Mojca Konia, MD, PhD, MACM, University of Minnesota Physicians anesthesiologist, has been appointed the new Director of Simulation Education for the Minneapolis VA Healthcare System. Konia will be working with Ezgi Tiryaki, MD, Associate Professor in the University of Minnesota Medical School Department of Neurology, who will be leading and developing a small team dedicated to the simulation process at the VA.
The intent behind creating this team was to introduce systemic changes within the hospital system. This will involve training staff and addressing hospital priorities, while focusing on improving system processes.”
Mojca Konia, MD, PhD, MACM
Konia already works as the Director of SimPORTAL, a simulation center that provides realistic simulations for healthcare professionals to help improve patient safety at the University of Minnesota Medical School. She has been working with the VA since 2017, making this initiative a logical next step in improving healthcare. This key administrative leadership role in the newly formed Simulation Division will be focusing on curriculum development, health systems improvement and scholarship. Konia will also be in charge of overseeing the simulation component of the VA Quality Scholars Fellowship (VAQS).
“We hope to make important process and system-wide improvements with the addition of this new Simulation Education Division at the VA,” said Konia, “and operating as a single system makes coordinating this a very attainable and exciting goal.”