About SAIL
Information about SAIL, including history of the institute and details about accreditation and facilities
SAIL's mission is to help educators in the health professions improve clinical performance and patient safety by using clinical simulations for instruction, assessment, quality improvement and research.
Overview Heading link
History
Founded in 1987, the UIC Simulation and Integrative Learning Institute (SAIL) was one of the first standardized patient centers in the world.
In 2007, a generous gift from Dr. Allan and Mary Graham enabled us to expand SAIL into an integrated simulation center that utilizes a wide variety of simulation modalities including standardized patients, procedural skills task trainers, high-fidelity mannequins, clinical findings simulators, virtual and enhanced reality simulators, and screen-based simulation.
About the Grahams
Dr. Allan L. Graham received a degree in Veterinary Medicine from the University of Illinois in 1954 and an MD from the College of Medicine in 1960. His wife, Mary, received her BS in 1957. Dr. Graham was a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon and practiced in Texas from 1968 until his retirement in 1994. The Grahams’ gift to support the Clinical Performance Center is a reflection of their values. Dr. Graham explains, “We are from the old school, the kind of people who believe in hard work and in giving something back. I owe something to medicine.” In recognition of their generosity, we were proud to dedicate the Dr. Allan L. and Mary L. Graham Clinical Performance Center on January 22, 2009. At our new location, SAIL continues to celebrate the Graham’s name and support of simulation with a special suite of standardized patient rooms dedicated to them on our fourth floor.
Accreditation
As a member of the UIC Health Sciences Simulation Consortium, SAIL was awarded accreditation as a Level I Comprehensive Educational Institute by the American College of Surgeons (ACS).The UIC-HSSC joins a select group of ACS accredited simulation centers worldwide, facilitating opportunities for research and collaboration in the development of innovative simulation-based educational programs.
Facilities
SAIL facilities include twenty-two “clinic” rooms for standardized patient encounters, six mannequin simulation suites, one simulated OR, large procedural skills labs, and many classrooms, all equipped with AV recording and playback capability; as well as office and administrative spaces.
Key Features Heading link
- Over 2,000 unique learners come to SAIL each year for over 30,000 learner-hours of educational activities.
- SAIL is an innovator in simulation development and research.
- SAIL provides training in the use of simulation to local, national and international audiences.
- SAIL staff members serve as workshop instructors, plenary speakers and special project faculty for health professions students and residents at UIC.
- SAIL is a unit of the UIC Department of Medical Education, internationally recognized for expertise in Health Professions Education.
- SAIL is a member of the UIC Health Sciences Simulation Consortium and collaborates with the UIC Advanced Robotic Surgery Research and Training Laboratory and the Perinatal Simulation Laboratory.