2026 NLN Education Summit

Dr. Christine "Christy" Heid is a dedicated nurse educator, innovator, and simulationist with over two decades of experience. She holds a PhD in Nursing and has made significant contributions to nursing education, particularly in simulation-based learning and clinical judgment development. Dr. Heid is the creator of the Heid ATE Guide for Clinical Teaching and Learning©, an innovative tool designed to build nurses' clinical judgment skills. She is the former Chair of the INACSL Education Committee, a member of the OADN Simulation Committee, and a contributor to the Cornerstones of Best Practice, which explores the application of the Healthcare Simulation Standards of Best Practice™. Her work focuses on promoting innovative teaching strategies, simulation-based competency evaluation, and fostering deep learning across academic and practice settings to improve healthcare and educational outcomes.

Christine Vogel is a clinical nurse, simulationist, and nurse educator who believes in the capacity of every nurse learner to realize their full potential by engaging in deliberate practice and choosing to start with the "Basic Assumption" that everyone is intelligent, capable, cares about doing their best, and wants to improve. As Lead Nurse Educator at UbiSim, Christine is actively engaged in designing, piloting, and evaluating evidence-based immersive VR simulations for nurse learners. In addition to her 25+ years in nursing, she has over a decade of experience in nursing academia where she developed, facilitated, and evaluated high-fidelity simulations in virtual reality as well as other modalities.

Tracy's work sits at the intersection of clinical learning and product strategy helping the field understand not just what VR simulation can do, but why it matters right now. She is passionate about connecting innovation with real-world impact and championing nurses at the forefront of one of healthcare's most critical transformations.