When you think of healthcare simulation, the first things that come to mind are probably high-tech patient mannequins, immersive VR environments, and cutting-edge training tools for medical professionals. But what if I told you that one of the most innovative minds in the industry started his career creating robots and special effects for Hollywood blockbusters like Terminator 3 and Gravity?
Welcome to the world of Raul Rodriguez, founder of Ambulance Solutions—a company that is redefining the realism of medical simulation through innovative, lifelike patient overlays. In the first episode of Between 2 Simulators, the new video podcast by SIMZINE, Raul sat down with host Jake Rahman at IMSH 2025 in Orlando to share his fascinating journey from film to healthcare, his passion for problem-solving, and how his background in special effects is helping to shape the future of medical training.
From the Big Screen to the Simulation Lab
Raul Rodriguez’s story is anything but conventional. As he recalls in the interview, his career started in special effects and robotics in Hollywood, where he worked on projects involving animatronics, prosthetics, and digital effects.
“My first film was Terminator 3,” Raul reveals. “I was working on building robots, and at one point, I needed to figure out how to put realistic skin over them. That’s when I got into makeup and special effects. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was working on major productions.”
From there, Raul’s expertise in creating lifelike human forms took him to London, where he collaborated on digital effects and practical effects for movies. Then came his next adventure—Rome—where he worked as a product designer, constantly developing new solutions for technical challenges in various industries.
It wasn’t until a chance collaboration with a hospital in Spain that Raul discovered the world of medical simulation.
“It was a total accident,” he admits with a laugh. “I realized that my problem-solving skills and my background in special effects could be applied to something much more impactful—helping people learn how to save lives.”
Bridging the Gap Between Special Effects and Medical Training
One of the key takeaways from Raul’s journey is the parallel between special effects and healthcare simulation. Both fields require creativity, technical expertise, and the ability to craft realistic environments for high-stakes scenarios.
“In film, you’re building something for a director’s vision. In healthcare simulation, you’re building something for education. But in both cases, the goal is the same: to create something as real as possible,” Raul explains.
This mindset led to the creation of Ambulance Solutions, a company specializing in realistic patient overlays designed to make medical mannequins more diverse, lifelike, and adaptable to different training scenarios.
Revolutionizing Medical Simulation with Patient Overlays
Traditional medical mannequins are excellent training tools, but they have a major flaw—they often fail to represent the diversity of real patients.
“If you look at the mannequins used in most simulation centers, they’re usually young, healthy-looking, and thin,” Raul points out. “But in real hospitals, the average ICU patient is over 60 years old, often overweight, and has complex medical conditions. That’s the reality medical professionals need to be prepared for.”
To address this, Raul and his team developed a range of patient overlays—silicone-based add-ons that can be placed over mannequins to change their appearance, texture, and even anatomical structure. These overlays allow simulation centers to train healthcare professionals in more realistic, high-pressure environments.
Beyond Looks: The Functional Impact of Patient Overlays
What makes Raul’s overlays truly revolutionary is that they go beyond just aesthetics. They are designed to replicate the unique challenges of treating real patients.
For example:
- Obese patient overlays make it harder to locate pulses, insert IVs, or perform chest compressions, mimicking the challenges faced in emergency medicine.
- Elderly patient overlays help simulate fragile skin, decreased elasticity, and the physiological changes associated with aging.
- Customizable wounds and trauma overlays allow training scenarios to include severe burns, open fractures, or surgical incisions.
“It’s not just about making mannequins look more realistic,” Raul emphasizes. “It’s about training medical professionals to deal with different body types and medical conditions, so they’re better prepared for real-world scenarios.”
Empowering Simulation Technicians: The Unsung Heroes of Medical Training
Throughout the interview, Raul repeatedly highlights the importance of simulation technicians—the people behind the scenes who design, set up, and troubleshoot simulation scenarios.
“Simulation technicians are problem solvers, just like special effects technicians in film,” he says. “They have to understand everything—software, hardware, moulage, sound design, scenario building. They’re the backbone of every successful simulation center.”
Raul’s overlays are designed to be easily customizable so that simulation technicians can adapt them to different training needs without requiring extensive technical knowledge.
“If you want to add wounds, surgical incisions, or other modifications, you can do it yourself. My goal is to make these tools accessible and flexible for every simulation center,” he explains.
The Future of Medical Simulation: Where Do We Go from Here?
As the conversation wraps up, Jake asks Raul about his vision for the future.
“The exciting thing about medical simulation is that there’s still so much room for innovation,” Raul says. “We’re just scratching the surface. In the future, I see overlays becoming more advanced, integrating with AI, sensors, and responsive technology to create even more immersive training experiences.”
He also believes that collaboration between industries—such as healthcare, film, and engineering—will drive the next wave of breakthroughs in simulation.
“Some of the best ideas come from outside of healthcare. That’s why I love working with people from different backgrounds—engineers, artists, special effects experts. Innovation happens when different disciplines come together,” he concludes.
Final Thoughts: A Game-Changer for Medical Training
Raul Rodriguez’s journey from Hollywood to healthcare simulation is a testament to the power of cross-disciplinary thinking. By applying his expertise in special effects and problem-solving, he has created solutions that are transforming how medical professionals train for real-world emergencies.
His company, Ambulance Solutions, is helping to bridge the gap between traditional medical simulation and real-world clinical challenges, ensuring that future doctors, nurses, and first responders are better prepared for the patients they will encounter.
As Between 2 Simulators continues its video podcast series, Raul’s episode sets the tone for what’s to come—engaging, insightful conversations with the changemakers of healthcare simulation.
So, if you’re ready to see where the future of medical training is headed, stay tuned—because this is just the beginning.
Want to watch the full interview? Check out Raul Rodriguez’s episode on Between 2 Simulators, available now on SIMZINE’s platforms. And don’t forget to follow us for more exclusive conversations with the pioneers shaping the world of healthcare simulation.
READ ALSO
