Healthcare Education Initiatives
Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center

The Southwest Virginia Regional Simulation Lab for Nursing and Allied Health
Explore our state-of-the-art clinical training environment designed to advance hands-on
healthcare education across Southwest Virginia.

Healthcare Workforce Partnership
The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is taking a vital step in supporting the workforce needs of the health and life sciences sectors in Southwest Virginia, and we want YOU to be a part of it!

News & Events
Explore dynamic events at the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center that inspire and promote healthcare education through expert insights and community engagement.
The Southwest Virginia Regional Simulation Lab for Nursing and Allied Health
In 2024, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center secured $1.8 million in funding to establish the Southwest Virginia Regional Simulation Lab for Nursing and Allied Health. Today, the lab provides a state of the art, multidisciplinary training environment that simulates a wide range of real clinical settings.
Students train using high and low fidelity manikins representing adult, pediatric, and infant patients, allowing them to practice realistic medical scenarios in a safe, controlled environment.
Realistic Training Environments
The lab includes multiple simulated healthcare settings, including:
• Hospital patient rooms
• A simulated ambulance
• A pharmacy IV hood
• A simulated apartment for home healthcare training
Advanced Simulation Technology
To enhance learning, the lab also features:
• Virtual and augmented reality tools
• Integrated audiovisual systems for recording simulations
• Structured debriefing capabilities for reviewing performance
Designed for interdisciplinary education, the lab supports collaboration among students across healthcare fields while preparing them for real world clinical environments.
The Simulation Lab includes five distinct spaces, each designed to support specific types of training. Explore them below.
Meet Our Manikins
Our simulation lab features a range of high, medium, and low-fidelity manikins designed to help students and healthcare professionals build clinical skills in a safe, hands-on learning environment.
Interested in Booking the Space?
****@******er.edu“>Contact Karen Brown, Director of Healthcare Initiatives, for more information about booking.
Partnerships for a Stronger Healthcare Talent Pipeline
A single organization cannot create a talent pipeline of trained workers to meet industry needs. The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is proud to lead a collaboration amongst GO Virginia Region 1 employers, educators, nonprofits/philanthropy, and government leaders to collectively enhance the health science talent pipeline.
Who’s in GO Virginia Region 1?
This collaboration will focus on communities in the LENOWISCO, Cumberland Plateau, and Mount Rogers Health Districts.
Types of Partners:
- The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center
- Educators
- Employers
- Government
- Community, Nonprofits & Philanthropy
What Can We Achieve Together?
- Shape education and training programs to meet industry needs
- Increase outreach and exposure to students and job seekers
- Improve utilization of resources and build education and training capacity
- Communicate policy & regulatory challenges and shape solutions
Interested in Taking Part?
Contact Karen Brown, Director of Healthcare Education Initiatives, at kb****@******er.edu or join our email list below.
Join our Healthcare Career and Workforce Partnership!
Director of Healthcare Initiatives
Meet Karen Brown
(276) 619-4302
kb****@******er.edu
Karen Brown is a seasoned leader in health education, program development, and community engagement with over a decade of experience in health workforce education. Most recently, she served as a Center Director at George Mason University’s Northern Virginia Area Health Education Center (AHEC) under George Mason’s Center of Health Workforce.
Previously, as Executive Director at Texas AHEC East – Waco Region, Karen played a key role in launching the AHEC Scholar Program, managing financial and grant operations, and developing healthcare workforce initiatives. Her career also includes roles in program coordination, youth empowerment, and professional training, with expertise in compliance, stakeholder engagement, and workforce development.
Karen holds a Master’s in Health Education and Promotion and multiple certifications in community health, leadership, and training.
News
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