Norman Belleza, PhD in Education ’22, is an exceptional educator and creative curriculum developer with an ability to blend art and science. He serves as an Associate Professor for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Hawaii Pacific University, is one of 102 individuals worldwide credentialed as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator – Advanced® (CHSE–A®), was recently inducted as a Distinguished Scholar Fellow with the National Academies of Practice, and was the founding director of Interprofessional Education at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, where he received the 2019 Board Excellence Award—Excellence in Innovation. Additionally, Dr. Belleza is a lifelong musician, which has influenced his curriculum design work in innovative and unexpected ways.

Creative Synergy: Dr. Belleza Reflects on Walden’s Impact

When I began my Walden journey, I wanted to explore how people learn best in healthcare settings and how innovation could enhance both teaching and patient care. Earning my PhD in Education with a specialization in Learning, Instruction, and Innovation, inspired my earliest simulation-based projects like online healthcare escape rooms, interactive chart reviews, and interprofessional modules. These activities expanded classroom learning into immersive environments where students experience teamwork, problem-solving, and empathy in realistic settings, transforming how future healthcare professionals prepare for practice.

A musician at heart, simulation education became my new form of composing—writing scenarios, preparing standardized patients, and helping students practice difficult conversations. Each simulation felt like crafting a symphony of empathy, communication, and teamwork. Over time, my learnings and innovative education modules evolved into conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, and a growing body of scholarly work shaping the next generation of healthcare providers.

Today, my research continues through distinctive projects like "You Have Been Summoned," a medicolegal jury simulation I'll present at the 2026 International Meeting for Simulation in Healthcare. Students engage in mock courtroom proceedings, jury selection, and ethical decision-making. This creates an emotionally rich exploration of documentation, liability, and professional integrity that lectures alone cannot achieve.

Ultimately, my Walden education transformed not just how I thought, but how I created. It gave me the confidence to connect my personal and professional passions together. Long before becoming an educator, music played a central role in my life—piano, violin, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and more. When working with patients in home health and healthcare facilities, I would sometimes sit at the piano and play as I encouraged them to walk, stretch, or exercise. Those small, joyful moments taught me that healing is both physical and deeply human.

I strive for my simulation curriculum to prepare future professionals medically for patient care and instill within them that what truly matters are the human connections we make. Education gives us the tools to do more than adapt; it gives us the courage to innovate, build community, and to find our own rhythm within the music of our professional journeys.