By Sherrona Steward

The seamless integration of medicine and technology in clinical environments continues to shape the future of pediatric medicine. Through innovative medical simulations, physicians are revolutionizing cutting-edge advancements in treatment and patient care — inspiring hope for a healthier tomorrow. 

Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida, recognized Alyssa Rake, M.D., on Nov. 1, 2023, with induction into the Dr. Jennifer Arnold Endowed Professorship in Medical Simulation and Innovative Education.

Since 2016, an endowed professorship has been integral to pediatric academic health at Johns Hopkins All Children's. It is the highest honor Johns Hopkins Medicine and Johns Hopkins All Children’s could bestow upon a faculty member.

Theodore L. DeWeese, M.D., interim dean of the Medical Faculty and chief executive officer of Johns Hopkins Medicine, presented the honorable medallion during the ceremony. Endowed professors attract top students, conduct significant research and enhance the prestige of Johns Hopkins.

“In an increasingly multidisciplinary clinical environment, it is critical that we nurture education and innovation to continue to provide the very best care for even the most complex and specialized cases and hone breakthrough techniques in a safe environment,” DeWeese says.

Rake joined Johns Hopkins All Children’s in 2023 and currently serves as director of the Center for Medical Simulation and Innovative Education, assistant professor of Anesthesia and Critical Care Medicine, and as a pediatric critical care attending physician.

Rake grew up a competitive gymnast until college and understands the importance of strength, courage and agility. She spent much of her time in and out of hospitals and doctor’s offices and exemplifies what it means to have endurance. It was through these experiences that she became inspired to become a pediatrician. Her desire to care for the most critical patients fueled her drive to create advanced simulations to save lives.

Patient safety is a top priority at Johns Hopkins All Children's. Medical simulations replicate real health scenarios for educational and experimental purposes in a safe, controlled environment for health care providers to gain additional knowledge and required skills.

“One of the things I enjoy most in simulation is to witness the a-ha moments when learners finally realize or understand something,” Rake says.

The endowed professorship is a tribute to Jennifer Arnold, M.D., M.Sc., who was the first director of the Center for Medical Simulation and Innovative Education at Johns Hopkins All Children's. Arnold has over 14 years of experience in simulation and has built two pediatric simulations at previous institutions. She currently serves as director of Immersive Design Systems at Boston Children’s Hospital.

“Words cannot express how humbled and honored I am to be an honoree and have this professorship carry my name,” Arnold says.

Through the power of philanthropy, a generous donor made an anonymous contribution to the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Foundation making the creation of the Dr. Jennifer Arnold Endowed Professorship in Medical Simulation and Innovative Education possible.

Rake previously served as medical director of the Las Madrinas Simulation Center at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Also serving as a member of the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine clinical faculty in pediatrics and an attending physician for the pediatric and cardiothoracic intensive units at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Rake earned her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed a pediatric residency at Baystate Medical Center Children’s Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts, and a pediatric critical care medicine fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. She also completed the Leadership Academy at USC/Keck School of Medicine.

Rake’s leadership in medical simulation played an essential role in the training component for many different health care specialties and teams including physician residents and fellows, nurse residents, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) nurses, transport and ECMO teams.

As a member of the Society for Simulation in Healthcare and its INSPIRE Network, Rake focuses on teamwork models to improve communication and skills, CPR, and simulation-based education and assessment.

Rake is proud to be a part of Johns Hopkins All Children’s and looks forward to contributing her expertise and dedication to simulation to improve the lives of patients.

“I am excited for what’s next in our journey together!” Rake says.