Dr. Brenda L. Natal is the first Simulation Fellow at the Institute for Medical Simulation and Advanced Learning (IMSAL). The Simulation Fellowship was developed by Dr. Natal and is collaboration between IMSAL and the Department(s) of Emergency Medicine at SUNY Downstate and Kings County Medical and Mental Health Center, where Dr. Natal is an Assistant Clinical Professor in Emergency Medicine. Her responsibilities at IMSAL include, but are not limited to, course development, instruction and facilitation.

Dr. Natal obtained her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey; and she completed her Emergency Medicine Residency Training at SUNY Downstate and Kings County Hospital Center in Brooklyn, New York. As a senior resident, Dr. Natal was selected as the Medical Simulation Resident Director. During this time she developed the proposal and curriculum for the current Simulation Training Fellowship among other simulation-based educational projects.

Prior to medicine, Dr. Natal also worked as a Registered Nurse for 10 years. During this time, her practice was mostly in outpatient oncology nursing.

Most recently, Dr. Natal has also earned a degree in Master of Public Health from the State University of New York, Brooklyn where she concentrated in Community/Urban Health with a special interest in intentional injuries.

She was also recently selected as a fellow for the 2012-2013 class of the Clinical Quality Fellowship Program (CQFP), sponsored by the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA) and the United Hospital Fund (UHF). During this fellowship, Dr. Natal will be learning key skills needed to lead quality improvement and patient safety initiatives. She believes this fellowship is a natural compliment to her medical simulation fellowship.

[Back to Staff Directory]