Tara explains why innovation in surgical care is about much more than introducing a new device or technology. It is about understanding what that innovation makes possible across the entire continuum of care, from referral and diagnostics through the operating room, inpatient recovery, and into community and home care.

Her work focuses on helping teams align around uncertainty, clarify shared goals, and move from ideas to actionable recommendations that are safe, feasible, and sustainable within a complex public health system.

Throughout the conversation, Tara unpacks some of the biggest barriers to implementing innovation, including funding structures, procurement realities, workflow disruption, and the challenge of introducing change in a system designed to manage risk.

She also makes a compelling case for simulation as a core tool in innovation, not just for training, but for testing, validating, and scaling new approaches across both urban and rural settings.

Key themes in this episode include:

• why innovation must be understood at a systems and pathway level
• the importance of early engagement with the health system
• how shared language and shared vision drive successful collaboration
• why simulation should be embedded across the entire innovation lifecycle
• what sustainable surgical innovation looks like over the next decade
• how Health Everywhere Hub and A-MEDICO are shaping Alberta’s innovation ecosystem

This episode offers a practical and insightful look at how innovation actually happens inside complex health systems, and what it takes to move from concept to real-world impact.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

Dr. Brindle shares how her clinical work and research have led her to focus on one of the most complex spaces in health care: the operating room. Surgical care is high risk, resource intensive, and deeply dependent on the interaction between people, processes, and technology. That makes it one of the most important places to study how innovation can improve outcomes.

The conversation explores the origins of the Health Everywhere Hub, a province-wide initiative designed to bring together clinicians, engineers, digital health experts, community partners, and researchers to solve major health challenges in Alberta. Dr. Brindle reflects on what it was like to move beyond traditional research approaches and work in a faster, more iterative innovation model shaped by collaboration with industry and innovation partners.

Lisa and Dr. Brindle also discuss the concept of the Living Lab in health care, and why testing innovation in real clinical and community settings matters so much. Rather than relying only on tightly controlled pilots, Living Labs allow teams to understand how technologies actually fit into workflows, how they are adopted by users, and where they need to change before they can succeed at scale.

Other key themes in the episode include:

• Why collaboration across professions and sectors is essential for meaningful innovation
• The biggest challenges currently facing OR teams in Canada
• Why access, equity, communication, and evidence-based care remain core priorities
• How bureaucracy slows innovation when frontline voices are not fully part of decision-making.
• The opportunity Alberta has to lead in surgical innovation by creating adaptable, innovation-ready environments

This episode is a thoughtful look at what it takes to move from good ideas to real-world impact in surgical care, and why the future of innovation depends on clinicians, researchers, industry, and patients working together.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit here

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

From nurse anesthetist to simulation educator, Dr. Benfatah shares how simulation reveals the invisible forces in health care, team dynamics, decision-making and communication as well as why it's critical for improving patient safety. He outlines his three core reasons simulation works: turning knowledge into action, engaging emotional memory, and creating reflective learning.

The conversation explores:

• The unique challenges of scaling simulation training across Africa and the Francophone world
• How AI is being used to personalize training, generate realistic scenarios, and support clinical reasoning
• Why he sees AI not as a replacement, but as an assistant to human judgment
• His approach to modular, accessible, and locally tailored simulation models
• What excites him most about the future of AI, simulation, and extended reality in healthcare education

Whether you’re a simulation specialist or new to AI, Dr. Benfatah’s global perspective offers fresh insight into how technology and heart can work hand-in-hand to make simulation more equitable and impactful around the world.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

Funded by the Alberta Ministry of Technology and Innovation, A-MEDICO is a major collaborative initiative led by the University of Calgary, with support from the University of Alberta, Red Deer Polytechnic, the University of Lethbridge, and NAIT’s Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation (CAMS). The goal: unite the province’s post-secondaries, industry partners, and underserved communities to accelerate Alberta’s medical technology ecosystem.

Lisa speaks with five key voices from across the innovation pipeline — from early-stage student researchers to experienced entrepreneurs and innovation leaders:

Ben Millen - VP of Design, Tangent Design Engineering
Ben shares how Tangent helps early scientific ideas move from napkin sketch to real-world medical devices. He explores the challenges of scale-up, regulatory compliance, and building products that are not only functional but manufacturable, safe, and clinically useful.

