Debra Giugliano, RN, PhD, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the Stony Brook University School of Nursing, has been chosen by the State University of New York (SUNY) to join the inaugural class of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship. This initiative for the 2024-25 academic year aims to enhance simulation-based education across all SUNY nursing programs.
The announcement was made by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. The Fellowship is part of a broader effort to prepare more nurses for New York State’s healthcare workforce, aligning with objectives set by Governor Kathy Hochul and SUNY. It follows recommendations from the SUNY Future of Health Care Workforce Task Force, which focuses on addressing the state's healthcare workforce shortage and increasing it by 20 percent. Nursing simulation is one of four priority areas identified by this Task Force.
The 11 Fellows selected will engage in a six-month continuing education and simulation training program. They will participate in monthly virtual meetings and attend in-person retreats led by SUNY. Additionally, they will attend the International Meeting on Simulation Healthcare scheduled from January 10-14 in Orlando, Florida.
Since May 2023, SUNY nursing students have been able to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through simulation education.
Pat Bruckenthal, RN, PhD, Dean of the Stony Brook University School of Nursing stated: “We are excited for the School of Nursing and for Dr. Giugliano with her selection for this inaugural Nursing Simulation Fellowship.” She added that this opportunity would allow Dr. Giugliano to innovate student learning experiences and impact future nurse leaders' preparation.
Giugliano is an experienced clinician and educator specializing as a pediatric nurse practitioner and pediatric oncology nurse. Her expertise includes caring for children with cancer and blood disorders both inpatient and outpatient settings. She has received numerous awards in nursing clinical care and training and founded the internationally recognized School Intervention and Reentry Program at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
Expressing her enthusiasm about her selection, Giugliano said: “I am honored to have been chosen for this Fellowship and look forward to gaining the necessary expertise to elevate nursing simulation and create a nursing simulation network within SUNY.”
Alongside other fellows, she will help shape simulation-based learning's future across the SUNY system through their contributions to developing a central repository of nursing simulation resources known as the SUNY Simulation Shared Resource Library.