BEAVERCREEK, Ohio — At Kettering Health Network’s Soin Medical Center in Beavercreek, a new training program is set to become the first in the world to offer critical care training for airmen by using state-of-the-art simulators. 

 

What You Need To Know

  • Kettering Medical Center is opening a critical care training facility at Soin Medical Center

  • The facility will teach United States Air Force personnel how to save lives on the front lines

  • The facility will have two high-fidelity simulation labs and two classrooms

  • It is expected to being enrolling students this fall


“This will be a high-fidelity simulation lab and training program to where truly it will prepare individuals on the front lines to have state-of-the-art care,” Soin Medical Center President Rick Dodds said. “It’ll be able to utilize technology in a way that’s really never been utilized before, at least amongst our organization.” 
 
The new partnership between Kettering and the Air Force will train up to 100 students each year — where students will be working directly in intensive care units, emergency departments and step-down units.
 
The new facility will be made up of two advanced simulation labs, two classrooms and office space for Air Force medical personnel who will be teaching the courses. Kettering’s physicians and nurses will also be sharing best practices to save lives.   
 
Medical Director Dan Pearson is an Air Force Veteran himself and said this new technology will be a big leap into the future of medical training. 
 
“It’s very exciting to have these high-fidelity simulations,” Pearson said. “They’re gonna be in rooms that are exactly like an ICU room. They will allow these students to train in a low-risk environment but in a very realistic scenario.” 
 
Dodds said this is the most important endeavor for Kettering Health Network’s community partnership, which in turn strengthens Dayton’s bond with the USAF.
 
“As we look at faithfully serving the men and women and serving our country for the individuals who have served our country,” Dodds said. “This is one of the most important things we can do to make sure that we are establishing a prominence for the Dayton-region to continue to further how the Dayton-region is viewed to our partners as well.” 
 
The total cost for the project is $665,000 and the 10-week program is expected to start in Fall 2021.