
Janice C. Palaganas, PhD, RN, NP, ANEF, FNAP, FAAN, FSSH
- Professor
- Health Professions Education

Prior to becoming Associate Chair, Dr. Palaganas split her time between helping launch the PhD in Health Professions Education program and leading educational innovation at the Center for Medical Simulation.
She is an advisor to Continuing and Professional Development in the development of online interprofessional education and the School of Nursing with simulation integration.
Dr. Palaganas has developed a passion for teamwork from her background as an emergency nurse, trauma nurse practitioner, director of the emergency and critical care services, and faculty for schools of medicine, nursing, allied health, management, physician assistant studies, and emergency medicine. As a behavioral scientist and former clinical nurse and hospital administrator, Dr. Palaganas’ passion is in using health care simulation as a platform for interprofessional education. She served as a committee member of the Institute of Medicine's report on measuring the impact of interprofessional education on practice.
Dr. Palaganas’ primary role is to develop health professions educators in an IPE setting. She previously led CMS’s Instructor Course educating educators in simulation globally and is now developing the world’s first interprofessional virtual campus as the principal investigator of a board grant awarded by the Josiah Macy Jr. Foundation.
Dr. Palaganas has shaped the field of simulation, leading the development of the Society for Simulation’s Accreditation and Certification Program. She is Editor-in-Chief in two award-winning textbooks: Defining Excellence in Simulation Programs, as well as Mastering Simulation. She urged the development of the recently released Society for Simulation dictionary, authored seminal articles, and co-authored field-changing research including the National League for Nursing study for the high-stakes assessment using simulation. She has been an invited keynote speaker in over 20 countries.
2021 Book of the Year Award, American Journal of Nursing
Author of most valuable texts of 2020, as chosen by AJN’s panel of judges.
2018 Honorary Recognition Award, Society for Simulation in Healthcare Credentialing Commission
For dedication as the first Vice Chair of the Credentialing Commission.
2017 Presidential Citation Award, Society for Simulation in Healthcare
As a pioneer in the field of healthcare simulation, directing the development of the accreditation and certification programs and interprofessional education using simulation as a platform.
2016 Debra L. Spunt Lecture Award
Demonstrating nursing impact in the field of healthcare simulation and nursing education.
2013 President’s Award, Loma Linda University
Highest university-wide award in recognition of scholastic achievement, and active community participation, within the framework of Christian commitment.
2007 Emergency Nurses Association, San Diego Scholar
For doctoral students and leadership excellence
2002 Marion O. Ware Award, University of Pennsylvania
Excellence in graduate research and scholarly writing
Palaganas, J. C. (July 2021). Making a contribution to the research team as a novice SOS (Simulation Operations Specialists). Society for Simulation in Healthcare (SSH) SimOps Annual Conference. Tampa, FL.
Palaganas, J. C. (July 2021). Continuing health professions education online. Philippine Nurses Association New England Annual Conference. Boston, MA.
Palaganas, J. C. (2022). How do you learn? Come join me. Clinical Simulation in Nursing, 67, 6-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecns.2022.02.007
Duff, J., Kardong-Edgren, S., Chang, T. P., Elkin, R. L., Ramachandra, G., Stapleton, S., Palaganas, J. C., Kou, M., & Gross, I. T. (2021). Closing the gap: A call for a common blueprint for remote distance telesimulation. BMJ Simultation & Technology Enhanced Learning, 7(4), 185-187. https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019.
Mosher, C. J., Morton, A., Tarbet, A., & Palaganas, J. C. (2022). Factors of engagement in synchronous online learning conversations and distance debriefing: A realist synthesis review. Simulation in Healthcare. Advance online publication.
https://doi.org/10.1097/SIH.0000000000000650
Palaganas, J. C., Charnetski, M., Dowell, S., Chan, A. K. M., & Leighton, K. (2021). Cultural considerations in debriefing: A systematic review of the literature. BMJ Simulation & Technology Enhanced Learning, 7(6), 605-610.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8936728/
Mosher C. J., Morton A., & Palaganas J. C. (2021). Perspectives of engagement in distance debriefings. Advances in Simulation, 6(1), 40. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-021-00192-y
Palaganas, J.C., Charnetski, M., Dowell, S., Chan, A. & Leighton, K. (2021). Cultural considerations in debriefing: A systematic review of the literature. Simulation & Technology Enhanced Learning (STEL). https://dh.howard.edu/med_fac/143
Mosher, C. J., Morton, A., & Palaganas, J. C. (2021). Perspectives of engagement in distance debriefings. Advances in Simulation, 6(1), 1–13.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41077-021-00192-y
Buleon, C., Szyld, D., Eppich, W., Fey, M., Palaganas, J.C., Simon, R., & Rudolph, J. (2021). Building a rubric for peer guidance on feedback, debriefing and conflict management: Delphi method in an expert community of practice. Advances in Simulation, 6 (2): 6-7. https://advancesinsimulation.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s41077-0...
Duff, J., Kardong-Edgren, S., Chang, T., Elkin, R., Ramachandra, G., Stapleton, S., Palaganas, J.C., Kou, M., & Gross, I. (2021). Closing the gap: A call for a common blueprint for remote distance simulation. BJM Simulation & Technology Enhanced Learning. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjstel-2021-000875
Urman, R., August, D., Chung, S., Jiddou, A., Buckley, C., Fields, K., Morrison, B., Palaganas, J. C., & Raemer, D. (2021). The effect of emergency manuals on team performance during two different simulated perioperative crises: A prospective, randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33032123/
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