Humber River Health is set to launch the James B Neill Simulation Centre in Ontario, Canada, to train and strengthen healthcare workforce and advance patient care.
Supported by $5m in funding from philanthropist James B Neill, the $10m centre, which is set to open in March 2026, will address projected shortages of doctors and nurses in Ontario by providing practical training in an advanced environment.
It covers 3,195ft² and is equipped with high-fidelity simulators for risk-free, scenario-based education.
Annually, the centre supports medical professionals, including 4,000 clinical staff, 2,000 nursing students, 350 medical learners, 700 physicians, and 200 allied health students, as well as first responders and partners.
By increasing nurse training capacity by 18%, Humber River Health will add 280 nurses annually to the workforce, focusing on the needs in north-west Toronto.
Advanced robotic technology such as the ROSA Knee System and da Vinci Xi Surgical Robot will be featured, allowing trainees to practise with tools already shown to improve patient outcomes within Humber River Health.
The centre employs life-like mannequins, including Lucina, which simulates all stages of labour and delivery and complex emergencies such as cardiac arrest and haemorrhage.
This enables teams to gain confidence and develop critical teamwork for real-world patient care scenarios.
Humber River Health intends for this facility to become a collaborative hub, supporting interprofessional learning across students, staff, and healthcare industry partners.
Humber River Health Foundation president and CEO Jennifer Stewart says: “The James B Neill Simulation Centre will expand career pathways in Ontario, strengthen our workforce, and shape a future-ready healthcare system beyond the walls of Humber River Health as we embark on building the next chapter of leading-edge, safe, efficient and equitable healthcare.”
In September 2023, Humber River Health inaugurated the Schulich Family Medicine Teaching Unit (Schulich FMTU) to expand its primary care access in north-west Toronto, Canada.
