Advancing Clinical Education Through Immersive VR Simulation
Built by a registered nurse with 23 years at Cleveland Clinic. SMART-LE puts a fully interactive clinical simulation center inside a VR headset, giving every nursing student an active clinical experience at a fraction of the cost.
THE CHALLENGE
Traditional simulation has not kept pace with demand
The nursing shortage is, at its root, a clinical education infrastructure problem. Over 93,000 qualified nursing applicants were turned away this year, not for academic reasons, but because programs lacked capacity to train them.
Prohibitive Infrastructure Costs
High-fidelity manikins cost $100,000+ each. Initial simulation center build-out runs $500K–$5M. Equipment depreciates. Budgets are consumed before students benefit.
Limited Student Throughput
Physical sim lab space and manikin availability are the bottlenecks to providing students with clinical simulation experiences.
Clinical Placement Shortage
Hospital placement sites have limited capacity. The NCSBN has authorized up to 50% of clinical hours to be replaced by simulation, but most programs lack the tools to act on it.
THE PLATFORM
A clinical simulation center inside a VR headset
SMART-LE is a real-time, interactive clinical environment, built by a nurse, powered by AI, designed to give every student an immersive clinical experience regardless of physical space or equipment.
AI-Driven Verbal Patient Communication
Students assess patients using verbal communication skills. Our SMARTpatient responds in real time, no dropdown menus, no scripted paths. Builds the clinical judgment the Next-Gen NCLEX demands.
Pre-Built Clinical Scenario Library
ACLS, BLS, MI, stroke, sepsis, DVT, DKA, hyper/hypoglycemia, GI, GU, IICP, Neuro, and more, aligned to NCLEX competency areas, ready to deploy into existing curriculum immediately.
30-Minute Custom Scenario Builder
Faculty create fully custom clinical scenarios in ~30 minutes. Competing platforms require 8–12 weeks and $8,000–$20,000+ for comparable custom development.
Built-In LMS & Accreditation Tracking
Every session is automatically logged. The integrated LMS generates CCNE and ACEN accreditation-ready records, no manual documentation required.
Diverse SMARTpatient Avatar Library
Patient avatars (called SMARTpatients) representing varied ethnicities, ages, genders, and conditions, supporting culturally competent clinical education that traditional manikins cannot replicate.
Headset Compatibility
Works with Meta Quest brand headsets, with future plans to support additional brands.
WHO WE SERVE
Designed for Every Role in Clinical Education
SMART-LE is built for the professionals who design, operate, teach, and lead nursing simulation programs.
Simulation Manager / Director
CHSOS® Certified Operations Professional
”I need a platform that integrates with our existing Meta Quest headsets, builds scenarios without vendor involvement, and doesn't add operational complexity to my program.“
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30-minute custom scenario builder
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Built-in scenario library, ready to deploy immediately
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No need for setup and teardown time, or significant storage space
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Automatic LMS tracking eliminates manual documentation
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Multiplayer and observer streaming built in
Dean / Program Director
BSN, MSN, DNP Program Leadership
”I need to increase simulation capacity, reduce cost per student, and generate accreditation documentation, without a capital expenditure request.“
Clinical Faculty / Instructor
CHSE® Certified Nurse Educator
”I need every student to have an active clinical experience, not just students who happen to be at the front of the rotation.“
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95% active student participation vs. 15% in group simulation⁹
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AI verbal patient interaction aligned to NGN NCLEX standards
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Diverse SMARTpatient avatars support culturally competent education
Clinical Simulationist
CHSOS® — Early Access Priority Audience
”I want to evaluate this platform properly, through hands-on use with the infrastructure we actually have, not a scripted sales demo.“
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Free Early Access for the Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 academic year nationwide
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Monthly cohort webinars with peer simulationists
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Your feedback directly shapes the product roadmap
EARLY ACCESS PROGRAMS
Two Pathways to Get Started
Both programs provide free full platform access, giving educators the opportunity to explore the platform and integrate it into the curriculum.
NORTHEAST OHIO
SMART-LE Pilot Program
Free full platform access for the Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 academic year
Onsite / in-person training and technical support
Loaner Meta Quest 3 headsets (limited availability)
Phone / online support weekdays 9am–5pm ET
Direct input into product roadmap development
Monthly cohort webinars with peer institutions
NATIONWIDE
SMART-LE Early Access
ANY NURSING SCHOOL IN THE UNITED STATES
Free full platform access for the Fall 2026.
Phone / online support weekdays 9am–5pm ET
Monthly cohort webinars with the pilot network
Participation in product feedback surveys
Institution provides Meta Quest brand headsets
Eligible institutions: Nursing schools offering RN programs at Associate Degree level and above (ADN, BSN, MSN, DNP). Target roles include Simulation Managers/Directors, Deans, CHSE®-certified Faculty, and CHSOS®-certified Clinical Simulationists.
OUR STORY
Kim Vergottini
BSN, RN · Founder & CEO
Experienced Cleveland Clinic Nurse Educator
Registered Nurse
Clinical Simulationist
I-Corps Pitch Winner
Certified XR Developer
“I spent 23 years at the bedside watching how much clinical education depended on being in the right place, at the right time, with the right equipment. I decided to change that.”
Kim Vergottini spent over two decades as a registered nurse, first at Cleveland Clinic's Main Campus, where she worked at the bedside for 17 years in med-surg, cardiothoracic ICU, and post-anesthesia care. She was then selected as part of the opening team for Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, one of the most ambitious healthcare launches in the world, where she coordinated all nurse onboarding and orientation.
It was in Abu Dhabi that Kim first understood the structural limits of how clinical education works. She returned to Cleveland, retrained as a certified XR software developer, and built SMART-LE, a platform that uses virtual reality and AI to deliver clinical simulation without the physical and financial constraints that have always limited it.
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17 years at Cleveland Clinic — med-surg, CTICU, PACU, bedside nursing
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Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi — coordinator of all nurse onboarding & orientation programs
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Recipient of 8 “World Class Idea” awards at the Cleveland Clinic
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Certified XR Developer — built SMART-LE VR from the ground up
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NSF I-Corps Graduate — University of Akron Research Foundation market validation program
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Pitch Competition Winner — Judges Prize & Audience Prize, UARF 2024 for SMART-LE VR
Mary Zaller
Co-Founder & COO
B2B Sales & Growth Strategy
Strategic Connector
I-Corps Pitch Winner
Business Development
Tactical Operations
“What drives me is our mission at SMART-LE—a mission that's critical because the healthcare world desperately needs what we have to offer. Our innovative software is designed to revolutionize the training of nurses and physicians, addressing the urgent global shortage projected to reach 18 million healthcare workers by 2030.”
I tested the virtual reality software early in production and I believe it has the potential to revolutionize the way nursing is taught. It is immersive, interactive, realistic, and does not require simulation equipment or a simulation room — can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
Theresa Morrison, Ph.D., RN
Nursing Education Professional & Early Evaluator
