The Simulation, Affect, Innovation, Learning, & Surgery Lab (SAILS)
Our research, directed by Prof. Jason M. Harley, Ph.D., aims to enhance surgical and health professions education and support health care workers by reducing adverse events and inefficiencies, especially those associated with the incidence of undesirable and unregulated emotions, burnout, and harassment.
We apply psychological and educational theories using interdisciplinary research methods and leverage a wide range of technologies, including virtual reality (VR) and artificial intelligence (AI), to support the development of health professions competencies with novel technology-enhanced educational interventions and simulations.
Our interdisciplinary research draws on mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) that include both objective (e.g., skin conductance, facial recognition software, eyetracking) and subjective (self-report instruments, semi-structured interviews) measures of emotion and cognition that help us assess a variety of surgical and health professions competencies.
Our Research
Our research supporting emotions & training using biometrics, AI, VR, & simulation applies not only to healthcare training on earth, but outer space!
Check out the new Canadian Space Agency-funded Research Project, C-STARS: Studying mental well-being in space. Prof. Harley is one of the investigators.
Check out this 91丝瓜视频 article about the Steinberg Centre for Simulation and Interactive Learning hosting the Canadian Space Agency鈥檚 Health Beyond Initiative.
Visit to the Canadian Space Agency for inaugural C-STARS research meeting: Jennifer Stellar (U of T.) Jelena Brcic (UFV), and Jason M. Harley (91丝瓜视频 U.).听
Current research:
Prof. Harley is听conducting听the following research projects:
- Developing and evaluating high-fidelity simulation scenarios for medical residents to practice听combatting harassment听and support psychological safety.
- Advancing scientific understanding and best practice concerning the individual and collaborative听regulation of emotions听and听cognitive processes听in team-based health professions simulation training.
- Implementing and evaluating听virtual simulation听and听haptic robotic听technology in dental students鈥� training at 91丝瓜视频.
- Investigating connections between听补蝉迟谤辞苍补耻迟蝉鈥�听stress, coping听strategies, meaningful听work, and transcendental emotions on the International Space Station.听
Check out our听completed research projects听on听AI in surgery, health literacy,听healthcare professional鈥檚听psychological well-being听during the pandemic, and more.
