In this episode, we were joined by Senior Trainer and Content Development Lead at VetLed, Helen Silver-MacMahon MSc, CerVNECC, DipAVN(surg), CertSAN, RVN. We were honoured to share space with Helen, and learn more from her about situational awareness, non-technical skills and the field of Human Factors.  It was fantastic to hear Helen's story, from becoming an RVN thanks to her inspiring next door neighbour, to following and developing her passion, with a "nothing is impossible" mindset.

Useful Links that Helen mentions in the episode:
Interview with Robin Arzón: VP and Head Instructor at Peloton, Ultramarathoner, and Best-Selling Author. Listen here.
The "It Couldn't Be Done" poem by Edgar Albert Guest, read here.
The Chartered Institute of Ergonomics & Human Factors

Our Recommended Links:
Find out more about VetLed
The Veterinary Human Factors Conference 2022
Keep an eye on the VetLed Facebook page for the campaigns they are running throughout 2022. If you're listening to this episode as it is released, be sure to check out Veterinary Human Factors Awareness Week!

Thanks to our amazing sponsors: Boehringer Ingelheim.

About Helen:
Helen is a veterinary nurse and Senior Trainer and Content Development Lead at VetLed. Having worked in general practice, referral hospitals and nursing education over the past 21 years, she has extensive professional  experience and understanding from a wide range of  settings.

Helen is passionate about developing the veterinary professions understanding of Human Factors as a powerful aid in improving patient safety, enhancing performance and supporting the wellbeing of the veterinary team. She is a RCVS Knowledge Champion for her role in the sustained training and use of a surgical safety checklist within the small animal theatre at the former Animal Health Trust.

In 2021, Helen completed an MSc in Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors at the University of Edinburgh. For her dissertation project Helen researched situational awareness in the veterinary operating theatre, she is has recently embarked upon a PhD at Lincoln university to explore non-technical skills in the veterinary profession. In her role at VetLed she enjoys applying this knowledge to develop and deliver professionally relevant training for all members of the veterinary team.   

In this episode we chat to VetLed’s Head of Collaboration, Cat Auden, to discover more about her passion for veterinary human factors, the challenges of leading change and the joy of team working. Cat shares with us some behind the scenes insights and her highlights from the 2022 Veterinary Human Factors Conference.

Links:
https://the-veterinary-human-factors-conference-2022.heysummit.com/

With thanks to our Sponsors:
https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk/

 About Cat:
Cat is a veterinary surgeon and Head of Collaboration at VetLed.   After working in general practice for a number of years, Cat joined the growing team at VetLed. Keen to combine her experience in practice with a passion for optimising clinical performance, Cat now works to develop and deliver specific, industry-relevant Human Factors training for veterinary teams across the country, with a view to improving both clinical performance and patient safety.​

Cat is keen to see how we can grow and develop as a profession through learning from and collaborating with other caring yet safety-critical professions and has a particular interest in the concept of psychological safety in the workplace and its impact on team performance.

Cat strongly believes that equipping the current generation and educating the next generation of veterinary professionals in Human Factors is essential to continuing to move forward and develop as a profession. Drawing on her experience in practice, Cat understands how the characteristics that make us human can be deemed to limit our performance, but with a grasp of these Human Factors they can be harnessed to truly enhance our performance as clinicians. Cat believes that learning how to perform best as individuals and as teams will only serve to strengthen the wider veterinary profession going forward.

About this episode:
In episode 5, we were pleased to welcome Lawrence to give a variety of insights from industry and innovation, covering topics from mentorship, shadowing, and high-performing teams. We loved his reflections on joining the dots in his career and beyond.

About Lawrence:
Lawrence is a qualified veterinary surgeon, business consultant, and innovation advisor, working with organisations to develop solutions and advance technologies for animal health and sustainable food production.

Resources referenced by Lawrence:
https://hbr.org/2017/03/bursting-the-ceo-bubble

With thanks to our sponsors Boehringer Ingelheim:
https://www.boehringer-ingelheim.co.uk/

Resources from Boehringer Ingelheim:
Jez Rose: https://tedxgreenville.com/portfolio/2016-jez-rose/

Resources:
http://www.vetled.co.uk
It's not too late to catch up on the Veterinary Human Factors Conference 2022:
https://the-veterinary-human-factors-conference-2022.heysummit.com/

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