Memorial University Faculty of Medicine Learners
Standardized Patient Program
What is a Standardized Patient
SPs are healthy people who have been carefully trained to realistically reproduce the history, body language, physical findings and the emotional and personality characteristics of an actual patient.
Why use SP's
SPs offer a readily available and standardized tool for healthcare learners to explore the “art and science” of interviewing, therapeutic communication and/or physical examination skills, and afford the opportunity for teaching and assessment of clinical skills in a patient oriented and problem-based manner.
Advantages of using SP s in health professional education:
- Allow standardization of patient cases using several SPs for the same role
- Allow for repeatability with numerous students
- Provide immediate feedback from a patient’s point of view
- Provide a safe environment for students to practice different communication, examination and management techniques.
What qualifications do I need to become an SP
SPs come from varying backgrounds, and range in age from infancy to 85 years old! No formal acting training is necessary to become an SP. What you do need is a sincere interest in improving the learning opportunities for and evaluation of learners in health care professions. SPs will receive comprehensive training to simulate patients in discrete roles as well as in policies, procedures, and the art of giving feedback. However, students also learn from Teaching Patients, who are laypeople with complex medical histories. .
What are we looking for in our SP's
- A flexible weekday schedule
- An interest in improving learning opportunities for health care professionals
- Comfort with speaking in front of a small group of people you don’t know
- Comfort with wearing a hospital gown and sitting on an exam table, talking to a small group of students?
- Someone who is physically healthy and able-bodied (emotional / mental health history will NOT disqualify you from becoming an SP). If NOT physically healthy and able-bodied, you may qualify to be a Teaching Patient
What might disqualify you from being an SP?
- You fall within an age group that is already over-represented in the SP program. Please note: We have a shortage of SPs in the 35-55 age group. Is this is you, we’d love to hear from you!
- You have a physical condition that might make it challenging to standardize you with other SPs (if so, please refer to our Teaching Patient program)
- You’ve been accepted into medical school
Is being an SP volunteer work?
Standardized Patients will be considered casual employees of UPEI and paid hourly rates for their training and event time.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus. leo.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Do you have a sincere interest in improving the learning opportunities for and evaluation of learners in health care professions? If YES, then becoming a Standardized Patient (SP) could be just right for you!
Events, Social & news
What's Happening
Would you like to be a medical school interviewer? Apply today!Apply now to be a medical school interviewer!
Medical school interviews 2026 will take place Jan. 17 and Jan. 18, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. (7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in PEI). We are seeking physicians, faculty and staff, medical residents, medical learners and community members to participate. For more information, contact munmedvip@mun.ca or 709 864 6328.
