Gaston Celebrates Health Care Simulation Week
Gaston is joining in Healthcare Simulation Week (Sept. 16 to 20) by recognizing our Simulation Educator Donna Roupas and Simulation Technician Kevin Rowe. Both are veterans in the field and love sharing their experience and expertise with their students.
Roupas has more than 20 years of nursing experience and has worked in a variety of areas including the Operating Room, Intensive Care Unit, Newborn Nursery, Research, Primary Care, School Nursing and Nursing Education. She was a Certified Nurse Educator before she completed a post-Master’s Simulation Certificate Program at Carolinas College of Health Sciences and became a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) in November 2023.
“The favorite part of my job is facilitating experiential learning experiences that allow learners to practice hands-on skills and critical thinking skills in a safe environment,” Roupas said. Her teaching strategy is designed to “create a psychologically safe learning environment that is as close as possible to what they will be seeing in real life. We want to help students build momentum for future careers through simulation.”
Rowe has been a Simulations Technology Specialist at Gaston College for 3 1/2 years. Prior to joining the college, he spent 25 years working for Mecklenburg County – 12 as an IT Business Analyst at Mecklenburg County Information Technology, eight as a Senior IT Programmer Analyst, and five as an Applications Specialist at Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services.
He has received multiple certifications and awards since earning his A.A. Degree in Liberal Arts from Gaston College in 1980, his B.A. Degree in Political Science from Belmont Abbey in 1982 and his A.S. Degree in Accounting from Gaston College in 1988.
“Utilizing my IT experience and skillset to advance medical student learning” is his favorite thing about his job and Rowe adds, “I especially enjoy seeing former students at health care facilities and knowing that I had a small part in helping them get there.“ He says his teaching strategy isn’t much about teaching as it preparing his students for success.
“My primary responsibility is to ensure that the lab equipment and related software operates as it should from a technical standpoint.”
Gaston College was awarded $60 million by the state of North Carolina in late 2023 to build a new Health Science Education and Simulation Center on the Dallas campus geared towards providing training opportunities for new and existing healthcare personnel.
“Not only will our students develop necessary skills in this facility, but current healthcare workers can come to retool skills, work to advance their position, acquire certifications, and more,” said Dr. John Hauser, president of Gaston College.
It will take several years to complete the facility, but the College plans to work with partners at CaroMont Regional Medical Center, Atrium Health, Gaston County Schools, Lincoln County Schools, Cleveland Community College, and Catawba Valley Community College to provide increased access to the training opportunities it will provide.
