Investing in Tomorrow’s Physicians: Bruce Berger, MD, M70 and Barbara Burger Enhance Hands-On Learning for Tufts Students

As Bruce Berger, MD, M70, and his wife, Barbara, reflected on the kind of impact they wanted to make at the School of Medicine, they knew they wanted to support a space that students would directly use and learn from. When they learned about the Camilla Bessey Thompson and Paul D. Thompson, M.D., Clinical Skills and Simulation Center, they decided it was the perfect fit as a bridge between learning and practice. Their top priority became ensuring that this state-of-the-art facility continues to offer the most effective, hands-on training experiences for future physicians.

The 15,000-square-foot Sim Center features a 50-person classroom, 16 simulated exam rooms, three observation and monitoring rooms, and four simulation spaces equipped with advance computerized mannequins that display signs and distress in realistic ways. The Center combines these state-of-the-art tools and spaces with an innovative simulation-based teaching model that gives students real-time exposure and hands-on experience across a wide range of clinical scenarios all within a safe environment designed for learning. These immersive experiences equip students to become skilled, versatile clinicians who create better experiences and health outcomes, something that stood out to the Bergers when choosing where to make their gift.

“We believe it is imperative to have facilities such as the simulation center to train future Tufts physicians,” Bruce said. “We hope our gift will inspire others to contribute to the center, ensuring it continues to be able to provide cutting-edge training.”

A version of this story also appeared in the Summer 2025 issue of One Tufts.