Dr. Okuda is the Executive Director of USF Health’s Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS). In this role, he has oversight of a 90,000 ft2 state of the art, advanced training facility, with the mission of creating and providing experiential learning that improves clinical skills and patient care in the community and around the globe. In addition to this role, Dr. Okuda also serves as USF Health’s Associate Vice President of the Office of Interprofessional Education and Practice focused on creating interprofessional learning opportunities from early healthcare training to clinical practice. He is Professor in the Departments of Emergency Medicine and Medical Education at the Morsani College of Medicine and practices clinically at the Tampa VAMC.

Prior to coming to USF Health, Dr. Okuda was the national medical director for the Simulation Learning Education and Research Network (SimLEARN) where he established and implemented the national strategy and business plan for simulation-based programs at more than 150 U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ medical facilities. In addition to his role as national medical director of SimLEARN, Dr. Okuda served as the acting deputy chief of patient care services officer for the Veteran’s Health Administration, where he was responsible for policy development and oversight of the national Office for Women’s Health Care, Community and Preventative Health, Social Work and Pharmacy Benefits Management. Before joining the VA, he was assistant vice president and director of the Institute for Medical Simulation and Advanced Learning for the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, the largest public health system in the United States.

He has co-authored numerous textbooks, peer-reviewed publications and textbook chapters. Known for his passion for teaching, innovation and business, Dr. Okuda received the 2017 Distinguished Educator Award by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Simulation Academy for the creation of the simulation-based training program SimWARS; was named one of the top 25 Healthcare Leaders Under 40 by Becker’s Hospital Review in 2012; was selected as one of 40 Under 40 New York’s Rising Stars in Business by Crain’s NY Business Magazine in 2011; and was awarded the 2017 Healthcare and Medicine Leader of the Year by i4 Business Magazine. He is past President for the Society for Simulation in Healthcare (2022), a 5000 + member community of simulationists. His current research focus is the application of VR/AR/XR and haptics in healthcare training and assessment.