Keynote speakers at SimPro 2026

Professor Gerry Gormley

Keynote title: “Better Together: Enhancing Collective Agency Through Simulation”

Gerry Gormley is a General Practitioner and Professor of Simulation at the Centre for Medical Education, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland. As a socio-cultural researcher, he is passionate about exploring and critically challenging simulation as a powerful and evolving method of experiential learning in health profession education.

Driven by a deep academic curiosity, Gerry examines the pedagogical foundations of simulation and seeks to extend its evidence-based application into areas of health and social care that have traditionally been underserved by this form of learning. His work aims to unlock the potential of simulation beyond its conventional boundaries, advocating for its transformative impact across diverse professional contexts.

Gerry is also deeply motivated by principles of social justice, with a strong commitment to humanistic approaches in health professions education. He believes in the synergy between compassion, critical inquiry, and innovation, and how these elements can enrich the training and development of future healthcare professionals.

Professor Crina Damşa

Keynote title: Team Skills in Simulations in Nursing Education: Enhancing Learning Through Reflection and Multimodal Data Support

Crina Damşa is a Professor of Learning Sciences and Technologies at the Department of Education, University of Oslo, Norway. As a sociocultural researcher with a growing interest in the opportunities and challenges of emerging intelligent technologies, Crina has developed a research agenda focused on understanding learning as a process that unfolds over time and through interactions with people, knowledge, objects, and technologies, all within specific contexts.

Crina has contributed to several interdisciplinary studies exploring how higher education students engage with complex knowledge and how technology can enhance both the academic and social aspects of learning. One of her key areas of expertise is in designing learning environments that encourage collaboration, inquiry, and problem-solving, especially in digital and hybrid settings. Her research also explores the role of metacognition in learning and collaboration, with a particular focus on interprofessional education in fields such as law, medicine, nursing, and healthcare.