More than 100 take part in Campbell’s mock mass casualty incident

July 1, 2026

More than 100 healthcare students, faculty, alumni, emergency responders, military personnel and community volunteers came together June 27 at Campbell University’s Health Sciences Campus for the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences’ annual Mock Mass Casualty Incident (MCI).

The large-scale emergency preparedness exercise challenged participants to respond to a simulated active shooter incident involving multiple patients with traumatic injuries, providing future healthcare professionals with hands-on experience in clinical decision-making, communication, teamwork and patient care under pressure.

For the first time, physician assistant (PA) students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University’s John R. and Kathy R. Hairston College of Health and Human Sciences joined Campbell University PA and nursing students, expanding the event’s interprofessional and interinstitutional collaboration.

Organized by Campbell University PA students, the exercise was supported by physician assistant and nursing faculty and numerous community partners, including Cape Fear Valley Health’s LifeLink Critical Care Transport, the Buies Creek Fire Department, military personnel from Fort Bragg and other emergency response professionals. Prospective physician assistant students and community volunteers served as simulated patients, helping create an immersive training environment through the use of film industry-quality special effects makeup, known as moulage.

Participants rotated through three concurrent training stations focused on field triage of simulated victims, patient treatment and transport using an emergency service vehicle, and emergency department management inside Tracey F. Smith Hall of Nursing & Health Sciences. The scenarios provided hands-on experience in emergency response, patient assessment, treatment, transport and coordinated interprofessional care.

Two female PA students carry a litter with a female patient

“This annual exercise provides students with a unique opportunity to apply clinical knowledge and critical thinking skills in a realistic, high-pressure environment,” said Dr. Ashley Nordan, assistant professor of Physician Assistant Practice and faculty advisor for the incident. “By working alongside emergency responders, practicing PAs and community partners, students gain valuable experience in communication, teamwork, triage and patient management in out-of-hospital and in-hospital settings that will help prepare them for future emergency situations.”

A highlight of the day was a landing by a LifeLink helicopter, where flight crew members discussed aeromedical transport and demonstrated the coordination required to safely transfer critically injured patients from the field to advanced medical care.

The annual Mock Mass Casualty Incident reflects Campbell University’s commitment to experiential learning and interprofessional education by providing students with realistic training that strengthens emergency preparedness while reinforcing the collaboration essential to delivering high-quality patient care.

The exercise also highlighted the strength of Campbell’s partnerships with healthcare organizations, emergency responders, military personnel and neighboring institutions, giving students the opportunity to train alongside the professionals they will collaborate with throughout their careers. Through experiences like the Mock Mass Casualty Incident, the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences continues to prepare graduates who are ready to lead, collaborate and respond confidently in complex healthcare environments.

Want to see more? Visit @campbellcphs on Instagram for additional photos and videos from this year’s Mock Mass Casualty Incident and other experiential learning opportunities at the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences.

Full group of all PA students and PA fauculy with helicopter — Campbell and NC A&T PA students and Campbell PA faculty

Large group of PA students surrounding the lifelink helicopter talking with the flight crew — PA students gathered at the helicopter to speak with the flight crew to learn about aeromedical transport.

LifeLink helicopter sitting on lawn on the Health Sciences campus — It’s amazing to see the LifeLink helicopter land on the front lawn of the Health Sciences campus.

Male PA student learning how to insert a tube into a lung with two male PA students watching while a female teacher instructs — PA students actively learning in the simulated emergency department.

Female PA students working with a first responder to put an injured female patient on to a litter — Learning how to safely load a patient on a litter.

Female PA student learning about intubation from female instructor — Campbell PA student learning about intubation in the simulated emergency department.

Female PA student from NC A&T listens to a female nursing professor about treating an emergency injury — NC A&T PA student learning from a Campbell nursing instructor in the simulated emergency department.

Female nursing professor points to injury to instruct female PA student on irrigating the injury — Campbell nursing instructor teaching a Campbell PA student about wound care in the simulated emergency department.

Male PA student looking a equipment in ambulance — Campbell PA student looking at the equipment in the Cape Fear Valley Health’s LifeLink Critical Care Transport truck.

Male alumnus giving instructions to a group prior to a rotation — Alumni support is extremely beneficial to our students.

Campbell PA students move an injured child during the mock event.

PA students listen to a male alumnus talking to them about procedure in the simulated ER — We are very thankful to the alumni who join us to make this event possible.

Female PA student telling EMT the next steps in treating an injured patient. — Discussing treatment of an injured patient.

Female and male PA students carrying injured male child on a litter. — Campbell PA students carrying injured child on a litter.

Male PA student listening to instruction in the simulated ER. — PA students listening to instruction in the simulated emergency department.

Female PA student ties bandage on patient — Learning emergency triage techniques during the event.

Two PA students get instruction on treating a wound. — Help from professional emergency responders is crucial during the event.

Female student walks with injured patient to a triage tent. — NC A&T PA student helping injured patient to a treatment tent.

Male EMT talks with students about equipment on the truck — A LifeLink crew member talks with students about patient transport and the equipment and supplies on the truck.

Female PA students laughing together — There was time for a bit of fellowship and fun at the end of the event.