Howard University's Simulation & Clinical Skills Center has earned full accreditation in human medical simulation from the Association of Standardized Patient Educators (ASPE), marking another milestone for one of the university’s leading advanced training programs.

The accreditation was recently announced by ASPE Accreditation leadership, who congratulated the program following a review by its Accreditation Review Council.

The recognition affirms the quality of Howard’s human simulation medical training, which uses standardized patients and clinical simulation exercises to prepare students in health professions for real-world patient care scenarios.

The accreditation arrives as Howard University continues to expand its national profile in health education and research. Howard remains the nation’s leading producer of Black students entering medical schools and one of the country’s most prominent institutions for training Black physicians and health professionals.  

Tamara L. Owens, Ph.D., M.Ed., CHSE, founding director of the Simulation & Clinical Skills Center, called the accreditation “a tremendous accomplishment,” adding that the achievement reflects “the dedication to excellence and hard work of our team, and a proud moment for both the Center and Howard University as a whole.”

The Simulation & Clinical Skills Center is expected to be formally recognized during an award ceremony at ASPE’s upcoming conference in St. Louis, where newly-accredited centers will receive official certificates.

The accreditation places Howard among a select group of institutions recognized nationally for excellence in simulation-based healthcare education. The center has also held accreditation from the American College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Education Institute since 2016.

“We are proud that Howard’s Simulation & Clinical Skills Center continues to advance experiential medical education through hands-on, interdisciplinary training,” said Andrea Hayes Dixon, M.D., dean of the College of Medicine and vice president of clinical affairs. “This accreditation reinforces Howard’s commitment to combining advanced clinical training with service to historically underserved communities.”

She added that simulation-based learning strengthens patient safety, clinical preparedness and collaboration across the Health Sciences campus.

The accreditation also underscores the vital role of Howard’s College of Medicine and broader health sciences programs in training future physicians and health professionals. In addition to the College of Medicine, the  Simulation and  Clinical Skills Center also supports students across the Health Sciences campus in the College of Dentistry, College of Pharmacy, and the College of Nursing and Allied Health Sciences.

The program allows medical, nursing, dental, and allied health students to practice real-world clinical scenarios in controlled environments before entering hospitals and clinics. The center uses standardized patients, high-fidelity mannequins, and immersive simulation exercises designed to strengthen diagnostic, communication, and emergency response skills across multiple health disciplines.

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