Leaders in Nursing Research and Education

Desiree Díaz, PhD, APRN, FNP-BC, CNE, CHSE-A, ANEF, FAAN

Undergraduate Simulation Coordinator, Professor, Simsations-4-Life Faculty Consultant

Through simulation education and training, Desiree Díaz goes beyond traditional boundaries to expose and improve healthcare disparities. She was also one of the first 20 in the world to become a certified advanced healthcare simulation educator.

In her work, Díaz utilizes simulated learning scenarios to improve outcomes for mothers and newborn babies from ethnically diverse and underserved patient populations. Simulation-based education provides an opportunity for Díaz’s students to become more culturally competent providers, gaining a better understanding about various risks that stem from social and environmental factors. The results will advance equitable healthcare for women of color — from prenatal care through delivery and postpartum.

By shining a light on inclusion, diversity and equitable care, Díaz has gained recognition as a renowned expert in the field. Her work has been published extensively and presented nationally and internationally. In 2021, Díaz was honored with the inaugural Diversity, Inclusivity, and Equity Excellence Award from the International Association for Clinical Simulation and Learning (INACSL) — an award given for exemplary and visionary work in simulation practices. Díaz has also been inducted as a fellow into the prestigious American Academy of Nursing and in 2017, she was honored by INACSL with an Excellence in Academia Award.

Brian Peach, PhD, RN, CCRN

Assistant Professor

A nurse for nearly 20 years, Brian Peach has first-hand experience working in critical care settings. He’s currently using this experience to improve patient outcomes after being discharged from the intensive care unit (ICU) — something that will help both COVID-19 and other ICU patients. Peach and his team discovered that many patients experience things like anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and sleep disturbances after leaving the ICU. The goal of the study is to to better understand the long-term complications of COVID-19 respiratory failure or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) after leaving the ICU and develop interventions that will improve patients’ recovery.

In addition to his work as a clinician and researcher, Peach serves as a faculty advisor to the Student Nurses’ Association at UCF and recently mentored a group of students who wrote a resolution, “In Support of Education about Post-intensive Care Syndrome,” which passed unanimously at the state convention in October 2021. His leadership and innovation within the medical field has also garnered attention from others across the field. He has also received the Heather Scaglione Award from the Florida Nurses Association which recognizes his significant contribution to support the work of the association and nursing students.

Mindi Anderson, PhD, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CHSE-A, ANEF, FAAN, FSSH

Healthcare Simulation Program Director, Simulation Research Coordinator, Professor

An early pioneer in healthcare simulation education, Mindi Anderson is one of the world’s foremost experts in the field. She has played an integral role in shaping nursing education and was one of the world’s first 20 healthcare simulation educators to earn an advanced certification.

Anderson uses simulation — including virtual game-based simulation — to prepare nursing students for real-world scenarios. Most recently, she’s leveraging her clinical expertise to create simulation-based education that focuses on pediatric sepsis. This work will help students and future clinicians detect the early signs of sepsis and improve outcomes for pediatric patients. Simulation also acts as a valuable tool to assess the knowledge and clinical readiness of students.

Along with having two patents on advances in simulation and training, Anderson has received recognition around the world for her advanced research. In January 2022, she was one of only 10 international experts to be inducted into the Society for Simulation in Healthcare Academy. Anderson was also named as the 2020 Educator of the Year by the International Society for Simulation in Healthcare and in 2018, was honored with an Excellence in Academia Award by the International Nursing Association for Clinical Simulation & Learning.