Ambyr Reid

What’s your job title? 

Technical Officer in Simulation for the School of Medicine

How long have you been working here? 

5 years

Where did you work before this position? 

I was actually working on a farm in Co. Offaly with 250 sheep and 300 cows!

What does your day-to-day look like? 

My typical day starts at 8am and I am the 5MB lead for simulation so I would run at least 2 simulation sessions a week for them. I also am the surgical skills lead so we run these twice a month. This involves gathering all the equipment and consumables needed for the sessions, setting up the rooms, setting up the manikins- for surgical skills sometimes we need to make different models using animal tissue, setting up the IT systems and testing them to make sure they are in working order, generating paperwork and then running the actual sessions which are generally 3 hours long. Afterwards, everything is tidied up and put back in its place, feedback is gathered and then we can look at what to keep or improve for the next sessions!

When would someone come to you? 

Any 5MB simulation/skills or workshop requirements or if any of the surgical teams within the hospital were looking for training then they can do up a proposal form with what type of simulation they hope to do.

How do you prefer to start your work day? 

With a strong cup of coffee and little to no traffic!

How do you prefer to end your work day? 

Again with little to no traffic and something good on the radio!

What’s your favourite task at work? 

Doing Moulage for our simulations or teaching skills

What motivates you at work? 

Watching the students progress throughout the years going through medical school, as interns and moving up the ranks, knowing you have helped them get there is very rewarding.

What’s the most exciting part of your job? 

I think all of it is exciting as no simulation really ends up running the same way twice, so you always have to be alert to see how the students react and work through the simulations

What’s a work-related accomplishment that you’re really proud of? 

Our Simulation Centre won the AMEE Aspire Award as a Centre of Excellence which was really fantastic as it is the first time it was won by an Irish Centre. I am also very proud that I was asked to be the ASPiH Regional Champion for Ireland this year.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about your position? 

I think sometimes people think we just control the manikins for simulation and there’s so much more that goes into a simulation with setting it up, writing the scenarios, meetings for dry runs beforehand, ordering/sourcing equipment, the different A/V systems to be run, getting participants, organising faculty to run it, printing paperwork, teaching the skills, generating learning materials like videos and task analyses etc. We would also have to work it around students or learners schedules and room bookings which can be challenging at times in the semester. We set up practice sessions for students ahead of exams. We make some of our own simulators from animal materials for the likes of plastics skills or bowel anastomosis and stoma formation which involves a lot of preparation and cleaning and disinfecting afterwards.

What’s something you find challenging about your work (What are the toughest challenges you’ve had at work)? 

The hardest thing is when a session is cancelled or changed as it can be difficult to get time to reschedule it as we have at least one programme running every day. Sometimes the days can be quite long too and we might not finish at 7pm and we have started at 8am- we need lots of coffee on those days!

Who do you look up to within the company (Who’s someone you admire)? 

I admire each and every student, learner or faculty member that comes through our door as they are using simulation to develop their own skills and improve patient safety and experience.

I also really look up to Prof. Dara Byrne who was recently appointed as the National Director of Simulation as she has given me so many fantastic opportunities and support while I’ve been here.

What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now? 

We are running some of RCSIs courses here in Galway for their students based in Galway so that has been exciting to develop.

 

Personal/Social 

What was your first paying job? 

Working in an equestrian centre as an assistant yard manager when I was younger

Where did you grow up? 

I grew up in Athlone and still live there now

Are you a coffee or tea person? 

I love both but my favourite would be hot chocolate!

What’s the best place you’ve travelled to? 

Disneyland when I was about 8! I haven’t been out of the country since I was 14 but am attending a conference in Brighton in November so I am looking forward to that and have a lovely cruise booked for next August!