On March 5, the College of Health Professions & Medical Sciences hosted SIMEX, its first interdisciplinary disaster response simulation designed to give students hands-on experience in managing large-scale medical emergencies.

The immersive training placed students and faculty in a coordinated healthcare response to a Level 2 Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) which featured a catastrophic bus crash involving international athletes that resulted in 19 patients with varying degrees of traumatic injury. Using mannequins, simulated clinical environments, and trained actors, participants practiced rapid assessment, treatment, and teamwork under pressure.

The exercise began with emergency responders at the crash site performing START triage assessments to prioritize patient care. Patients were then transported to a temporary MASH-style field hospital, where teams carried out treatment and coordinated care in a fast-paced clinical setting.

Students and faculty from multiple disciplines including EMS, nursing, physician assistant studies, mental health, occupational therapy, sports medicine, laboratory sciences, podiatry, and spiritual care all worked together throughout the simulation.

Beyond clinical procedures, SIMEX challenged participants to strengthen essential skills such as communication, ethical decision-making, and empathy for patients experiencing trauma.

As the College’s first event of its kind, SIMEX offered a powerful opportunity for students to experience the realities of disaster response while learning the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration when every second counts.

Watch a recap of SIMEX 2026 here.