Future doctors put their life-saving skills to the test in a head-to-head competition in the Bronx. NY1 borough reporter Erin Clarke has that story.

An agitated patient comes into the emergency room at St. Barnabas Hospital and has a seizure.

"I wasn't prepared for that to happen," said Natalie Hubbard, a fourth-year resident at the hospital.

Medical residents spring into action to save a life.

Thankfully, this is a simulation. But the scenario is very real even if the "patient'' is a life-like robot.

"He has the ability to breathe, to blink, to talk, to cry," said Dr. Mina Attaalla, the hospital's simulation education director. "You can also do procedures on him, such as starting an IV."

The robot that the hospital uses for medical residents and current doctors, seen in the video above, can even receive medication in the competition under the watchful eyes of other residents and judges.

It's part of a competition called SIM Wars — a first of its kind at the hospital — pitting emergency medicine residents training at three Bronx hospitals against each other.

"This was a lot of fun," said Jeremy Price, a medical Resident at Jacobi/Montefiore Hospitals. "It was different having a whole bunch of people in front of us."

"I'm a competitive person," Hubbard said. "Friendly, of course."

This version of "Survivor" featured teams of medical residents from Saint Barnabas, Jacobi and Montefiore, and Lincoln Hospitals.

Each had 20 minutes to evaluate and treat a simulated medical emergency.

They were judged on their medical response, and bedside manner when dealing with, for example, family members, who can make situations even tenser.

"There's a lot of distractions going on, and you have to be able to manage that whole situation," said Lucia Someberg, a medical resident at Jacobi/Montefiore Hospitals.

In the end, the team from Saint Barnabas won SIM Wars and now has a year's worth of bragging rights.

But the teams said the real reward was the experience gained from the competition.

"It prepares you to act on your feet, be ready for things that you don't necessarily predict to happen," Hubbard said.

"It's good to be able to practice that in a simulated environment so that when you have an actual patient you can do it right," Price said.

Organizers say they hope to make SIM Wars an annual event, and include teams of medical residents from across the city in the future.