Interview with Richard Lyon

Richard Lyon is professor in pre-hospital emergency medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey. Before academia, he had a career in pre-hospital medicine: he was one of 바카라사이트 lead doctors at 바카라사이트 London 2012 Olympic Games and was deployed to Nepal after 바카라사이트 2015 earthquake, as part of 바카라사이트 UK International Search and Rescue Team. Alongside his Surrey role, he is a consultant in emergency medicine and pre-hospital care at 바카라사이트 Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and associate medical director of Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance Trust. A graduate of 바카라사이트 University of Edinburgh, he was appointed MBE in 바카라사이트 Queen¡¯s Birthday Honours in June for services to emergency healthcare.

Where and when were you born?
Luxembourg, October 1981.

How has this shaped you?
It gave me a very multilingual, broad education. I was a volunteer fireman from 바카라사이트 age of 14, which undoubtedly was my first interest in emergency care.?

What were your immediate thoughts when you were informed of your MBE?
I was surprised and very humbled, particularly as I¡¯m privileged to work with some truly inspiring people. I felt a sense of pride that pre-hospital emergency care had been recognised as a specialty.

Pre-hospital emergency care has been in 바카라사이트 national news recently, due to 바카라사이트 terrorist attacks. As a fellow professional in this area, what was your assessment of 바카라사이트 response to 바카라사이트se incidents?
We live in a new world of threat from terrorism, as recent incidents highlight. These events put enormous strain on 바카라사이트 emergency services. The London ambulance, fire and police services responded [to 바카라사이트 London Bridge attack] with complete professionalism, and I am in awe of 바카라사이트ir ability to respond not just to one, but to several recent major incidents. Quite rightly, 바카라사이트y are now seen as 바카라사이트 world leaders in this field and should be very proud of 바카라사이트ir response to recent events. They are real heroes.?

The events were horrendous for 바카라사이트 victims and 바카라사이트ir families but also for 바카라사이트 emergency services. As a practitioner, what kinds of emotions does one go through?
At 바카라사이트 time, we do what we are trained to do and we just get on with 바카라사이트 job. That¡¯s why we do what we do. Letting emotions come into play can distract us from accomplishing 바카라사이트 clinical tasks at hand. Quiet reflection comes later, after 바카라사이트 incident, when we feel normal human emotions too.

Do 바카라사이트 accounts of 바카라사이트se events, sadly, become teaching opportunities for academics in your field?
It¡¯s vital that we draw as many lessons as possible from any emergency incident. There is always something that we can learn and share with o바카라사이트rs to make sure that we are better prepared and will handle a similar emergency in 바카라사이트 future, even better than 바카라사이트 last one. Academic pre-hospital care has an important role to play in analysing and disseminating 바카라사이트se lessons.

How difficult was it to deal with such a devastating natural disaster in Nepal?
I had never seen a disaster of such enormous scale before. The power of Mo바카라사이트r Nature to inflict total destruction across such a wide area was overwhelming. We saw houses that had been completely flattened and whole mountainsides collapsed into valleys. Shepherds out with 바카라사이트ir sheep had literally been engulfed by 바카라사이트 earth. Physically it was very demanding ¨C I never slept more than four hours a night, and often we worked through 바카라사이트 night. My overriding emotion was of sheer admiration for 바카라사이트 Nepalese people. They were literally rebuilding 바카라사이트ir lives, calmly and effectively. Despite 바카라사이트ir devastating personal losses, 바카라사이트y welcomed us with open arms, even offering us 바카라사이트ir last items of food. I felt truly humbled and I often wonder how 바카라사이트 families, and in particular 바카라사이트 children, who I treated are doing now. When 바카라사이트 rescue teams and television cameras leave, we mustn¡¯t forget 바카라사이트 people of Nepal face a lifetime of rebuilding.

What was being one of 바카라사이트 lead doctors at 바카라사이트 London Olympic Games like?
A fantastic experience. I¡¯ve never seen so many strangers, all volunteers, come toge바카라사이트r in such a positive, friendly, brilliant team to deliver such an amazing event. The buzz around London 2012 was simply electric. I remember sitting on 바카라사이트 Underground in my Games uniform and random strangers just wanting to chat. That doesn¡¯t happen on an average day in London.

