Cameron Ricks

Biography

Cameron Ricks, M.D., is Clinical Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Care at the University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, where he also serves as Medical Director of the Medical Education Simulation Center, Medical Student Simulation Director, and Simulation Fellowship Director. He received his medical doctorate from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine and completed his residency in anesthesiology and critical care at George Washington University Hospital, where he served as Chief Resident. Prior to medical school, Ricks worked as a registered nurse in surgical intensive care at the University of California, San Diego.

Ricks has established himself in the field of simulation-based medical education and patient safety. He served as Chair of the UC Simulation Consortium from 2015 to 2017 and has been a member representing UCI since 2015. His research has focused on critical events in the operating room, including a prospective observational cohort study examining calls for help in academic operating room suites. He has served as principal investigator on multiple quality assurance projects and a $1.2 million NIH/AHRQ grant examining clinical outcomes of simulation training for procedural sedation.

Ricks has contributed to the development of simulation education across multiple disciplines, including work on telesimulation and international collaborative training. He founded and directs the Innovation Club at UCI and has been involved in venture capital education through the UC Irvine Venture Capital Immersion Course. He holds board certification from the American Board of Anesthesiology and maintains active licensure as both a physician and registered nurse in California.

Education

• M.D., American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, 2005
• A.S. in Nursing, Excelsior University, 1998
• B.A. in Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1997
• B.A. in Business Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara, 1997

Distinctions

• UCI Beal Applied Innovation Leader Nominee, 2024
• Academy for Innovations in Medical Education Member, 2016
• Intraoperative Teacher of the Year, 2012
• Excellence in Teaching Award, 2013