Virtual Family Simulation Pilot Wrap Up

Jun 6 / Hannah Hafner
Bloomington, IL — July 2026 — DeGarmo, a national leader in behavioral science, talent assessment, and professional development, today announced the successful completion of its Virtual Family Member Pilot, an innovative AI-enabled conversation simulation designed to help Donation Advocates strengthen communication skills, increase confidence, and enhance preparation for complex donor family conversations.
The pilot engaged eight Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) and facilitated more than 150 simulation conversations, generating 137 participant survey responses. Findings indicate strong acceptance of the technology as a practical development tool while also providing valuable feedback that has already informed significant enhancements to the simulation experience. 

The Virtual Family Member platform allows Donation Advocates to engage in realistic simulated conversations with AI-generated family members, providing opportunities to practice communication strategies, navigate objections, reflect on performance, and build confidence in a safe, low-risk learning environment. Participants consistently identified the experience as a meaningful opportunity to strengthen critical communication skills outside of live cases.

Validating a New Approach to Advocate Development

The pilot demonstrated strong potential for AI-enabled simulations as a practical development tool for Donation Advocates. Participants consistently valued the opportunity to practice difficult donor family conversations in a safe environment, build confidence, navigate objections, and strengthen communication skills outside of live cases. Many also identified conversation review and self-reflection as significant benefits that could enhance coaching and professional growth.

Participant feedback also provided a clear roadmap for improvement. While advocates found the scenarios relevant to real donor family interactions, they identified opportunities to improve conversational realism, reduce repetition, simplify concern presentation, and enhance technical performance. This feedback directly informed substantial platform enhancements that have already been implemented. 

Together, the findings validate the value of combining AI-powered simulations, reflection, and coaching to create scalable development experiences that support onboarding, skill development, and long-term professional growth across OPOs. 

Looking Ahead

Following the success of the pilot, DeGarmo plans to continue expanding and refining the Virtual Family Member experience, helping OPOs provide consistent, accessible training that strengthens communication effectiveness, supports advocate development, and ultimately improves family experiences during critical conversations.

Learn More
Organizations interested in learning more about the Virtual Family Member platform or participating in future implementations are encouraged to contact:
Michelle Reef
mreef@degarmo.com
www.degarmoconnect.com
PO Box 1409, Erie, CO, 80516-1409
Phone number: 866-433-4276
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