Robert M. Sweet, MD, FACS
Professor of Urology, Surgery and Bioengineering
Medical Director UW Medicine Kidney Stone Center
Chief, Division of Healthcare Simulation Sciences
Executive Director of WISH and CREST
Principal Investigator
Dr. Sweet is a Joint Professor of Urology and Surgery and Adjunct Professor in Bioengineering at the University of Washington. He is the Inaugural Chief of the Division for Healthcare Simulation Science and the Founding Medical Director of the UW Medicine Kidney Stone Center.
Dr. Sweet founded and led the University of Minnesota’s SimPORTAL and cofounded the University of Washington’s ISIS which was renamed the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho Institute for Simulation Technologies (WISH) when he assumed the Executive Director position. He is the PI for all programs in the Center for Research in Education and Simulation Technologies (CREST) including the “Advanced Modular Manikin” project. CREST programs have been funded by the Department of Defense, NIH and industry and has led to the development of numerous healthcare simulation training devices and curricula. Effective January 1, 2020, a Division of Healthcare Simulation Sciences, uniting WISH, CREST and healthcare simulation academic programs under a formal academic unit, was established at the University of Washington with Dr. Sweet now serving as the Founding Division Head.
Dr. Sweet is an “Arthur Smith Award” winner and is the Principal Investigator of numerous simulation research and development projects. Seattle Business Magazine Awarded him and his programs the 2019 “Leaders in Health Care, Achievement in Medical Technology” Gold Award.
Dr. Sweet has served in leadership positions in simulation and education within the American College of Surgeons, the Society for Laparoendoscopic Surgeons, the Endourology Society and the American Urological Association. Dr. Sweet helped develop the Surgical Simulation Fellowship Accreditation Program for the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Division of Education and started two such programs at the Universities of Minnesota and Washington. He is most proud of the accomplishments of his graduating fellows.
For his contributions to surgical education, in October 2018, Dr. Sweet was inducted as a Member of the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators™ Inaugural class and he was the recipient of the 2019 American Urological Association Distinguished Contribution Award.
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