Suffolk Reporter

Debra Giugliano, a clinical assistant professor at the Stony Brook School of Nursing, has been selected as one of 11 individuals in the inaugural class of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship for the 2024-2025 academic year. This initiative aims to enhance SUNY nursing programs by incorporating simulation-based education.

The fellowship was announced by State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor John B. King Jr. on October 30. It is part of SUNY's strategy to prepare more nurses for New York State’s healthcare workforce, aligning with Governor Kathy Hochul's objectives.

Developed from recommendations by the SUNY Future of Health Care Workforce Task Force, this fellowship addresses the critical shortage in healthcare workers and supports Governor Hochul’s goal to increase New York State's healthcare workforce by 20 percent. The task force consulted over 125 experts from SUNY institutions and the healthcare industry, identifying key areas for action and investment, including leveraging nursing simulation.

In May 2023, legislation was signed by Hochul allowing nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through high-quality simulation experiences. "By making it possible for nursing students to fulfill one-third of their clinical requirements through high-quality simulation, Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State legislature truly took a significant step forward in addressing the health care workforce shortage in New York State," said King. "The SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship will prepare more of our extraordinary faculty members to lead efforts on their own campuses and across SUNY to prepare more nurses in order to meet New York State’s health care needs."

Pat Bruckenthal, Dean of the School of Nursing, expressed enthusiasm about Giugliano's selection: “The School of Nursing is so excited that Dr. Guigliano has been selected for this inaugural Nursing Simulation Fellowship,” she said. “This opportunity will enable Dr. Guigliano to bring our student learning experiences to the forefront of innovation and impact the preparation of our next generation of nurse leaders.”

Giugliano specializes as a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and certified pediatric oncology nurse, focusing on children with cancer and blood disorders both inpatient and outpatient settings. Her accolades include several awards recognizing her excellence in pediatric oncology nursing practice.

Fellows will not only advance their skills in simulation education but also contribute significantly to shaping future simulation-based learning across SUNY institutions through initiatives like developing a shared resource library for nursing simulation resources.