On January 12, 2026, Sharon Dunnivan-Mitchell, PT, DPT, assistant professor at the UTMB School of Health Professions Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences showcased her research at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare in San Antonio, Texas. Her study demonstrates the transformative impact of simulation-based learning for healthcare students in acute care settings.
Dunnivan-Mitchell’s work addresses a growing need within physical therapy education, where simulation-based training remains less common than in nursing and medical programs. Her research demonstrates how meaningful simulation experiences can be developed and implemented, even in resource-limited settings, while aligning with the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™.
“My goal is to encourage other programs and faculty to implement simulation by providing a tangible framework supporting this transformational learning activity,” said Dunnivan-Mitchell.
A Board-Certified Clinical Specialist and Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), Dunnivan-Mitchell is dedicated to preparing clinicians who are both technically proficient and patient-centered. Her approach integrates cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning domains to support comprehensive clinical readiness.
Her role at UTMB has expanded the reach of this work through collaboration with the Interprofessional Simulation Center at the Health Education Center (HEC). One of the factors that drew her to UTMB was the center’s advanced resources and collaborative environment.
“The support and resources at UTMB are among the best in the world,” Dunnivan-Mitchell said. “They provide limitless opportunities for collaborative research aimed at improving healthcare outcomes.” She is actively working with the HEC team to expand the implementation of simulation within the physical therapy curriculum, strengthening clinical skills that directly translate to improved patient care.
The research presented at the conference was developed in collaboration with Dr. Joyce Maring and Dr. Kristin Curry-Greenwood and has been published in the Journal of Acute Care Physical Therapy under the title, “Exploring the Addition of Simulation-Based Learning Experiences to Prepare Student Physical Therapist Assistants for Inpatient Clinical Experience: A Case Report.”
Through her teaching, research, and leadership, Dunnivan-Mitchell continues to advance physical therapy education by bridging innovation with clinical practice and preparing future clinicians to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare systems.