CNU-VSMMC opens medical simulation center

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu Normal University - Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC) Medical College inaugurated its state-of-the-art Medical Simulation Center on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, marking a significant advancement in medical education in the region.

Touted as the first simulation laboratory of its kind in Central Visayas, the facility is equipped with high-fidelity mannequins, virtual reality tools, and advanced medical equipment designed to replicate real-life medical emergencies. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience for medical students.

Dr. Joseph Brian Costiniano, Chairman of the Clinical Skills and Medical Simulation Lab at CNU-VSMMC, emphasized the importance of simulation-based learning in medical education.

“Kasi minsan sinasabi na doctors are just practicing on actual patients. So the best thing with the medical simulation lab is that we can simulate life and death scenarios and it's a safe and controlled environment for our students,” Costiniano said.

The simulation lab features various settings, including trauma care, the nursery, adult and pediatric wards, the emergency room, and the intensive care unit. Students will be trained in handling medical cases such as childbirth, gunshot wounds, and emergency resuscitations, using high-fidelity mannequins that mimic real patient responses, including vital sign changes and realistic bleeding.

The facility also incorporates debriefing sessions where students can review their performance and identify areas for improvement after each simulation.

Dr. Valerie Monique Franz V. Yap, Co-Chairman of the Clinical Skills and Medical Simulation Lab, highlighted how the facility is seamlessly integrated into the medical curriculum.

“We are trying to create a full hospital setup so they are already familiar with the process in what they do in case they encounter clinical conditions,” Yap explained.

Years in the making, the center’s development involved the procurement of specialized mannequins from abroad, resulting in a comprehensive range of simulators covering surgical, obstetric, pediatric, and adult patient cases.

The project was made possible through a budget allocation of P80 to P100 million, with funding support from Senator Pia Cayetano. According to Dr. Ma. Socorro Manaloto, Dean of CNU-VSMMC College of Medicine, the proposal for the facility was submitted during budget hearings and was subsequently approved as an insertion for the College of Medicine.

Cayetano, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony, underscored her commitment to integrating health and education advocacies.

“Now, it's a reality, and we're one step closer to better healthcare for all,” Cayetano said.

She urged CNU and VSMMC to work collaboratively to strengthen their Allied Health and Sciences programs.

Yesterday’s event was attended by key figures, including former Senator Vicente Sotto III, Commission on Higher Education-Central Visayas (CHED-7) Regional Director Dr. Maura Consolacion Cristobal, and Cebu Provincial Board Member Dr. Stanley Caminero, representing Governor Gwendolyn Garcia.

Representing CNU President Dr. Daniel Ariaso, Sr., was Vice President for Research, Publication, Innovation, Commercialization, and Extension (RPICE), Dr. Cristina Corcino.

Currently, the simulation center is exclusively available to medical students from CNU Medical College, CNU nursing students, and VSMMC resident doctors. Over 150 medical students from first-year to fourth-year levels are expected to benefit from the facility. –/FPL (FREEMAN)