Dr. Rachel Cox Simms is an Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at MGH Institute of Health Professions, where she teaches pharmacology and medical-surgical nursing in the Prelicensure Program. She is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) and recently completed her PhD in Health Professions Education.
Dr. Simms has clinical experience in primary care serving adult patients of low socioeconomic status and has cared for vulnerable populations with substance use disorder in intensive outpatient residential settings. She previously served as Clinical Director and Chief of the Pandemic Preparedness Committee, where her work focused on policy development, education, and clinical quality improvement.
Her scholarly work centers on artificial intelligence integration in nursing education. She developed the NCLEX-Style Exam Item Assessment (NEIA) tool and her research examines faculty adoption of generative AI and its applications in educational assessment. Dr. Simms has been recognized with the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing Innovation in Teaching Award and the Christine A. Tanner Scholarly Writing Award.
Dr. Simms co-leads a Community of Practice on AI in health professions education and is passionate about innovative teaching methods that prepare nursing students for evolving healthcare environments.
- BS, Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA
- MSN, Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA
- DNP, Nursing, UMass Amherst, Amherst, MA
- MS-HPEd, Health Professions Education, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston MA
- PhD, Health Professions Education, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston MA
- Artificial Intelligence
- Gamification
- Infectious Disease
- Women's Health
- Substance Use Disorder
Dr. Cox has published many papers - some titles are highlighted below. You can view a complete listing of Dr. Cox's publications in her CV or on Google Scholar.
Comparative Analysis of NCLEX-RN Questions: A Duel Between ChatGPT and Human Expertise
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) literacy in nursing education: A crucial call to action
Work with ChatGPT, not against: 3 teaching strategies that harness the power of artificial intelligence
Scripted Remedies: Leveraging AI and Pop Culture in Nursing Pharmacology Case Studies
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: Perceptions of Prelicensure Nursing Student Competencies
Presentations
Simms, RC (2024) Innovate and Educate: AI Tools for Nurse Educators, MARILN, Worcester, MA – KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Simms, R.C. (2025). Scripted Remedies: Enhancing Nursing Education with AI and Pop Culture. Abstract ID 25S-2982078854.
Simms, R.C. (2025). Empowering Educators: Building a Custom Companion GPT for Your Course. Abstract ID 25S-1243491528.
Simms, R.C. (2025). Generative AI Literacy for Nurse Educators: A Call to Action for Future-Ready Nurses. Abstract ID 25S-1580221142.
