Jennifer Calzada, MA, MPH, CHSE, FSSH | Director of Simulation
Jennifer Calzada, MA, MPH, CHSE, FSSH has led Tulane Simulation as the Director of Simulation since before its opening in January 2009. She has helped establish Tulane Simulation as an efficient and effective medical education training center for the Tulane University School of Medicine and worked with the greater healthcare community to bring the benefits of advanced simulation training to their systems to reduce medical error and ultimately increase patient safety.
Jennifer was inducted as a Fellow into the Academy of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare in January 2024; she became a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator in 2022; has been a TeamSTEPPS Master Trainer since 2010; was certified in Human Centered Healthcare (The New School, NY) in 2020; and is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences. She currently or has formerly held various committee positions or leadership roles on both national and international committees in the medical education, simulation-based education, and healthcare fields.
Benjamin Rothwell, MD | Simulation Medical Director
Ben Rothwell, MD, is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Tulane University School of Medicine, in the Deming Department of Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Utah, where he studied Biological Chemistry, before graduating from Tulane University School of Medicine. He went on to complete a residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts. Following the completion of his residency training in 2008, he returned to Tulane as an academic hospitalist and Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency Program. In 2013, he moved to Ochsner Health System, where he worked as a primary care physician for 4 years. He returned to Tulane in 2017 and is once again serving as an academic hospitalist.
His interests include medical education and simulation training, palliative care, and wellness. Dr. Rothwell created some of the code training sessions being utilized by the Internal Medicine Residency Program at the Tulane Simulation Center. Dr. Rothwell currently serves as the Simulation Medical Director, where he works with medical specialties and learners at all levels.
Kevin Harrell, MD, FACS | Simulation Surgical Director
Kevin Harrell, MD, was born and raised in Atlanta, GA, and pursued undergraduate studies in Chemistry and Music at Emory University. He remained at Emory for medical school and completed his General Surgery residency training at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine Chattanooga. He completed his Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Denver Health and the University of Colorado.
Dr. Harrell has pursued trauma outcomes and process improvement research with numerous publications and presentations. His areas of research interest include blunt traumatic abdominal wall hernias, trauma-associated pulmonary infections, and surgical education. Dr. Harrell currently serves as the Surgical Director for the Tulane Center for Advanced Medical Simulation and Team Training as well as an Associate Program Director for the General Surgery residency program.
In 2026, Dr. Harrell became the Programming Vice Chair for the American College of Surgeons Simulation Summit that will be held in March 2027, and he will serve as Programming Chair for the 2028 Summit. Through this volunteer service role, Dr. Harrell is helping bring Tulane’s surgical and simulation expertise to others from around the world.
Sharnell Jones, BS, MBA | Program Manager for Professional Programs
Sharnell Jones holds a diploma in Practical Nursing from Capital Area Technical College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern University at New Orleans and her Master of Business Administration in Organizational Management from Eastern University in St. David’s, Pennsylvania. Her education in nursing and business management gives her a practical understanding of both clinical care and the management of training programs.
Sharnell joined the Tulane Simulation Center in 2017 as the Administrative Program Coordinator. At the end of 2018, Sharnell was promoted to Program Manager for Professional Programs. In this role, she oversees and supports the delivery of high-quality training for healthcare professionals. She is responsible for the planning and management of the center’s professional training programs, with an emphasis on quality and efficiency.
Santa Jase, MSIOP | Senior Program Coordinator
Santa earned a diploma in Office Systems Technology, an Associate of Applied Science in Management, a Bachelor of Science in Human Services/Management, and a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology.
Santa joined the Tulane Simulation Center team in 2019 as an Administrative Program Coordinator. She oversees the daily operations of the Tulane Simulation Center and the American Heart Association (AHA) Training Center, helping maintain efficient administrative processes and support high-quality educational programming. Santa coordinates a variety of educational courses and certification programs, including AHA training and Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) courses.
Hellene Gabor, BSN, RN, MEd, CHSOS | Operations Manager
Hellene Gabor is the Simulation Operations Manager. She holds a Master of Education and a Graduate Certificate in Learning Experience Design from Tulane University, as well as a BSN from Our Lady of Fatima University in the Philippines. She is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS) and an American Heart Association instructor. She began her healthcare career as an RN and a Medical First Responder in the Philippines, assisting during major calamities, before transitioning into medical simulation and education. Her international experience spans the Philippines, Oman, and Qatar. She has also participated in medical missions around the world, contributing to healthcare outreach in diverse communities.
In Oman, she worked as an Assistant Editor for the Oman Medical Journal and contributed to establishing the Oman Medical Specialty Board (OMSB) Simulation Center. In Qatar, she helped establish the simulation program at Sidra Medicine from the ground up, supporting simulation-based education, instructional design, clinical staff training, hospital commissioning, and Joint Commission International-related accreditation initiatives. Hellene has presented at international simulation conferences, including SESAM, SimGHOSTS, and IMSH.
Cheri Touchard, BS, CHSOS | Simulation Specialist III
Cheri Touchard has more than 30 years of experience in medical research, healthcare education, and simulation-based training. She is a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist (CHSOS). She began her career conducting basic science research experiments at Ochsner Medical Center, where she developed a strong foundation in scientific research and laboratory operations. She joined Tulane University School of Medicine to manage the Minimally Invasive Surgery Lab within the Department of Surgery, supporting research and educational initiatives in surgical training.
At the inception of the Tulane Simulation Center, Cheri transitioned to the center to serve as the first simulation specialist. In this role, she has become an integral part of the center’s educational mission, helping advance simulation-based learning and training for healthcare professionals. She works collaboratively with departments throughout Tulane University School of Medicine, as well as external clients, to support a wide range of educational and professional development needs.
Heather Marshall, BS, CRT | Simulation Specialist II
Heather Marshall earned her Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Care Science from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, in 2010. She brings a wealth of clinical experience, a strong commitment to education, and a passion for helping others succeed in healthcare.
Heather worked at Ochsner Medical Center, where she served as a Charge Respiratory Therapist, Student and New Hire Preceptor, and Educator for the “Nurses Rock” Orientation program, where she taught newly hired Nurses about the many different oxygen modalities and respiratory equipment that are used at the hospital. These diverse clinical experiences strengthened her ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, support patient care, and help prepare healthcare professionals for the challenges of clinical practice. At the Tulane Simulation Center, Heather contributes her clinical expertise and educational experience to the development of engaging, realistic simulation-based learning opportunities.