Introduction
Medical simulation is an effective method to teach high-risk procedural skills, identify latent safety threats in healthcare, improve patient safety, and develop teamwork and communication skills.[1][2][3][4] As the field of medical simulation continues to grow rapidly, fellowship training in medical simulation also continues expanding to meet the growing demand.[5] In only ten years, over 45 new simulation fellowships have started worldwide.[5] With increased utilization of medical simulation in training, there is an associated increase in demand for well-trained, effective simulation educators.[6][7][8] Simulation fellowships exist to provide this training and generate graduates who are successful in administrative skills required to operate a simulation center, effectively facilitate and debrief learners, design curricula to achieve educational objectives, and publish simulation-based research to further the specialty.[5][9]
The rapid expansion of simulation fellowships has led to a lack of standardization in the fellowship curriculum.[5] While this allows for tailored training toward trainee interest, it also creates wide variability in the curriculum and potentially limits the transferability of fellowship training.[4] Medical simulation fellowships have not obtained accreditation from the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC).[4][9] Surgical simulation fellowships do have accreditation from the American College of Surgery.[10] The content and structure of medical simulation fellowships vary, as evidenced by previous studies surveying fellowship program directors and graduates.[4][5][9][11]