Meet the Woman Behind the Simulation
September 24, 2025
When medical students step into the College’s simulation lab, they often meet “Sim Man,” a high-tech mannequin used to practice clinical skills. But just as vital to their training is a “Sim Woman”—Theresa Helmbrecht, one of the staff members of the College of Human Medicine simulation lab team. Theresa and sim man are pretty similar - their expertise and experiences help guide students through their rigorous coursework. She’s just a bit warmer than he is.
What’s really unique about Helmbrecht’s story is that she started in the lab as a Simulated Patient (SP). Simulated Patients are people from all ages and backgrounds who have been selected to participate in mock doctor-patient encounters. They offer students in medical education the opportunity to practice communication and examination skills and also provide feedback to the students.
After learning about the program from a friend she knew she “had to do it,” she recalls. As an SP, she’s “experienced” the gamut of symptoms—from chest pain and headaches to complex scenarios like miscarriages or alcoholism. At one point, she even played a teenager seeking birth control, complete with pink-streaked hair.
Her reliability and energy as an SP led to new responsibilities. She began preparing rooms, assisting with high-stakes testing events, and supporting faculty in large simulation activities. In 2022, she was hired as a part-time Simulations Assistant, a role that allows her to interview and train new SPs, coordinate patient care check-offs, and support the lab’s daily operations.
For Helmbrecht, the simulation lab is more than equipment and mannequins. It is a training ground where students grow in confidence and professionalism before entering clinical practice. She has welcomed cohorts of students as nervous first-years and celebrated as they graduate into skilled physicians. Along the way, she has even worked with some unusual “patients,” from MSU’s own mascot Sparty to members of the Board of Trustees and Spartan coaches.
Looking ahead, Helmbrecht is excited about the lab’s evolution. “Health care is always changing, and simulation has to change with it,” she explains. From updated task trainers to electronic medical record practice platforms, she is committed to ensuring students train with the tools they will encounter in practice. What began as a single day portraying a patient has become a fulfilling job devoted to supporting future physicians. “I have been blessed to be part of their journey,” she says. And for many students and simulated patients, that journey would not be the same without her.
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By Steven Kaatz
Media Contact | Emily Linnert