HOLLYWOOD — To help answer a critical need in the health science field, Jackson County Schools is partnering with Huntsville’s SIMVANA in equipping students with cutting-edge career skills.
The industry-education partnership was showcased today when the school system hosted SIMVANA Demo Day at the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy in Hollywood, just outside Scottsboro. SIMVANA is a sister company to Torch Technologies of Huntsville.
In 2024, Jackson County Schools partnered with SIMVANA to integrate its virtual reality nurse anesthetist training into KDCIA’s Health Sciences program.
“This partnership is enabling us to get technology into the classroom much faster than traditional methods,” said Jackson County Schools Superintendent Jason Davidson. “Health sciences is one of our largest programs, and through this collaboration, our students can explore anesthesia as a potential career while still in high school.
“This hands-on experience allows them to assess their skills and interest in the field — an opportunity that was previously unavailable.”
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology predicts the anesthesiology workforce will experience a significant shortage by 2033, with rural communities expected to be disproportionately affected.
“We are pleased to partner with the Jackson County School System and KDCIA,” said Darryl Trousdale, program manager of Torch Technologies Advanced VIZLAB and co-founder of SIMVANA. “SIMVANA Anesthesia has revolutionized simulation training at the college level across the U.S. and is now being leveraged at the K-12 level to inspire the next generation of anesthesia providers. The potential applications of this technology extend far beyond anesthesia.
“While today’s focus is on anesthesia careers, our immersive VR training can be adapted for a wide range of industries, opening doors for students across multiple career paths.”
Recent surveys by SIMVANA with Career Day participants demonstrated the program’s impact. Findings revealed that 36% of students who experienced SIMVANA Anesthesia expressed a strong interest in pursuing a career as an anesthesia provider, highlighting the effectiveness of immersive learning in career exploration.
“This is the future of education,” said Davidson. “Career Tech and college readiness are converging, and innovative tools like SIMVANA Anesthesia are helping students discover fulfilling career opportunities.
“Our partnership is making this vision a reality in Jackson County, and we hope today’s event inspires other school systems across North Alabama to adopt similar technology-driven initiatives.”
Torch is part of the Starfish Holdings family of businesses that also includes Freedom Real Estate & Capital and SIMVANA. Founded in 2022, SIMVANA specializes in virtual reality-based educational solutions for anesthesia and healthcare training.
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