High Tech Sim Lab Debuts in New York College of Podiatric Medicine
Laboratory Will Have Two State-of-the-Art Simulation Models Complete with Gunshot Wound and Diabetic Foot Ulcer
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Student-doctors at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine of Touro University now have access to two state-of-the-art patient simulation models, made possible through a grant from the school’s foundation. The new additions are part of the school’s recently launched Simulation Lab designed to give students hands-on clinical experience in a controlled, low-risk environment before they begin working with live patients.
The two simulators include an adult male with a gunshot wound to the leg and a geriatric female patient (dubbed “Nurse Ann”) suffering from a diabetic foot ulcer. Both models are fully equipped for immersive training, allowing students to conduct physical assessments, monitor vital signs, and practice critical procedures such as tracheotomies. The simulators can replicate heartbeats, pulses, respiratory patterns, and pain responses, giving students the opportunity to engage with lifelike clinical scenarios that mirror real-world patient care.
Much of the work behind bringing the Simulation Lab to fruition was led by Lorraine Chun, MLIS, Wellness Coordinator and Medical Librarian at NYCPM, who spent several years securing funding for the project.
“We were fortunate enough to purchase two patient simulators that will be used for physical assessments and basic life support skills,” Chun said. “They really support the bedside teaching component of our curriculum.”
Beyond the simulators themselves, the lab includes a soundproof instructor booth that allows faculty to speak through the manikins in real time. Using a microphone and speaker system, instructors can project a patient’s voice through the simulator, responding to student questions, expressing discomfort, or simulating distress. This feature allows students to practice patient interviews and communication skills alongside clinical assessment.
A student might begin an encounter by greeting a patient, Chun explained, and the instructor—speaking through the simulator, can respond naturally. “There’s a certain realism that you don’t get when students are just practicing on each other,” she said. “The simulator can express pain, confusion, or fear, and students have to respond appropriately.”
The physical realism of the models is central to the experience. Each manikin weighs more than 100 pounds and is constructed with silicone-based skin that mimics human texture. The adult trauma model includes a detachable leg with a visible gunshot wound, while the geriatric simulator features interchangeable feet, allowing instructors to switch between a healthy foot and one affected by a diabetic ulcer. The geriatric model also shows age-related physical details, including wrinkled skin and visual changes. Students can even practice functional tracheotomies on the models.
“These simulators are quite real,” Chun said. “You can listen to heart sounds, change the heart rate, make the patient sweat, simulate pain, and adjust vital signs based on different conditions.”
The lab is designed to support a wide range of learners across the program. First- and second-year students use the simulators to build foundational physical assessment skills, while third-year students work through more complex diagnostic and treatment scenarios before entering clinical rotations. The lab is also available for residents and faculty to refresh core life-saving skills.
“It’s an important and critical teaching aid,” Chun said. “We teach physical assessment across the full spectrum—from healthy adults to patients with chronic conditions like cardiac issues and diabetes. Because we serve a large diabetic population, it’s especially important for students to gain confidence treating those conditions before they reach the clinic.”
Michael Trepal, DPM, VP for Academic Affairs and Dean stated that he is extremely excited that the college will be using this technology to advance its medical training at the undergraduate, graduate and continuing education levels.
For students, the lab provides a bridge between classroom learning and clinical practice.
“It really strengthens the physical assessment course,” said student Kerolos Farag. “It gives students the opportunity to apply what they learn in textbooks across all body systems in real time before working with actual patients.”
Senior and former student body president Anna Lam-Wilson, B.E., echoed that sentiment. “I am incredibly proud to witness our school's distinguished history evolving with this state-of-the-art facility,” she wrote. “This new Sim Lab is thrilling because it offers a low-risk environment for students to master critical skills—from diabetic wound care to trauma management—before they ever reach the clinic.”
The project required significant investment. Funding was approved in September, but shipping delays pushed delivery to January. The lab itself was renovated to accommodate the equipment, including the construction of the soundproof instructor booth.
Chun, who previously spent 25 years working in public health, including with the New York City Department of Health and Westchester County, said the project reflects her long-standing interest in education and prevention. Since transitioning into her role at NYCPM, she has worked across wellness programming, library services, and clinical education support.
“We just received the simulators less than a month ago, and there’s already a lot of excitement,” she said. “Faculty are eager to use them, and students are asking questions. What we’re doing now is only scratching the surface. The potential applications are extensive.”
