Transformative clinical simulation: History, consolidation, and impact in the first year of the CeSiCS

Background:
The Health Sciences Simulation Center (CeSiCS) of the University Center for Health Sciences (CUCS), University of Guadalajara, was established with the goal of enhancing experiential learning across health-related degree programs. This initiative emerged as a response to the growing demand for integrative, interdisciplinary, and safe spaces where students could develop clinical reasoning, procedural skills, and teamwork through simulation-based education. Its creation reflects a strategic institutional effort to align with global trends in medical education, emphasizing active methodologies and technological innovation.

Methods:
The Center was developed under a multi-phase model involving curricular integration, infrastructure planning, interdepartmental collaboration, and faculty training. It was equipped with a wide array of specialized areas: one Virtual Reality Room, four outpatient clinics, two emergency bays, two operating rooms, two hospitalization wards, and ten simulation rooms. Additionally, it houses a Biomedical Engineering Unit for simulator development and maintenance, and a Digital Health Unit focused on emerging technologies. The Center provides simulation-based training to students from seven academic programs: Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, Physical Culture and Sports, Nutrition, Forensic Sciences, and soon Psychology.

Results:
During its first year of operation, the CeSiCS delivered 1,803 simulation sessions, spanning 73 different types of practices across 23 curricular units, serving an estimated 6,011 students. These simulations supported learning outcomes from foundational to advanced clinical skills. Furthermore, the Center became a hub for academic collaboration, hosting national and state-level simulation events and strengthening ties with professional medical education associations. Its cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary approach have positioned CeSiCS as a national benchmark for health simulation in Mexico.

Conclusions:
The first year of the CeSiCS demonstrates the transformative power of simulation in health sciences education. Its integration into undergraduate curricula has enriched student learning experiences, promoted interprofessional collaboration, and set the stage for future innovation in digital health and simulation technologies. The Center not only fulfills a pedagogical need but also acts as a strategic platform for educational advancement and institutional prestige. Continued growth and research will be key to sustaining its impact in the coming years.

Dr. Guillermo Yanowsky Reyes is Chief of Pediatric Surgery at the Old Civil Hospital of Guadalajara “Fray Antonio Alcalde” and Associate Professor at the University of Guadalajara (CUCS). He holds specialties in Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, and Thoracoabdominal Trauma Surgery, along with two doctorates in Clinical Research and Educational Competencies. He has authored 15 books and over 40 scientific articles. Dr. Yanowsky is Secretary of RENASIM and member of multiple national and international academic and medical societies. He plays a leading role in postgraduate medical education and innovation in clinical simulation in Mexico.