Using cardiovascular and pulmonary simulation to teach undergraduate medical students: cases from two schools.

Simulation is becoming more widespread in undergraduate medical education, expanding well beyond its original application to anesthesiology. This heightened interest in simulation is being driven by advances in learning theory as well as technology developments. However, introducing simulation into a medical education curriculum presents significant challenges. This article describes the simulation initiatives at two medical schools. Both are state schools with similar enrollments; however, their approaches to developing and maintaining a simulation program differ. Regardless of these differences, both institutions have developed a variety of applications within the curriculum. The cases and applications that they have developed should be applicable to many medical schools.