Joseph Crutcher, D.H.S.
Dr. Joseph Crutcher is the Director of the Simulation and Education Center and the Van Elslander Surgical Innovation Center at Ascension Providence Hospital in Southfield and Novi, Michigan. He holds a doctorate in Academic Health Sciences from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and masters' degrees in both Adult Education and Measurement and Evaluation.
Dr. Crutcher has been active in academic simulation for over fifteen years. His experiences range from the development of a simulation of an exit procedure in obstetrics involving six physicians and thirty-one OR staff to “pick-offs” of unresponsive climbers while suspending several hundred feet above the ground in the mountains of Colorado. Currently, he oversees two simulation labs serving primarily residents.. Although he is actively involved in several research projects, his personal research interest resides in the modeling of latent traits.
Staff Biographies
William Oppat, M.D., F.A.C.S
Dr. William F. Oppat is the Surgical Director of the Simulation and Education Center and the Van Elslander Surgical Innovation Center. He oversees simulation activities with a focus on current best practices and the utilization of modern medical equipment for physicians-in-training. As the Surgery Program Director for Medical Education at Ascension Providence Hospital, Southfield and Novi Campuses, he directs curriculum development and facilitates residents’ surgical training. Dr. Oppat also instructs medical students as a Clinical Assistant Professor for Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and as an Adjunct Clinical Professor for the American University of the Caribbean.
In addition to his roles at Ascension Providence Hospital, Dr. Oppat serves as the Program Director for Vascular Surgery at Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, and Chief and Clinical Associate Professor in Vascular Surgery for Wayne State University School of Medicine.
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Dr. Oppat earned his B.S. in Molecular Biology/Chemistry from the University of Michigan. He went on to complete an M.S. in Physiology from Wayne State University and graduated with his M.D. from the institution’s medical school. Dr. Oppat completed his post-graduate training at Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney, Australia, and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He is double board-certified through the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Surgery.
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As a clinician, Dr. Oppat focused his career on the sub-specialty of vascular surgery. He had the privilege of training and practicing internationally which enriched his abilities as an educator. Beyond his award-winning educational leadership, Dr. Oppat is an esteemed professional among his peers, having served as President of the Michigan Vascular Surgical Society and President of the Surgical Associates of Michigan. The surgeon has also fulfilled duties as a board member of Together Heath Network and The Physician Alliance, and is active in various professional societies.
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Location: Southfield and Novi Campuses
Phone: (248) 849-8902
Email: william.oppat@ascension.org
Robert S. Hong, M.D., Ph.D.
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Dr. Robert Hong is the Assistant Surgical Director of the Van Elslander Surgical Innovation Center at Ascension Providence Hospital in Novi. His work with Michigan Ear Institute, the original team of the Centers' creators, and partnership with the Sim Lab staff have allowed the two entities to forge a collaborative approach and host regular resident temporal bone dissection courses.
Dr. Hong is board-certified in adult and pediatric Neurotology, Otology, Otolaryngology, and Skull Base Surgery. He specializes in the medical and surgical treatment of ear and skull base disorders in both adults and children. His clinical interests include ear infections, hearing loss, dizziness, facial weakness, cochlear implants, and acoustic neuromas.
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Dr. Hong received his undergraduate degree at Harvard University and medical degree from the University of California at Irvine. He completed his otolaryngology residency at the University of Iowa. While at Iowa, he obtained a Ph.D. in Speech and Hearing Sciences for his groundbreaking work toward improving the understanding of speech in noise by cochlear implant recipients. He has also completed research fellowships sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and the Doris Duke Foundation. Following residency, he completed an accredited fellowship in ear and skull base surgery at Michigan Ear Institute. Dr. Hong is currently a staff physician at Michigan Ear Institute and has a joint appointment as an Associate Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He also serves as Director of Research for Michigan Ear Institute.
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Dr. Hong is a member of the American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head & Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), the American Neurotology Society (ANS), the Otosclerosis Study Group, and the Michigan Otolaryngological Society. He is chairman of the ANS Social Media Committee and serves on the Board of the Michigan Otolaryngological Society. He also serves or has served on a number of other national committees, including the AAO-HNS Committee for Implantable Hearing Devices, AAO-HNS Committee for Medical Devices & Drugs, and the ANS Subcommittee for Digital Media. He has been the principal investigator for numerous clinical studies, including those involving Meniere’s disease, tinnitus, otosclerosis, cochlear implants and other implantable hearing devices. He is on the editorial board of Otology & Neurotology, serving as the social media editor. He has authored over 30 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, as well as served as a reviewer for multiple prestigious journals. He is also Co-director of the temporal bone dissection course at Michigan Ear Institute and is the Director of the temporal bone anatomy module at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
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Dr. Hong serves as Chief Medical Director for the Robert H. Mathog Lions Hearing Centers, Lions Foundation of Michigan-- a charitable organization dedicated to providing hearing-related services to individuals and communities through screening, diagnosis, treatment, education and research, regardless of ability to pay. He is also a past Chairman of the Lions Hearing Center of Michigan and a past Director of the Lions Hearing Clinic at Michigan Ear Institute.
Location: Michigan Ear Institute
Phone: (248)865-4444
Email: rhong@michiganear.com
Stephen Shemes, B.S.
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Stephen Shemes is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology and began working for Ascension hospital in 2007 as a Research Assistant. Mr. Shemes started working in simulation in 2016 and managed the simulation lab at Ascension St. John Moross Hospital (now Ascension St. John Hospital). Mr. Shemes is an expert in the programming of high fidelity simulators as well as the incorporation of audio-visual into simulation practice.
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Location: Southfield Campus
Phone: (248) 849-7902
Email: stephen.shemes@ascension.org
Jeffrey Doebler, B.S.
Jeff Doebler is a graduate of the University of Michigan-Dearborn with a degree in biology. He has served in the Michigan Army National Guard for 14 years where he worked as a combat medic, a flight medic, and currently a helicopter pilot. Jeff's experience in both military medicine and as a pilot provide him with experiences in simulation that make him unique.
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Location: Southfield and Novi Campuses
Phone: (248) 849-7903 & (248) 465-4674
Christina Schira, B.S.
Christina Schira graduated from the University of Michigan in 2020 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology, Health and Society. During undergrad, she spent much of her time as a Student Lab Coordinator assisting in the operation of an Authentic Research Connection section of an introductory biology laboratory course. The course enabled undergraduate students to participate in the investigation of the human microbiome, led by faculty in the Schmidt Laboratory. Christina’s experience in direct patient care stems from serving as a Certified Nursing Assistant in assisted living homes, as well as an endoscopy clinic. Joining as a Simulation Specialist, she is excited to see other sides of medicine– education, innovation and simulation! She hopes to continue to navigate different aspects of medicine before deciding which field to pursue for her graduate degree.
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Location: Southfield and Novi Campuses
Phone: (248) 849-7903 & (248) 465-4674
Vanessa Sykes, M.B.A, C-TAGME
Vanessa Sykes has over 25 years of experience in Medical Education starting as a Program Coordinator and working her way up through the ranks of Medical Education. She has brought a wealth of knowledge and organizational processes to the Ascension Providence Team. She is your person to work with to pay your invoice.
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Location: Southfield Campus
16001 West Nine Mile Rd
Fisher Center, Suite 402
Southfield, MI 48075
Phone: 248-849-8483
Email: Vanessa.Sykes@ascension.org