An apparatus and method according to which a patient simulator is used to simulate a human patient's breathing pattern, the patient simulator including a simulated respiratory system and a simulated airway system. The simulated respiratory system includes a lung valve, a simulated lung in communication with the lung valve, and a breathing pump including a cylinder and a piston dividing the cylinder into first and second chambers, the first chamber being in communication with the lung valve via at least a first flow path, and the second chamber being in communication with the lung valve via at least a second flow path. The simulated airway system is configured to be in communication with the second chamber of the breathing pump via at least a third flow path. In several exemplary embodiments, simulating, using the patient simulator, the human patient's breathing pattern comprises reciprocating the piston within the cylinder.