My Topol fellowship problem / project:

With the growing demands on the healthcare system, patients and the healthcare workforce, time for training in new skills and continual professional development is at its lowest. Educators and institutions globally are looking to technology to help bridge the gap in healthcare educational provision. Immersive technologies, if implemented optimally have significant potential to deliver a wide range of healthcare focused education.

To date I have received grant funding from the Association of Medical Educators, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Society of Medicine, ENT-UK and industry to support the exploration of this technology in education. The ultimate aim is to design, develop and integrate educationally effective technologies into the NHS ultimately saving time, money and importantly, carbon.

I am an ENT ST6 level trainee, currently out of programme from my surgical training to undertake a PhD at the University of Manchester.

My area of academic interest is how we can utilise technology to enhance and widen access to emergency medical education. By focussing on developing virtual reality tools to support the healthcare workforce to train in paediatric tracheostomy care, I hope to demonstrate the educational potential of this technology alongside its cost and environmental benefits.

I have been involved in several literature reviews, pilot studies and educational research in the field of technology enhanced learning and am developing experience with implementation of technology into the NHS.

Outside of my academic and clinical commitments I have been accepted onto the NHS Clinical Entrepreneur Programme in order to develop the commercial skills, knowledge and experience required to bring potentially beneficial innovations into the NHS. When I’m not working I play squash for a North West Counties team and get bossed around by my family!