Martin Warters, MA
Martin Warters, MA stands as one of healthcare education’s most influential innovators, transforming how physicians learn through virtual patient simulations that have measurably improved clinical decision-making for thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide. With over 17 years of simulation expertise across diverse industries, Martin now serves as HCP Digital Product Lead at Pfizer, pioneering the integration of AI, metaverse, and immersive digital technologies into medical education.
Before Pfizer, Martin served as Director of Learner Experience at Medscape where he spearheaded the design and development of MedSims, a virtual patient simulation platform that won 2nd place for the Technology Innovation Award at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) in 2017. In addition to winning the ACEhp Award for Innovation in CPD for the CE/CPD Professional in 2018, and their Award for Outstanding Outcomes in 2020. Read Speak Out: The Power of Virtual Patient Simulation in CME.
MedSims sophisticated architecture includes EHR integration, narrative-driven case development, and real-time evidence-based feedback systems. MedSims offers a realistic and immersive digital platform that allows medical professionals to deepen their skillset in a controlled environment.
Rigorous clinical studies have validated MedSims a significant, measurable, effect on physician performance. Published research in the Journal of European CME showed virtual patient simulations generated a 22% relative improvement in clinical decision-making among cardiologists and a 27% improvement among hematologist-oncologists, reaching over 1,700 physicians globally.
This evidence-based approach to educational technology has established new standards for measuring real-world outcomes in continuing medical education. While another study in the Journal of the Endocrine Society showed 26–27% improvement rates in appropriate hypoparathyroidism diagnosis among both specialists and primary care physicians. These outcomes represent some of the most robust evidence for simulation effectiveness in continuing medical education. Read Can Virtual Patient Simulation Improve Management of Hypoparathyroidism?
Martin’s unique career trajectory began as an educator, where he quickly moved from pedagogical roles as a teacher at ESCS and the York School of English in 2003 to serving as Director of Studies at the Castle School of English in 2007. At the Castle School, Martin presented workshops on effective study skills and the usage of technology and the web in education. While pursuing this role, Martin would also cut his teeth working as a Simulation Trainer at ASTAC. These two roles that would set the tone for Martin’s later career focus.
In 2011, Martin began volunteering with Teachers Without Borders, providing online support in researching and preparing training materials. From 2011 to 2012, he also played a pivotal role at Immerse in Greater London, where he made significant forays into the field of virtual world education over an eight-month period. His journey at the company began in September 2011 as a Virtual World Simulation Developer, where he quickly distinguished himself by designing and delivering interactive classes and events in online virtual environments. His technical expertise and innovative approach to digital learning set a strong foundation for his rapid career progression.
In December 2011, just four months after joining, Martin was promoted to Assistant Director for Simulation Courses, a testament to his leadership potential and the value he brought to the organization. In this role, he led the development of advanced 3D virtual world courses tailored for clients in the energy and aviation sectors. His responsibilities spanned needs and task analysis, storyboarding, prototyping, interaction design, and content development, showcasing his ability to blend strategic thinking with hands-on execution.
Martin served as a Simulation Learning Developer at TheraSim from May 2012 to July 2014, joining as an early member of this healthcare simulation startup-based Durham, North Carolina. He was responsible for the educational design of TheraSim’s virtual patient simulation product while also driving business growth through partnership development and client-facing demonstrations.
His dual role as technical developer and business ambassador helped establish TheraSim’s presence in the healthcare education market during its critical startup phase. This foundational experience in simulation-based healthcare education positioned Martin for his subsequent leadership roles at Medscape, after TheraSim was acquired by the company in May of 2014.
Martin began his journey at Medscape as a Simulation Learning Designer in June 2014. During his initial year and ten months in this role, he was responsible for conceptualizing and developing award-winning products in immersive simulation education. His work focused on creating product experiences that extended and enhanced educational offerings through cutting-edge virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality technologies.
In March 2016, Martin was promoted to Senior Simulation Learning Designer, where he continued to refine his expertise in educational technology integration. During this seven-month period, he contributed to business development by conducting client-facing demonstrations and served as the educational development lead for proprietary content management systems and authoring tools.
Martin’s exceptional performance led to his appointment as Team Lead for Simulation and Educational Design of MedSims in September 2018. In this role, he promoted product development through international sales training, demonstrations, and conferences. He trained team members and enhanced the educational design of simulation products, demonstrating his growing leadership capabilities.
His leadership trajectory continued with his promotion to Associate Director of Simulations in March 2018, where he oversaw the conceptualization and development of simulation products while building and training a team of designers. This role involved enhancing and optimizing the simulation thinking process and developing curriculum matrices that aligned with instructional design best practices.
In March 2019, Martin advanced to Associate Director of Learner Experience, where he led the development and execution of marketing, sales campaigns, and workshops at global conferences. His responsibilities expanded to include developing educational design for Medscape’s game-based learning platform and overseeing the live immersive space. He played a crucial role in advancing products through regulatory clearance by working directly with key opinion leaders to prototype new offerings for life science companies, pharmaceutical organizations, and medical device manufacturers.
Martin’s career at Medscape culminated with his promotion to Director of Learner Experience in March 2020. In this executive role, he steered global digital product design initiatives, incorporating user-centered design principles, educational design theory, and learner experience feedback. His leadership was instrumental in developing innovative onsite and remote instructional solutions for healthcare professionals. During this period, he moderated live symposium products, developed educational design for game-based learning platforms, and presented on emerging and immersive technologies at numerous global events.