Stephanie Dang - Graduate Student, Biomedical Engineering, University of Calgary
Stephanie reflects on her transition from biochemistry to biomedical engineering and how automation, collaboration, and mentorship are shaping her journey as a medtech innovator.

Dr. Lindsey Westover - Associate Professor & Associate Dean, Faculty of Engineering, UCalgary
Dr. Westover discusses her work developing BackScanner, a low-cost mobile app that uses 3D imaging to monitor scoliosis without X-rays. She highlights the power of open access tools, clinician partnerships, and user-centered design.

Dr. John Wong - CEO & Co-Founder, Fluid Biomed Inc.
Dr. Wong shares the extraordinary journey of creating the world’s first bioabsorbable stent for treating brain aneurysms. From surgical insight to startup CEO, he opens up about navigating commercialization, investor alignment, and scaling a life-saving innovation.

Dr. Michael Kallos - Professor and Department Head, Biomedical Engineering, UCalgary
As the architect of A-MEDICO, Dr. Kallos explains how the program creates one big lab across Alberta — connecting students, researchers, polytechnics, and industry under a unified vision for medtech innovation.

From translating research into reality to empowering Alberta’s next generation of innovators, this episode is a powerful look at how simulation, collaboration, and bold ideas are reshaping what’s possible in health care.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

He reflects on the importance of giving leaders space to think, the value of simulation in health care, and what Alberta needs to become a global leader in health innovation. With clarity and conviction, Tyler unpacks the gaps between frontline teams and innovators, the importance of human-centered leadership, and the need to redesign systems that embrace bold ideas and collaborative execution.

Whether you’re an aspiring leader, systems thinker, or changemaker in health care, this conversation offers insights, practical wisdom, and inspiration for what’s possible when we think beyond the box.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

Andrew shares the personal story that inspired Bluebell Village, beginning with his grandmother’s Alzheimer’s journey. He explains how his vision for a dementia village evolved into Connect, a digital platform that brings caregivers, families, and service providers together to offer coordinated and culturally appropriate care.

Their conversation explores the realities of caregiving, the innovation gaps in dementia support, and the urgent need to design systems that respect personal independence and cultural context. Andrew’s work reflects the growing movement toward care models that prioritize relationships, empathy, and inclusion.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

She reveals how her team brought groundbreaking projects to life—like a wound-healing gel that sped up recovery by 56%—and explains the fine balance between agility and evidence in large systems. Patty also shares her approach to cultivating “intrapreneurs” inside health organizations and how to foster frontline-led innovation.

From AI’s future in clinical workflows to the power of virtual care in remote communities, this episode explores the key ingredients behind meaningful health transformation—and what health innovators, clinicians, and system leaders can learn from it.

Key Topics:

• How to build a sustainable innovation framework inside large health systems
• The Innovation Pipeline process for rapid adoption
• Lessons from real-world projects with strong patient outcomes
• The role of “intrapreneurship” in driving workforce-led solutions
• Advice for early-stage health innovators
• The growing opportunities in AI, automation, and virtual care

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

From developing protected IPE time and simulation-based assessments to championing inclusive education through patient partnerships and narrative research, Dr. Lackie offers valuable insights into what it takes to prepare learners—and educators—for meaningful, team-based care.
Whether you’re an educator, clinician, policymaker, or student, this conversation will deepen your understanding of how simulation can transform education, safety, and culture in health care.

Learn more about Dalhousie’s School of Nursing: nursing.dal.ca

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

In this episode, host Lisa George welcomes Dr. Martin Ferguson-Pell, Professor in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Alberta. A trailblazer in simulation-based healthcare innovation, Dr. Ferguson-Pell shares how his team leverages XR (Extended Reality) and AI tools to revolutionize clinical training, expand access to education, and reduce barriers for patients and learners alike.

From founding the nonprofit Elixir Simulations to building virtual Objective Structured Clinical Exams (OSCEs), Dr. Ferguson-Pell walks us through how immersive technology, thoughtful design, and collaborative models are reshaping the way we train the next generation of healthcare professionals.

He also reflects on his former role as CEO of the Alberta Bone and Joint Health Institute, where he led efforts to integrate patient data into system-wide strategy for improving outcomes.

