Professor Leonie Heskin appointed Professor in Simulation Based Training and new Director of ASSERT

13 Mar 2024

University College Cork has appointed Professor Leonie Heskin as its new Professor in Simulation Based Training and new Director of ASSERT (Application of Science to Simulation based Education and Research on Training).

Professor Heskin will lead on expanding ASSERT on its offering in education, research and innovation with an emphasis on developing simulation solutions for courses required by healthcare personal and the medical device industry.

Professor Heskin has dedicated the last 11 years to working full-time in medical simulation, most recently at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) where she was the lead for surgical simulation technology development and a senior lecturer in postgraduate surgical education. She led the Continuous Professional Development Support Scheme (CPDSS) surgical skills programme and the core surgical skills training programme for trainees in Ireland.

A native of Galway, Professor Heskin graduated with a degree in medicine from Galway University, an honours degree in Architecture (UCD), a Masters in Bioengineering (Imperial College London) and a doctorate in surgical simulation (RCSI) and is now attempting to combine all four to explore solutions for simulator design in healthcare simulation.

Professor Heskin said: “It is an honour to be appointed as professor of simulation-based education and Director of the ASSERT centre at UCC.

I look forward to developing educational course offerings for both the undergraduate and working professionals in the disciplines of medicine, surgery, nursing, dentistry, physiotherapy, clinical therapies, pharmacy and public health. Technical, clinical, and non-technical skills (such as teamwork and communication) will be taught with formative feedback and debriefing in the ASSERT center, with the hope of increasing competency resulting in increased patient safety. I also look forward to engaging with the medical device industry using simulation solutions for research and development, validation and user interaction of their products in healthcare.”

Head of College of Medicine and Health Professor Helen Whelton congratulated Professor Heskin on her appointment: “We are delighted to have Professor Heskin join us at the College of Medicine and Health, especially at this exciting time when the university is partnering with the health services to develop an Academic Health Sciences System where the Health Service and the university work in partnership to develop the highest quality patient care underpinned by teaching, training, research and innovation.

“Simulation-based learning is hugely important. Healthcare is a team activity with multidisciplinary teams delivering the best care. It is essential to build on, enhance the learning and teaching delivered to our students to give our future practitioners an understanding of their and other roles in the healthcare team. Prof. Heskin brings huge experience, has a special interest in raising fidelity in both simulation-based education and simulator offerings. I very much look forward to working with Prof. Heskin in this key role as we continue to strengthen our teaching and academic excellence at the College of Medicine and Health”.

 To find out more about courses, news and events at ASSERT visit: UCC ASSERT