Debriefing Simulation Scenarios: Getting the Most from Your Simulations

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

7:30 AM - 8:30 AM PT

Location: West Exhibit Hall A, Learning Zone 7

Lead Instructor(s)

ED

Ellen S. Deutsch, MD, MS, FACS, FAAP, FSSH

Dr.
N/A
Media, Pennsylvania, United States

Faculty(s)

JK

James J. Kearney, MD

Professor of Clinical Otorhinolaryngology
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA, United States
SM

Sonya M. Malekzadeh, MD, FACS

Professor
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Washington, DC, United States
Christine E. Demason, MD

Associate Professor
UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Disclosure(s):

James J. Kearney, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Christine E. Demason, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Skilled debriefing enhances the benefits of a simulation, regardless of the specific topic of the simulation scenario. Whether patient care simulations are designed to improve the capabilities of individuals, teams or healthcare systems, or are used as research tools, debriefing enriches the information gained. This session will examine and practice several approaches to debriefing, based on the objectives of diverse types of simulations, and explore how to optimize the explicit and implicit lessons learned during debriefings. Discussion will be tailored to the audience’s interests.

Learning Objectives:

1. Provide a pre-simulation briefing that will support a successful post-simulation debriefing.
2. Facilitate a psychologically safe post-simulation debriefing.
3. Explain the principles underpinning successful debriefings.