Meet our team

Dr. David Shahbodaghi is a Family Medicine Physician, Tropical & Travel Medicine consultant, a respected Public Health Expert, and a Medical Corps Officer in the US Army Reserve. 

His career is defined by a dual commitment to military medical leadership and rural healthcare advocacy. Dr. Shahbodaghi has extensive experience in military and rural healthcare, where he has been a key advocate for medical simulation training. 

As of early 2026, he remains a key figure in military medical education, previously serving as the Hospital Continuing Medical Education (CME) Director at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC) in Fort Bliss, Texas and in the Army Professional Management Command (APMC), where Dr. Shahbodaghi's work supports this mission by utilizing simulation to bridge the gap between civilian practice and military operational requirements. 

Dr. Shahbodaghi's work frequently intersects with simulation as a tool for clinical readiness and error reduction. 

Rural Educaiton & Training:

In his former capacity as a medical director in rural Montana, he has facilitated on-site training with SIM-MT (Simulation in Motion-Montana, Inc.), a mobile simulation program that brings high-fidelity clinical training to rural healthcare teams.

Military Graduate Medical Education (GME):  

He has contributed to research and military publications (such as The Medical Journal) discussing the use of simulation laboratoriesfor hands-on skills rotations and the development of a "ready military medical force" through simulation-specific training.

His work aligns with the Army’s "Train as We Fight" philosophy, utilizing various simulation modalities:

High-Fidelity Manikins: Facilitating training with advanced manikins that breathe, bleed, and respond physiologically to treatments to desensitize personnel to trauma.

Operational Readiness: Using simulations to assess how medical equipment and patient flow operate in "future operating environments" and high-acuity casualty scenarios.

Combat Medic Training: Supporting the transition of combat medics to enhanced roles (such as providing whole blood at the point of injury) through virtual and augmented reality simulations. 

Patient Safety: 

His academic interests include using advanced documentation and simulation-based drills to reduce medical errors and improve hospital preparedness for high-stakes events like bioterrorism. 

Military & Pandemic Leadership: 

In early 2020, Dr. Shahbodaghi was directed to report to CENTCOM Forward Command Headquarters to help design the U.S. military's regional COVID-19 medical response system.

Hot Spot Command: He transitioned from policy development to field operations, leading an Army Central Command COVID-19 Response Force to a designated "hot spot". He served as the Officer-in-Charge of a U.S. Air Force Role 1 Military Treatment Facility in the Middle East, converting it into a regional hub for COVID-19 operations. 

Academic and Professional Contributions
Institutional Training:

As the Continuing Medical Education (CME) director at William Beaumont Army Medical Center (WBAMC), he adapted professional development by creating a digital conference format to maintain staff training despite pandemic-related travel and gathering constraints.

He authored several papers detailing military lessons from the pandemic, including:"Quarantine in a COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons from a Deployed Role I".

"COVID-19 Crisis: The Pandemic Highlights the Unique Training and Skills of Military Physicians".

Advocacy for Military GME: Shahbodaghi has argued that military-specific Graduate Medical Education (GME) uniquely prepares physicians to lead in the "austere and chaotic environments" characteristic of a global pandemic. 

Education & Training: 
He completed his Family Medicine residency at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center. He holds an MD, an MPH, and a Diploma in Clinical Tropical Medicine from West Virginia University. He earned a B.S. in Neuroscience and History from Muskingum University and attended medical school through the Army Health Professions Scholarship Program. 

Dr. Raul Espinosa, MD, MBA, is a medical Simulation & Healthcare Strategy Consultant. 

Dr. Raul Espinosa is a physician-executive and consultant specializing in medical simulation, clinical performance improvement, and healthcare strategy. With a background that bridges frontline clinical care and executive leadership, Dr. Espinosa helps healthcare organizations design, implement, and scale simulation-based solutions that improve patient safety, team performance, and operational efficiency.

He advises hospitals, academic medical centers, and health systems on simulation program development, workforce training, and strategic planning, with a focus on aligning clinical education with organizational goals. His work often integrates high-fidelity simulation, systems thinking, and data-driven decision-making to support change management and quality improvement initiatives.

Dr. Espinosa holds an MD and an MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas, enabling him to translate complex clinical challenges into practical, sustainable strategies for leadership teams. He is known for his collaborative approach, clear communication, and ability to connect simulation outcomes to measurable business and clinical impact.

Areas of Expertise:

• Medical and interprofessional simulation
• Clinical education strategy
• Patient safety and quality improvement
• Healthcare operations and systems design
• Leadership development and change management. 

Dr. Sara Johnson, DO, is a Patient Safety, Medical Marketing & Healthcare Strategy Consultant.

Dr. Sara Johnson is a physician consultant specializing in patient safety, medical marketing, and healthcare strategy. She works with healthcare organizations, startups, and life science companies to develop strategies that improve care quality while clearly communicating value to patients, clinicians, and stakeholders.

With a foundation in osteopathic medicine from Ohio University, Dr. Johnson brings a whole-person, systems-oriented perspective to patient safety and risk reduction. Her consulting work focuses on translating clinical best practices into scalable safety initiatives, brand narratives, and go-to-market strategies that align clinical credibility with business objectives.

Dr. Johnson advises clients on patient safety culture, quality improvement messaging, clinical content development, and ethical medical marketing. She is particularly skilled at bridging the gap between clinical teams and marketing or executive leadership, ensuring that strategies are both evidence-informed and patient-centered.

Known for her clear strategic thinking and collaborative approach, Dr. Johnson helps organizations build trust, strengthen their reputation, and drive meaningful impact in competitive healthcare environments.

Areas of Expertise: 

• Patient safety and quality strategy
• Medical and healthcare marketing
• Clinical content and messaging development
• Healthcare consulting and strategic planning
• Stakeholder engagement and brand positioning