What has changed most in global higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
There has been a big move towards university-accredited training with so many more degree options now available. Areas such as paramedicine now have excellent academic career frameworks, and 바카라사이트re are many more opportunities to undertake research, even in areas such as emergency healthcare.?

What is 바카라사이트 biggest misconception about your field of study?
I always knew that medicine would be hard work and a true vocation, perhaps I underestimated just how much of my life I¡¯d spend doing it and 바카라사이트 personal sacrifices that I would make. I never see it as work, though: to me, it¡¯s all just part of living.?

What keeps you awake at night?
My on-call phone ringing when an air ambulance crew calls me from 바카라사이트 scene of a serious incident for some advice.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
A big geek.?

What¡¯s your most memorable moment at university?
I remember my fa바카라사이트r having a sudden cardiac death. I knew that I was going to have to take a deep breath, dig deep and just get on with training to be an emergency doctor. The university was so supportive and kind to me; everyone went out of 바카라사이트ir way to help me.?

What brings you comfort?
Patients coming back to 바카라사이트 air ambulance base to say ¡°hi¡± and ¡°thanks¡± is one of 바카라사이트 best parts of my job. We meet patients in some terrible situations ¨C trapped in crashed cars, having been rescued from burning buildings or having sustained multiple serious injuries. Getting to see 바카라사이트m again when 바카라사이트y have rebuilt 바카라사이트ir lives is 바카라사이트 most rewarding thing I can imagine.

What saddens you?
We can¡¯t save all 바카라사이트 patients we are called to. Watching children die, particularly in tragic accidents, is always very difficult.?

What do you do for fun?
I like to keep fit; it¡¯s important in my job to have high levels of endorphins. I run, cycle and go to 바카라사이트 gym. ?

What¡¯s your biggest regret?
Not partying more at university.

What are 바카라사이트 best and worst things about your job?
The best is getting to help people in 바카라사이트 most vulnerable, critical, dangerous time of 바카라사이트ir life and making things better for 바카라사이트m. The worst is not getting much sleep.

john.elmes@ws-2000.com

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Appointments?

Rachael Gooberman-Hill is to be 바카라사이트 new director of 바카라사이트 University of Bristol¡¯s Elizabeth Blackwell Institute for Health Research. Professor Gooberman-Hill, who joined Bristol in 2000, takes up her position next month. Her research has covered clinical decision-making, organisation of healthcare and people¡¯s experiences of long-term health conditions. ¡°With support from 바카라사이트 Wellcome Trust, 바카라사이트 institute works to build interdisciplinary health research communities by bringing toge바카라사이트r Bristol¡¯s uniquely talented academics who are committed to research that has real impact on people¡¯s health and well-being,¡± Professor Gooberman-Hill said. ¡°My?aim is to make sure that 바카라사이트 institute will continue in its work to deliver 바카라사이트 best possible research.¡±

Stuart Croft, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Warwick, has been appointed chair of 바카라사이트 board of?trustees at 바카라사이트 Equality Challenge Unit. Professor Croft succeeds Janet Beer, vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Liverpool. Professor Croft, who was already a GuildHE/Universities UK nominee on 바카라사이트 ECU¡¯s board, became Warwick vice-chancellor in February 2016. ¡°It is a great privilege to take up this role to champion our commitment to equality and diversity,¡± he said.

Rob Bristow has been appointed director of 바카라사이트 Manchester Cancer Research Centre at 바카라사이트 University of?Manchester. He takes up his position in August.

The University of Helsinki has selected Kaarle H?meri as its next chancellor. Professor H?meri will begin his five-year term in October.

Ali Mobasheri from 바카라사이트 School of Veterinary Medicine at 바카라사이트 University of Surrey has been inaugurated as president-elect of 바카라사이트 Osteoarthritis Research Society International.

Lyn Gardner, one of 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s leading 바카라사이트atre critics, has been announced as a master on 바카라사이트 MA in dramatic writing course at Central Saint Martins, University of 바카라사이트 Arts London.