Center for Research in Education and Simulation Technologies(CREST) is devoted to advancing the current state of medical training and patient education.
Originally created by Dr. Robert Sweet as a research and development lab to supplement SIMPORTAL UMN (Medical Simulation Center of the University of Minnesota) CREST has grown in size and prominence.
After nearly a decade of work with UMN, Dr. Sweet accepted a position at the University of Washington and brought CREST with him to continue their work in simulation research and development.
CREST is currently in partnership with UW WISH which connects over 30 departments and programs throughout UW Medicine, School of Medicine, School of Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and Physician Assistant Training Program (MEDEX).
CREST consists of a talented team versed in simulator development, material science, digital animation, mechanical engineering, traditional art, and medical training, eagerly working alongside industry partners and hospital staff of all levels.
Our diverse and growing team has created VR surgical trainers, medical mankins, educational software, clinical apps, part-task trainers, simple tissue analogs and helps to conduct validation studies. CREST also works to develop these by acquiring tissue property data for our Human Tissue Property Database.
