Meredith Deegan DNP, MSN, RN, CNL, CHSE

Dr. Meredith Deegan, DNP, MSN, RN, CNL, CHSE, currently serves as the Director of the Clinical Learning Center & Simulation at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Nursing, where she leads the strategic direction and day-to-day operations of a comprehensive simulation program supporting undergraduate and graduate education in nursing. She partners with faculty and clinical stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate immersive, evidence-based learning experiences that build clinical judgment, communication, teamwork, and practice readiness, while prioritizing psychological safety, equity, and learner-centered pedagogy.

With prior clinical experience across medical-surgical specialties and ambulatory care and a foundation in infectious disease epidemiology and population health, Dr. Deegan brings a systems-level expertise to workforce preparation, organizational leadership in healthcare, and competency-based education. Her work integrates national best practices in healthcare simulation, faculty development, and outcomes measurement, with a focus on bridging the theory-to-practice gap through realistic, data-informed scenarios and high-quality debriefing. Her professional interests include competency validation models, assessment of communication and professional behaviors, and scalable innovations that expand access to experiential learning across diverse learner groups and settings.

Dr. Deegan is active in both regional and national organizations, including the Virginia State Simulation Alliance as the Capital Region Co-Director and Board member, and as a member of workgroups for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Dr. Deegan frequently presents her work at conferences regionally and nationally. Dr. Deegan is committed to advancing the next generation of healthcare professionals through innovative educational methodologies, fostering strategic collaborations, and designing transformative educational programs that cultivate competent, adaptable practitioners.