معرفی
Debra Nestel is a distinguished academic in healthcare simulation and medical education, holding dual professorial positions at Monash University and the University of Melbourne in Australia. At Monash University, she serves as Professor of Simulation Education in Healthcare within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, while at the University of Melbourne, she holds the position of Professor of Surgical Education in the Department of Surgery. Dr. Nestel leads several significant educational initiatives including the Graduate Programs in Clinical Simulation at Monash University and the Graduate Programs in Surgical Education at the University of Melbourne. She also directs the national NHET-Sim faculty development program for simulation practitioners and an international simulated patient network.
Dr. Nestel's educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University (1977-1979) and a PhD from the University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine (1992-1998). She has received numerous professional recognitions including Fellow of the Academy of Medical Educators (UK, 2012), Fellow of the Academy of Surgical Educators (Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 2013), and Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator - Advanced (Society for Simulation in Healthcare, USA, 2013-2017).
Her research focuses on three interconnected areas: simulation as an educational method, educational research in medicine and surgery, and faculty development. With over 250 peer-reviewed publications in health professions education that have garnered more than 13,000 citations and an h-index of 58, Dr. Nestel has established herself as a leading scholar in her field. Her recent work shows a strong emphasis on older adult simulated participants, scenario design methodology, and psychological safety in simulation-based learning environments.
Dr. Nestel has received prestigious recognition for her contributions, including:
- Member of the Order of Australia (2021) for service to healthcare simulation
- Hamilton Russell Medal and Lecture from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (2017)
- Inaugural Fellow of the Academy, Society for Simulation in Healthcare (2017)
- Monash University-OLT Teacher Innovation and Impact Award (2016) for STOP-FALLS – Simulation Training On Prevention of FALLS
As an educator and mentor, Dr. Nestel has significantly influenced healthcare simulation education through her leadership of national and international programs. She serves as Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Healthcare Simulation and was the founding Editor-in-Chief of Advances in Simulation. Her NHET-Sim program has trained numerous simulation practitioners across Australia, while her international simulated patient network connects educators globally.
Dr. Nestel leads the Center of Excellence in Healthcare Simulation Research, which focuses on advancing simulation methodology, particularly regarding simulated participant work. Her recent projects emphasize creating quality improvement frameworks for simulated patient programs and developing best practices for working with older adult simulated participants.
