June 23, 2023

The University of South Dakota has opened an expansion at the Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation.

“The expansion of the Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation represents USD’s commitment to shaping the future of medical and health sciences education,” USD president Sheila Gestring said in a statement.

“The Parry Center is a space where the next generation of health care leaders can learn and grow together in a safe environment.”

The Parry Center, which is in the USD Health Science Center on the Sanford USD Medical Center campus, is a state-of-the-art learning environment that allows collaboration among students and safely simulates patient experiences. It is available to the USD Sanford School of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, affiliated residency programs and health care providers.

The expansion added 2,800 square feet to the existing 6,850 square feet of the center. New additions includes a complete operating room, an OR wash station, a post anesthesia care unit, an intensive care unit, three high-fidelity simulation rooms, four control rooms, and preparation, workroom and storage space

“The Parry Center for Clinical Skills & Simulation expansion improves our ability to produce practice-ready professionals for tomorrow’s workforce,” said Dr. Tim Ridgway, vice president for health affairs and dean of the Sanford School of Medicine.

“Through the simulated scenarios and lifelike experiences, students gain the hands-on training they need to cultivate confidence, teamwork and critical thinking. Most importantly, they learn how to care for the complexities of a patient with empathy. That is what makes our students stand out in the workforce – that is what makes them the health care leaders of tomorrow.”