Skip main navigation

Military Health System

Clear Your Cache

Health.mil has undergone a recent update. For the best user experience we recommend clearing your browser cache.

Defense Health Agency Simulation Expo Shows Future of Medicine

Image of Defense Health Agency Simulation Expo Shows Future of Medicine. Donald Johnson, assistant director of support for the Defense Health Agency, applies a tourniquet on a simulation mannequin during a tour for DHA senior leaders at the Medical Simulation Expo at headquarters on Aug. 3, 2023. U.S. Army Col. Maria Molina, director of education and training, DHA, looks on as representatives of TACMED Simulation provide instruction. (Photo: Robert Hammer)

The Defense Health Agency’s Medical Modernization and Simulation Division brought the latest in devices to its Medical Simulation Expo on Aug. 3, 2023, at DHA headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia.

“What I’ve seen today is the future,” said Donald Johnson, DHA’s assistant director of support and component acquisition executive. “Artificial intelligence, simulations, different technologies—I think this is where we have to go. We need to invest in it, we need to pilot it, and bring it to the classroom.”

The expo was open to all DHA and National Capital Region General Services Administration personnel to showcase the latest advancements in the field and collaborate with companies committed to making cutting-edge technologies for the Military Health System.

“This expo continues to be a great opportunity to connect industry partners, foster relationships, and collaborate on ideas,” said U.S. Army Col. Maria Molina, division chief of the MMSD. “We can identify education and training gaps and how we can mitigate those gaps with simulation. It helps us generate new ideas and get our community excited about simulation.”

More than 30 exhibiting companies presented live demos and hands-on training to attendees.

A guided tour for senior leaders kicked off the expo and featured industry personnel presenting technology solutions such as lifelike mannequins for medical training, and demonstrations including how to apply tourniquets, make scalpel cuts, insert needles, suture, and control bleeding. Virtual interactive video simulation for live training was presented, as well as secure wireless access points and platforms powered by artificial intelligence.

Ruben Garza, chief, J7, Defense Medical Modeling & Simulation Office, said, “It’s exciting to see the new technologies developing. When we started the expo, there were plastic mannequins that didn’t do too much. Now, you can take vitals from mannequins, they can talk to you, you can practice tourniquets, or do an IV. It’s been an evolution in how the new technology has increased to meet the mission.”

“I think the biggest change I saw from last year was AI,” said Molina. “Seeing what AI is doing to transform the way that we train our students is really big. We’re going see a huge shift in the next three to five years.”

Putting cutting-edge medical simulation technology in front of leaders was a primary motivation. “We want them to have more understanding of simulation,” said Garza.

“We talk about education, training, and medical simulation with our leaders,” said Molina. “We talk about why we need it, and its importance. But giving them the visual of new technology, what's on the horizon, and what we can actually do with this technology helps a lot.”

According to Garza, using simulation technology to fill gaps is an important next step.

“How do we bring the training modalities to hospitals and clinics so they can get those repetitions, and movements?” said Garza.

For Garza, the expo was a step forward in the process of modernizing, standardizing, and centralizing medical simulation.

“We modernized to better fit the mission,” said Garza. “We standardized, so that if one facility can use it, another one can also use it. We also centralized … we can help a unit figure out what they need. That’s awesome. That's the exciting part.”

You also may be interested in...

Article
Mar 21, 2025

Improving Warfighter Readiness Using Augmented Reality

augmented reality prototype headset

The Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs’ Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research Program recently awarded a $3.4 million grant to a team of Cleveland Clinic researchers to develop an innovative augmented reality tool for assessing whether warfighters recovering from concussion are ready to return to duty.

Article
Feb 27, 2025

Lieutenant Recognized as Navy Medicine’s 2024 Junior Health Information Technology Officer of the Year

U.S. Navy Lt. Emmanuel Dadzie, chief informatics officer at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Twentynine Palms

In recognition of his leadership and expertise, U.S. Navy Lt. Emmanuel Dadzie has been named as Navy Medicine’s 2024 Junior Health Information Technology Officer of the Year. As the chief informatics officer at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Twentynine Palms, Dadzie has been instrumental in modernizing the command’s IT systems, enhancing ...

Article
Jan 10, 2025

Uniformed Services University President Dr. Jonathan Woodson Reflects on Accomplishments in 2024

USU President Dr. Jonathan Woodson speaking on a panel

From bringing the current student body to more than 8,500 to contributing to a potential cure for rabies, the Uniformed Services University has worked tirelessly to foster another year of innovative learning, groundbreaking research, and numerous awards and accomplishments, said president.

Article
Aug 5, 2024

Naval Medical Research Unit INDO PACIFIC Monitors Infectious Disease for Public Health and Military Readiness

Military personnel at a meeting

The job of safeguarding the health of U.S. service members requires not just health care at the time of injury and sickness, but a vast suite of often unseen work to determine what illnesses service members might encounter, and to develop the countermeasures for an ever-evolving landscape of health risks that face the world.

Article
Jun 18, 2024

U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command’s Medical Technology Transfer Office Spotlights Inventions, Fosters Partnerships at Biotechnology Innovation Organization International

Military personnel at convention

Representatives from the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command’s Medical Technology Transfer Office showcased new biomedical technologies available for commercial licensing and discussed collaborative opportunities with biotechnology industry representatives from around the world at the Biotechnology Innovation Organization’s annual ...

Skip subpage navigation
Refine your search
Last Updated: October 03, 2024
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on X Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery