Maximizing Simulation Success

Chris Ryals is the SimCapture Impact Manager for Laerdal Medical’s West US Region. He joined Laerdal in 2022, bringing a unique, full-circle background in healthcare: from serving as a Hospital Corpsman in the US Navy to becoming a healthcare educator, curriculum developer, and simulation operations manager. With over a decade of experience in healthcare, simulation, and clinical skills training, Chris connects frontline practice, educational theory, and program execution.

Chris is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist recognized by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare with 6,000+ hours of classroom and skills lab instruction. His background spans simulation program management, operations, and the design of high-impact training for healthcare providers. Since 2010, he has used simulation to run realistic scenarios, design training, and apply adult learning best practices to improve learner performance.

As both a clinical skills specialist and a systems thinker, Chris understands the dynamic environment of practical labs and the challenges educators face in closing the gap between knowledge and practice. He specializes in aligning simulation strategies with organizational goals, ensuring training programs are effective, efficient, and engaging.

Erin Ziegler, MSN, RN, CNE is the Impact Manager at Laerdal for the North Midwest US region. Before joining the Laerdal team in 2022, Erin worked as a registered nurse and nurse educator for over 15 years. She is a Certified Nurse Educator through the National League of Nursing and received her BSN and MSN in Nursing Education at Maryville University. Clinically, Erin’s background is pediatrics and community health and served as a CPR and CPI instructor in both roles.

Academically, she has experience as faculty in classroom, clinical, lab, and online instruction. She has served in leadership roles such as Simulation Coordinator, Associate Dean of Faculty, and Manager of the Center of Academic Success. Erin has an in-depth knowledge of program and simulation operations, faculty and curriculum development, student success and progression. She is passionate about supporting learners and educators in utilizing technology and simulation to develop critical thinking, problem-solving solving and clinical judgment, and applying their theoretical knowledge to patient care.

Erolle Garner is an Impact Manager for the South Central territory for North America. She holds degrees in Community Leadership and Development as well as Sociology. She has extensive knowledge in designing, implementing, and evaluating simulation-based training programs for healthcare professionals.

Erolle is an effective communicator and collaborator, having worked with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient safety and quality of care. Her background in health simulation operations and academic affairs allows her to work with a diverse population within the healthcare field.

Johanna Mudry is an accomplished medical simulation professional with experience designing, developing, and implementing simulation programs aimed at improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes. Her impressive portfolio includes serving at renowned institutions such as Temple University’s Lewis Katz School of Medicine’s William Maul Measey Institute for Clinical Simulation and Patient Safety, as well as The Dr. Robert and Dorothy Rector Clinical Skills & Simulation Center of Thomas Jefferson University’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College.

Johanna's in-depth knowledge of medical simulation technology, curriculum design, and program implementation has been instrumental in helping simulation centers achieve their training objectives with the utmost fidelity. As an Enterprise Impact Manager, Johanna is responsible for guiding simulation professionals across the Mid-Atlantic region and collaborating with healthcare organizations to conceptualize, test, and launch innovative simulation curricula utilizing SimCapture. She is deeply committed to advancing the field of medical simulation and improving patient safety through industry-leading training programs and technology.

Johanna is an active member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, where she contributes her knowledge and expertise to the advancement of the field.  She has also represented Laerdal at numerous Mini-SUNs throughout the region and the Philadelphia Area Simulation Consortium. Her dedication to social change has been evident since graduating with honors from Temple University with a B.A. and earning an M.S. in Nonprofit Management from Eastern University. Her 20 years of working in diverse roles, including building homes for families, tutoring and mentoring youth, working for environmental or healthcare improvements, writing grants and fundraising, and getting out the vote, make her an exceptional change agent. 

Lauren Kowalewski is an Impact Manager at Laerdal Medical, supporting institutions across the Northeast region in both SimCapture and RQI /HeartCode Complete. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences (2007) and a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership (2021) from Quinnipiac University.

With over a decade of experience in healthcare simulation, Lauren has specialized in Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), leveraging standardized patients in both formative and summative assessments. Her background also includes facilitating procedural training using task trainers and leading interprofessional education events that address key topics such as implicit bias and patient communication.

Before joining Laerdal, Lauren served as the Coordinator for the Standardized Patient & Assessment Center at the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine. In that role, she collaborated extensively with faculty and students across multiple healthcare disciplines, contributing meaningfully to their educational experiences.

In her role, Lauren partners with customers to drive successful outcomes through strategic utilization of SimCapture, with a focus on fostering innovation, standardization, and learner independence. She is an active member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare, contributing to the advancement of simulation-based training and education. Her professional interests focus on simulation-based exercises for active shooter preparedness and emergency response training for first responders.

As an Impact Manager at Laerdal Medical, Linsey Shupe partners with higher education and healthcare institutions in California, Nevada, and across Canada to help them unlock the full potential of their software platforms. Linsey brings a customer-first mindset and a deep understanding of simulation-based education to every engagement.

With a background in public health and education, Linsey previously led statewide initiatives for the Arizona Department of Education’s AWARE project, where she developed and scaled suicide prevention training programs. Her experience in building sustainable, outcomes-driven programs now informs her work with simulation centers, nursing schools, and clinical educators.

Linsey is known for her collaborative approach and individualized support, guiding customers through onboarding, continuous skill development, workflow optimization, and long-term strategy. Whether supporting LMS integrations, accreditation readiness, or simulation data analysis, she ensures that each organization’s goals are met with clarity and care.

Her work is grounded in Laerdal’s mission to help save one million lives annually through impactful education and technology. Linsey’s dedication to clarity, compassion, and continuous improvement makes her a trusted partner for institutions striving to elevate their simulation programs.

Patty Wilson is an experienced Impact Manager supporting the U.S. Midwest region.  With a degree in Business Administration and over five years at the organization, Patty brings deep expertise in resuscitation education and program implementation.

Her career spans more than 25 years in healthcare education, including roles as a Training Center Coordinator and AHA BLS Instructor at a large health system. Her leadership and advocacy were instrumental in the system-wide adoption of the RQI program, reflecting her commitment to improving patient outcomes through innovative training solutions.

In her current role, Patty collaborates with clients across the Professional Education, Pre-Hospital, and Healthcare markets to ensure the successful deployment and ongoing support of RQI and SimCapture programs. She provides training, guidance, and continuous support to help organizations run their programs efficiently and effectively.

Patty is passionate about building strong, trust-based relationships and is known for her professionalism, responsiveness, and collaborative spirit.  As a dedicated team player, she is willing to go above and beyond to support both clients and colleagues.