role of simulation in quality assurance, team building and improved patient safety within the health system, i.e. the clinical areas.
To share best practices.
To act as an advocacy body for the promotion of simulation in Health Professions Education.

Activities

Establish an electronic database of persons using simulation in HPE.

Develop Regional simulation Groups.

Host regional meetings.

Host an annual meeting at the SAAHE national conference.

SAAHE SIM SIG AGM and Public lecture 2025

Special Interest Group: Simulation – Public Lecture and AGM invite

Dear SAAHE Community,

It is with great excitement that we invite you to the AGM and Public Lecture of the Simulation Special Interest Group on 17 November 2025 at 17:00 (UCT+2).

We hope that you will be able to join us for our annual public lecture and AGM. The theme of the session is: Simulation for Equity, Cultural Safety, and Decolonised Health Education. This topic is a timely and SA relevant topic as it brings together critical transformation themes, race, language, gender, and social determinants into simulation.

The lecture will be followed by our 2025 AGM.

More information about our speaker:

Mr. Sanele Buthelezi is an optometrist who qualified at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2017 and completed an MPhil in Health Professions Education at Stellenbosch University in 2023. He is currently a lecturer in Optometry at the University of Johannesburg, where his teaching and research centre on cultural safety in eyecare, medical humanities, and curriculum development in health professions education. His current doctoral research focuses on developing a curriculum framework for culturally safe practices and approaches in optometry education in South Africa. He has presented his work nationally and internationally and is an active member of the South African Optometric Association and the European Academy of Optometry and Optics.