• The Future of Simulation in Medical Education
  • Mohanna Esmaeli,1,*
    1. department of nursing, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran


  • Introduction: Simulation has emerged as an innovative and interactive educational strategy that enables the realistic reconstruction of clinical processes and real-world conditions within a safe and controlled environment. In medical education, this transformative approach allows the integration of theoretical and practical training while preserving patient safety, and has rapidly established itself as an indispensable component of continuous educational programs for students and healthcare professionals.
  • Methods: In this review study, all studies published between 2020 and 2025 in both Persian and English databases were collected and analyzed using the keywords “simulation,” “medical education,” and “future of simulation.”
  • Results: Recent technological advances—including virtual reality, augmented reality, standardized patients, and hybrid simulation—have created immersive, personalized, and highly realistic educational environments that optimally prepare learners for diverse and complex clinical challenges. Moreover, the integration of artificial intelligence into simulation-based training offers new opportunities such as real-time feedback, adaptive curriculum design tailored to individual needs, and reinforcement of targeted learning. Emerging modalities such as telesimulation and interprofessional team training extend the reach of specialized education, enhance collaboration, and strengthen coordination in clinical practice. In addition, hybrid simulation and augmented reality provide valuable opportunities to develop both technical and non-technical skills in highly realistic conditions.
  • Conclusion: Although challenges such as high implementation costs and the need for specialized faculty training remain, the convergence of technological innovations with pedagogical advancements presents a promising future for simulation in medical education. This approach is expected to improve the quality of training, increase equitable access to high-standard educational resources, and ultimately contribute to patient safety and the effectiveness of clinical care.
  • Keywords: Simulation; Medical Education; Future of Simulation