Karen Lewis

Dr. Karen Lewis is a pioneering figure in medical education and healthcare simulation, currently serving as Director of SP Program & Clinical Skills at The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine. Her extensive career includes serving as Administrative Director of the Clinical Learning and Simulation Skills (CLASS) Center at The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. With over two decades of experience in medical education since 1998, she has made significant contributions to simulated patient methodology and education. Her leadership in the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE) includes serving as President and Chair of the Standards of Practice Committee, where she led the development of the ASPE Standards of Best Practice. Her excellence in the field was recognized with the ASPE Outstanding Educator of the Year Award in 2017. Dr. Lewis has also contributed to the Society for Simulation in Healthcare's Healthcare Simulation Dictionary through her work on the Terminology and Concepts Committee. Her commitment to improving patient safety and medical care extends globally, as evidenced by her role as Chair of an ASPE task force developing SP Educator training programs for implementation in China. Dr. Lewis holds multiple degrees, including a PhD, and is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE), demonstrating her comprehensive expertise in healthcare simulation education and standardized patient methodology.