Dr. Paula San Martín González | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Paula San Martín González, born in Salamanca, Spain, is a dedicated academic and healthcare professional currently serving as Profesora Ayudante Doctora at Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca. With a solid foundation in nursing, she has steadily advanced through both clinical and academic pathways. She holds a PhD in Human and Social Sciences and multiple master’s degrees in oncology, critical care, and emergency nursing, as well as in teaching secondary education. She has also earned postgraduate expertise in leadership, management, and ultrasound in nursing care. Since 2017, she has been deeply involved in higher education, delivering over 20 courses in nursing and health sciences. Recognized with the DOCENTIA award, her contributions span simulation-based teaching, innovation in health education, and interdisciplinary learning. Paula continues to enrich healthcare pedagogy through teaching, research, and curriculum development in simulation-based clinical practice.

Profile

• Orcid

🎓 Education

Paula San Martín González completed her Bachelor’s in Nursing at Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in 2014. She pursued specialized education with three official master’s degrees: one in Palliative Care for Oncology Patients (University of Salamanca, 2016), another in Critical and Emergency Nursing (University of León, 2017), and a third in Secondary and Vocational Education Teaching (UPSA). Additionally, she earned postgraduate qualifications in Leadership in Nursing Services (UDIMA, 2020) and Clinical Ultrasound for Nursing (Universidad Católica de Ávila, 2024). Her academic journey culminated in a PhD in Human and Social Sciences from Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in 2022. Notably, she also became an Instructor in Advanced Clinical Simulation (UCAM, 2020), further deepening her pedagogical capabilities. Her educational background reflects a harmonious blend of clinical, academic, and teaching excellence, equipping her to bridge the gap between theoretical learning and healthcare practice with precision and empathy.

🧪 Experience

Paula has accumulated diverse experience in clinical and academic settings. She began her career as a nurse at Fundación Hospital General de la Santísima Trinidad (2015–2016) and later worked at Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla (2016–2017). In 2017, she transitioned to academia, joining Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca as a full-time Profesora Ayudante, later promoted to Profesora Ayudante Doctora in 2024. Her teaching portfolio spans over 25 university-level nursing and education courses, including mental health nursing, health alterations, community nursing, clinical practicums, and simulation-based learning. She also taught in collaborative programs like the University of Experience and courses at the University of Burgos. Alongside teaching, she has delivered workshops and seminars on simulation, leadership, and innovation in nursing education. Her consistent progression from bedside care to academic excellence highlights a commitment to training future nursing professionals through innovation, clinical insight, and dedication.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Paula San Martín González has been recognized for her exceptional teaching contributions with the DOCENTIA Award granted by Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca in 2024. This prestigious award acknowledges excellence in university teaching and reflects her high-quality performance in classroom instruction and academic mentorship. Her teaching activity from 2017 to 2021 was evaluated as Excellent by the ACSUCYL/ANECA accreditation bodies, affirming her effectiveness and impact as an educator. Additionally, she earned positive accreditation for the rank of Profesor Ayudante Doctor in 2024, further validating her professional competence and qualifications within Spain’s higher education system. Her commitment to innovative teaching methodologies, such as clinical simulation and patient-standardized training, has also contributed to her recognition as a leader in educational innovation. These accolades underscore her influence in the academic community and her drive to elevate the standards of nursing education.

🔬 Research Focus

Paula’s research centers on clinical simulation, educational innovation in nursing, leadership development, and digital health literacy. She is especially invested in exploring how simulation methodologies improve the practical training of nursing students. Her published work includes book chapters on simulation-based instruction using standardized patients, the integration of social media in health education, and strategies to foster entrepreneurial leadership among health sciences students. These contributions reflect her broader goal to blend academic rigor with technological advancements in pedagogy. She is a leading author in projects linked to educational transformation, particularly through simulation and interdisciplinary collaboration. Moreover, her research supports reflective, student-centered learning models that promote critical thinking, self-efficacy, and adaptive clinical decision-making. Her engagement with simulation-based projects aligns with current trends in nursing education and contributes to a deeper, evidence-based understanding of its efficacy in real-world preparedness for healthcare professionals.

✅ Conclusion