After Medscape, Martin contributed his considerable expertise at Pfizer as Head of Education Development Management. Over his three years and seven months in this position, he became instrumental in reshaping how the Global Product Development team approached learning initiatives. His focus centered on crafting training programs that not only delivered knowledge effectively but also created meaningful experiences for colleagues across the organization.
Martin’s tenure was marked by several groundbreaking accomplishments. He championed the development of immersive digital learning solutions, placing user needs at the heart of every design decision. Perhaps most notably, he orchestrated a paradigm shift in educational methodology, moving the organization away from conventional instructional frameworks toward experience-centric design. This evolution embraced modern approaches including Agile practices, user experience research, Design Thinking methodologies, and analytics-driven decision making.
Among his pioneering efforts was the launch of Pfizer’s Metaverse Community of Practice pilot program, a cross-functional initiative that explored the frontiers of virtual learning environments. As the architect of this program, Martin produced comprehensive position papers that outlined strategic approaches to educational design within Metaverse platforms, establishing thought leadership both internally and externally.
Leading a diverse international team of nine specialists, Martin orchestrated the creation and implementation of educational resources that addressed crucial areas such as clinical research protocols, medical practice standards, safety requirements, and regulatory adherence. His ability to forge collaboration with senior executives ensured that learning initiatives received necessary support and remained aligned with Pfizer’s broader organizational goals.
Martin’s exceptional performance earned him promotion to HCP Digital Product Lead in May 2024, where he now operates from Pfizer’s New York offices. In this capacity, he continues to push boundaries in how pharmaceutical companies can leverage technology to enhance professional education and development.
Martin’s career success at the cutting edge of education began when he earned a Master’s degree in Educational Technology from the University of Manchester in 2012. This degree provided him with a solid academic foundation that he would utilize throughout his career. In addition, Martin has earned professional certifications as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) and SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM) demonstrating his commitment to both continually learning and pursuing further educational and business excellence.
Martin’s published research demonstrates exceptional reach and influence in healthcare education. His work has been cited in major medical education journals, with studies involving participants from over 60 countries, showcasing the global scalability of his educational innovations. Martin’s research work centers around measuring the impact and potential usefulness of Virtual Patient Simulations in improving the treatment of medical conditions.
A notable example is the study he coauthored, which focused on examining if Virtual Patient Simulation-based training could improve the performance of healthcare practitioner’s implementation of Guideline Based Lipid-Lowering and CV Risk Reduction in high-risk patients. Significant improvements were observed, such as a 360% in appropriate prescribing of a PCSK9 inhibitor among Cardiologists, and a 1,250% improvement among Primary Care Physicians post-intervention. Read Virtual Patient Simulation Is Highly Effective at Improving Guideline-Based Lipid-Lowering and CV Risk Reduction in High Risk Patients.
Another example is his study examining the impact of Virtual Patient Simulation with regards to improving the use of Guideline-Directed Care in Venous Thromboembolism Treatment. The study found that virtual patient simulation significantly improved decision-making for both Cardiologists and Hematologists-Oncologists.
The simulation training yielded measurable results: in one case there was observed a 22% improvement among cardiologists and 27% improvement among Hematologists-Oncologists. Read Virtual Patient Simulation in Continuing Education: Improving the Use of Guideline-Directed Care in Venous Thromboembolism Treatment.
Martin’s thought leadership spans multiple formats, from academic publications to podcast appearances and conference presentations at industry events. At the 2023 Augmented Enterprise Summit, Martin presented a case study on using XR to create powerful narrative and learning experiences. He critiqued traditional training methods for their lack of engagement and real-world relevance, advocating for XR’s immersive capabilities as a solution. Martin highlighted how XR aligns with educational theories like situated learning and flow to enhance learning outcomes. He also emphasized the importance of narrative design in making XR training more relatable and effective. Watch Learning Experiences in XR: An Introduction to Creating Compelling & Meaningful Learning.
On the Write Medicine podcast, Martin discussed the strengths and application of simulation technology in clinical technology, effective learning design, and the future of healthcare education. Watch The Power of Multimodality Simulation in Continuing Healthcare Education.
Martin represents the convergence of educational theory, advanced technology, and measurable healthcare outcomes in medical education. His work has fundamentally changed how healthcare professionals learn, with documented improvements in clinical decision-making that translate directly to patient care. As he continues pioneering AI and virtual reality applications in healthcare education, his influence extends beyond individual innovations to shape the entire field’s trajectory toward immersive, evidence-based learning experiences.
His unique combination of cross-industry simulation expertise, advanced educational technology credentials, and proven ability to deliver measurable outcomes positions him as a defining figure in healthcare education’s digital transformation. Through his leadership at Pfizer and continued research contributions, Martin continues setting new standards for how technology can enhance professional medical education and improve patient outcomes globally.
Watch A Candid Conversation with Learning & Development, Our XR Successes and Struggles and Learning Experiences in XR: An Introduction to Creating Compelling & Meaningful Learning.
Listen to The Power of Multimodality Simulation in Continuing Healthcare Education.
Read Virtual Patient Simulation in Continuing Education: Improving the Use of Guideline-Directed Care in Venous Thromboembolism Treatment, Can Virtual Patient Simulation Improve Management of Hypoparathyroidism?, Life-like Virtual Patient Simulations, and The Power of Virtual Patient Simulation in CME.
Keep up with Martin’s ongoing work in healthcare simulation and educational technology by following him on LinkedIn and X. Experience the ways in which his work is improving healthcare outcomes by diving into his publications on ResearchGate.