WorldPoint Vendor Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview with Laerdal’s Kathy Linville
Welcome to WorldPoint’s Vendor Spotlight series, where we highlight leading manufacturers and partners who are making a profound impact in healthcare education and training. In this edition, we’re thrilled to feature Laerdal, a global pioneer in healthcare simulation. Laerdal’s innovative products, such as the Resusci QCPR line and MegaCode Kelly, have played a pivotal role in advancing life-saving training. Today, we sit down with Kathy Linville, Channel Partner Manager at Laerdal, to explore the company’s history, mission, and exciting developments for the future.
WorldPoint: Kathy, thank you for joining us. Laerdal has been a leader in healthcare education and simulation. Can you share a little about the story behind Laerdal and what inspired its founding?
Kathy Linville: Absolutely! Many people might not know that Laerdal actually started as a toy company in Norway. Åsmund Laerdal, after experiencing a personal incident within his family, recognized the need for improved resuscitation training, particularly in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. He partnered with two physicians to develop Resusci Anne, which made its way to the United States in 1960. Since then, Laerdal has expanded its portfolio to include SimMan, Resusci Anne, MegaCode Kelly, and a wide range of nursing products, all aimed at improving patient outcomes and saving lives.
WorldPoint: That’s an incredible journey! How has Laerdal’s relationship with WorldPoint evolved over the years?
Kathy Linville: Our partnership with WorldPoint has been long-standing and mission-driven. Both companies are deeply committed to improving patient care outcomes. Over the years, our collaboration has expanded beyond resuscitation to include nursing simulation and advanced patient care training. One of the things I value most about WorldPoint is their commitment to customer experience and their shared vision of improving healthcare education.
WorldPoint: Looking ahead, what upcoming products or enhancements are you most excited to introduce in 2025?
Kathy Linville: There’s a lot to be excited about! One major development is our recent acquisition of SIMCharacters, which includes neonatal and preemie-focused simulators like Paul, Emma, and Emily. Additionally, we recently re-released SimMan Critical Care, a ventilator-compatible simulator that mimics real-life breathing patterns and disease states. While I can’t reveal everything just yet, I can say that there are exciting advancements in resuscitation training on the horizon—stay tuned for big news after March 2025!
WorldPoint: That’s exciting! Can you walk us through the design and development process of flagship products like MegaCode Kelly and the Resusci QCPR line?
Kathy Linville: Absolutely. We strive to stay ahead of the latest guidelines and incorporate customer feedback into every product iteration. For example, the Resusci Anne series has evolved significantly over the years, from an inflatable model to today’s highly advanced simulation tools with real-time feedback. One of our key focuses is ensuring that our products are upgradable, providing long-term value for educators while promoting sustainability.
WorldPoint: What trends do you see shaping healthcare training, particularly in nursing education and emergency response?
Kathy Linville: One of the biggest shifts is toward competency-based education. We’ve developed training programs and resources to support this model, ensuring that learners achieve hands-on proficiency. In emergency medicine, new reimbursement guidelines are expanding the scope of prehospital procedures, such as rapid blood infusion, which can be incorporated into MegaCode Kelly training. Our goal is to provide educators with the tools they need to prepare healthcare professionals for real-world scenarios.
WorldPoint: AI is playing an increasing role in healthcare training. How is Laerdal incorporating AI into its products?
Kathy Linville: AI presents both opportunities and challenges. We have a dedicated team in Norway working meticulously on AI integration, particularly for virtual reality (VR) and clinical simulations. While we are being cautious to ensure reliability, you’ll likely see AI-driven advancements in our VR-based training programs before full integration into physical simulators.
WorldPoint: What innovations do you foresee for Laerdal and the healthcare simulation industry over the next decade?
Kathy Linville: The future will be shaped by changes in clinical practice and regulations. For example, we’ve developed a postpartum hemorrhage training program in response to new guidelines. Our focus is on staying ahead of industry needs, ensuring that educators have access to the best training tools available.
WorldPoint: What advice would you give to healthcare instructors on maximizing the potential of Laerdal products?
Kathy Linville: My first piece of advice? If your simulator is sitting in a closet, take it out and start using it! Work with your WorldPoint representative or Laerdal support team to ensure you’re leveraging all available features. Many products have accessories or upgrades that can expand their functionality, making them even more valuable in training programs.
WorldPoint: That’s great advice! Finally, what’s one lesser-known fact about Laerdal that you think our audience would find inspiring?
Kathy Linville: Many people don’t realize that Laerdal runs a Buy-One, Gift-One program for our Mama Birthie and Mama Natalie products. When a customer purchases one, we donate another to an underserved community. In 2024, we expanded this initiative to the United States, delivering 72 training models to healthcare deserts to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes here in the US. It’s a mission-driven initiative that truly makes an impact.
WorldPoint: That’s incredible, Kathy. Thank you for sharing your insights and passion for advancing healthcare training. We’re proud to partner with Laerdal and look forward to seeing what the future holds.
To our readers, thank you for joining us for this edition of WorldPoint’s Vendor Spotlight.
Stay tuned for more interviews with the industry’s top innovators. When you partner with WorldPoint and Laerdal, you're not just training—you’re transforming lives.
Until next time, take care and keep making a difference!
