As part of Simulation Week 2025 and the celebration of Simulation Champions, Dr. Sarah Sanad, Assistant Professor at the College of Nursing, participated as a panelist at the SIMTalks session, “Beyond the Bedside: The Promise and Limits of VR, AR, and AI in Simulation.” The event brought together simulation experts from the region and internationally, alongside educators, healthcare professionals, and students, to explore the evolving role of technology in clinical education.

Dr. Sanad emphasized the importance of balancing technological innovation with human-centered care, noting that empathy, intuition, and professional judgment remain essential in training future clinicians. She highlighted the need for equitable access, demonstrating that meaningful learning can be achieved through low-fidelity models, creative approaches, and collaborative partnerships, even in the absence of high-cost VR/AR/AI equipment.

Looking ahead to 2035, Dr. Sanad predicted that students will increasingly engage with AI-driven virtual environments, but she stressed that these tools must complement, not replace, real-world bedside experiences. She offered actionable recommendations for educators, including aligning technology with learning outcomes, empowering faculty to adapt tools, promoting creativity and equity, and keeping patient safety, resilience, and humanity at the core of simulation-based education.

The session highlighted both the promise and limitations of immersive technologies, reaffirming the value of blended learning models that combine virtual simulation with bedside practice to prepare competent, empathetic, and resilient healthcare professionals.