Dr. Carla Pugh

Dr. Pugh is a professor of surgery and vice-chair of education and patient safety at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH). Her clinical specialty is acute care surgery.

During her surgery residency at Howard University in Washington, D.C., Dr. Pugh recognized that there was a need for new and innovative modes for assessing hands-on clinical skills. While obtaining a PhD in education at Stanford University, Dr. Pugh was awarded a method patent on the use of haptic sensors and data acquisition technology to measure and characterize the sense of touch.

Dr. Pugh is nationally recognized for her research on the use of sensors and simulation technology to assess and quantitatively define hands-on clinical skills. Currently, more than 200 medical and nursing schools use one of Dr. Pugh’s sensor-enabled training tools for their students and trainees.

“The future of safety, efficiency and high quality care is heavily dependent on the investigation and incorporation of advanced engineering technologies. The ISE has assembled a critical mass of key stakeholders in this process. I consider it a huge honor and privilege to join this prestigious group,” Pugh explains.