Larner College of Medicine

Standardized Patient Program

The Standardized Patient (SP) Program provides opportunities for students and professionals to practice patient-centered skills in realistic medical scenarios.

About the Program

What is the Standardized Patient Program?

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The Standardized Patient Program began in the Larner College of Medicine in the mid-90s and has grown to include the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont Health network, and outside organizations. 

The program is headed by the Assistant Dean of Clinical Simulation and the Standardized Patient Educators (SPEs), who oversee the recruitment and training of Standardized Patients (SPs) and the facilitation of SP-related events. Currently, the SPs in our program range in age from 18-year-old student employees to community members in their 80s. 

What is the role of a Standardized Patient?

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Standardized Patients are community members trained to portray patients in standardized medical scenarios for teaching and testing purposes. 

By playing the role of a patient, they provide learners with opportunities to practice their professionalism, patient-centered communication skills, medical history-taking, and physical exam skills in a safe and supportive learning environment and to demonstrate those skills during assessments.

What makes our Standardized Patient Program important?

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Standardized Patients are involved in programming from the first year of curriculum for new students through continued trainings and professional development for current practitioners. 

Our SPs can tell you how rewarding this challenging role is, and how vitally important it is to clinical education and the future of medicine. By being part of simulation education, each SP not only directly impacts our learners, but indirectly touches the lives of all of the patients those healthcare professionals will see throughout their careers.

A clinical trainee practicing exam skills by looking into the throat of a Standardized Patient.

Become a Standardized Patient

Thank you for your interest in the Standardized Patient program at UVM's Clinical Simulation Laboratory! SPs are part-time temporary employees of UVM and are paid for training and simulation events at a base rate of $25.00 per hour for most sessions. Student employees are paid at a student rate.

Standardized Patient Application

Standardized Patient Educators

Standardized Patient Educators

Educator's NameEmail
Bob Bolyard (CNHS and Outreach Facilitator)robert.bolyard@med.uvm.edu
Shirley McAdam, CHSE (Larner Facilitator)shirley.mcadam@med.uvm.edu
Nicole Heneveld (Larner Facilitator)nicole.heneveld@med.uvm.edu
Brendan Anderson (Larner Facilitator)brendan.anderson@med.uvm.edu