Carl Heffernan

Carl Heffernan

  • cheffernan at bournemouth dot ac dot uk
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Biography

I am a consultant in Acute Medicine at University Hospitals Dorset since 2018 and a Lecturer Practitioner for Physician Associate studies at Bournemouth University (BU) since 2020. In addition, I am the simulation lead for Poole Hospital and represents the department of medical science at BU for simulation.

I am currently involved in implementing and reviewing Virtual Reality (VR) simulation in student and professionals. This is using the Oxford Medical Simulation programme via the Oculus. I hope to be publishing on this soon.

In additional, I have a interest in medical education and often try new teaching methods to better engage students. I am a fan of team based learning (TBL) and case discussions.

I have designed Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) and Single Best Answer (SBA) to assess various student groups. I have participated in writing groups for the national exam for Physician Associates with the Faculty of Physician Associates at the Royal Collage.

In my spare time, I like exploring the local area, history and learning Japanese, having lived there before medical school on my gap year.

Research

I am currently researching the benefit of Virtual Reality (VR) simulation in medical based education.

In the pipeline, I will be researching VR simulation within healthcare and how VR impacts on facilitators.

Journal Articles

  • Ellis, S., Heffernan, C. and Nadarajah, C., 2019. The impact of the Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) on 'true admission avoidance' at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. Future Healthcare Journal, 6.

Books

Internet Publications

Posters

  • Heffernan, C., Smith-Vidal, A. and Simon, C., 2020. Remote Simulation: Training in the Covid era. In: 14th International scientific conference of the Society of Acute Medicine: Glasgow.
  • Ellis, S., Heffernan, C., Lad, T. and Nadarajah, C., 2018. Measuring 'True Admission Avoidance' in Ambulatory care. In: Society of Acute Medicine: Amsterdam.
  • Ellis, S., Heffernan, C., Lad, T. and Nadarajah, C., 2018. Measuring 'True Admission Avoidance' in Ambulatory care. In: Society of Acute Medicine: Amsterdam.
  • Ellis, S. and Heffernan, C., 2017. True admission avoidance of AEC. In: Acute and General Medicine, London.
  • Ellis, S. and Heffernan, C., 2017. True admission avoidance of AEC. In: Acute and General Medicine, London.
  • Heffernan, C., Ellis, S. and Lad, T., 2017. From broom cupboard to Ambulatory unit. The Basingstoke & North Hampshire Hospital journey to ambulatory care. In: Society of Acute Medicine conference: Cardiff.
  • Heffernan, C., Prescott, C., Womersley, J., Michalik, D. and Smith, L., 2016. Acute Kidney Injury: Everybody's Problem. In: Royal College of Physician Edinburgh/Society of Acute Medicine: Past, Present and Future of medicine international conference.

Profile of Teaching PG

  • MSc Physician Associate: Introduction to general medicine
  • MSc Physician Associate: Emergency Medicine
  • MSc Physician Associate: Preparation for national exam
  • MSc Physician Associate: Mental Health

Invited Lectures

  • Using AI-generated videos for reflective practice, Fusion Building, 13 Jun 2023 more
  • Simulation Based Medical Education (SBME), Royal College of Physicians London/UCL, 24 Jan 2023 more
  • Being the Medical Registrar, Royal Bournemouth Hospital, 10 Jan 2017 more

Internal Responsibilities

  • Medical science and public health department representative, Practice simulation

Conference Presentations

  • ASPiH Confrence 2023, Pilot study looking at the benefits of Virtual Reality (VR) simulation for Physician Associates (PA), 06 Nov 2023, Brighton
  • Lessons Learned, Lessons Learned: Check the bloody tap!, 02 Feb 2018, National Liberal Club, Whitehall
  • Quality improvement conference, Ambulatory care, 10 Nov 2017, Basingstoke and North Hampshire hospital

Qualifications

  • Masters in Medical Education (UCL, 2023)
  • PGDip with Merit in Leadership and Management in healthcare (University of Southampton, 2017)
  • MRCP (UK) in Medicine (Royal College of Physicians, 2014)
  • MRCP SCE (Acute Medicine) in Acute Medicine (Royal College of Physicians, 2014)
  • MBBS in Medicine (Norwich Medical School, 2009)

Honours

  • Senior Fellow (SFHEA) (Advanced HE, 2023)
  • Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians London (Royal College of Physicians London, 2020)

Memberships

  • Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME), Member (2023-),
  • The Japan Society, Member (2022-),
  • Royal College of Physicians London, Fellow (2013-),
  • Society of Acute Medicine, Member (2013-),

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