Whether you're in healthcare, education, innovation, or policy—this episode offers a powerful glimpse into what's possible when simulation meets systems thinking.

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

We explore:

• The biggest trends in simulation-based education, including AI, remote learning, and cloud-based tools
• How simulation is evolving to support real-world readiness, workforce retention, and patient safety
• The importance of realism, accessibility, and psychological safety in simulation design
• How to match simulation modalities with educational goals—because high tech isn’t always the best tech
• Best practices for debriefing, emotional safety, and building trust in high-stakes training
• The role of simulation in addressing the “know-do” gap in clinical learning
• What to expect from the Advancing Healthcare Through Simulation Provincial Summit on May 7

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

We explore:

• Why global investors and startups are looking to Alberta—and specifically Edmonton—as a rising health and life sciences hub
• How simulation tools like CAMS at NAIT help companies validate medical devices before going to market
• The role of risk mitigation, workforce development, and R&D cost savings in choosing a region for innovation
• The collaborative advantage of Edmonton’s ecosystem—where post-secondaries, industry, and government work in harmony
• How simulation is reshaping regulatory readiness, product validation, and clinical training
• What attendees can expect from the upcoming Provincial Simulation Summit on May 7

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

We discuss:

• The current landscape of simulation-based education across Canada
• Why simulation has become essential in training and retraining healthcare professionals
• The key principles of effective simulation education
• Common challenges institutions face when implementing simulation-based training
• The role of AI, virtual reality, and extended reality in the future of healthcare simulation
• How Simulation Canada is driving best practices, training, and research in the field
• What to expect at the Advancing Healthcare Through Simulation Provincial Summit on May 7

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

We discuss:

• How simulation accelerates medical device innovation and improves patient safety
• The importance of human factors engineering in healthcare technology development
• Real-world examples of how simulation-based testing improves medical device usability
• How AI and extended reality (XR) are transforming healthcare simulation
• The role of collaboration between academia, industry, and healthcare institutions
• Insights into the upcoming Advancing Healthcare Through Simulation Provincial Summit on May 7

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

We explore:

• The evolution of interprofessional education (IPE) and its role in improving patient safety
• How simulation fosters teamwork and communication across healthcare disciplines
• The impact of mannequin-based simulation and virtual reality on skill development
• How AI and digital health tools are shaping the future of healthcare training
• Key strategies for scaling interprofessional simulation programs

Dr. Gilbert shares his insights from decades of experience in workforce development, healthcare education, and policy implementation—offering a global perspective on how interprofessional collaboration can reduce medical errors and enhance patient outcomes.

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

We discuss:

• How VR is used to replace clinical hours in nursing education
• The benefits of VR for developing critical thinking and decision-making skills
• How Bow Valley College integrates VR into its healthcare programs
• The role of VR in training students for high-pressure scenarios
• Future trends in VR and simulation for workforce development

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

John shares insights into the strategic restructuring of CAMS, outlining the five core areas now driving their mission: operations, simulation-based education, interprofessional education, applied research, and health innovation services.

Key highlights include:

• How CAMS is helping address health care workforce shortages through standardized and immersive training.
• Why applied research and industry collaboration are critical to CAMS' national leadership in simulation.
• What the May 7th Simulation Summit is all about—and why it's a must-attend event for anyone in health, education, or med-tech innovation.
• Real examples of simulation in action, including immersive environments, interprofessional scenarios, and support for health innovators looking to test and validate new technologies.
• Whether you’re a policymaker, post-secondary leader, health care provider, or innovator, this episode offers a compelling look into the power of simulation to drive better outcomes—for learners, professionals, and the health system as a whole.

Learn more at “Advancing Healthcare through Simulation: A Provincial Summit” hosted by CAMS at NAIT on May 7

About:
NAIT Centre for Advanced Medical Simulation – Visit

This series was produced by Road 55 in Edmonton, Alberta – Learn more at: road55.ca

Through conversations with experts, industry leaders, and educators, we’ll explore how simulation is transforming patient care, medical training, and healthcare innovation. Each episode is designed to enhance awareness and understanding of CAMS while positioning it as a leader in this rapidly evolving field.

Join us as we share strategic insights, compelling stories, and forward-thinking perspectives on the power of simulation in advancing healthcare.