What is the most innovative sim-related activity you do in your work?

I am working with colleagues in Zimbabwe to adapt an existing set of paediatric anaesthesia scenarios to a low-tech/low-resource setting and developing new scenarios with them with application to their setting. The idea is that when we share these scenarios among a network of similar settings, we grow the bank of scenarios that people training in low-resource settings could use. This is linked in with a faculty development program I am working on with colleagues in Cape Town that can be run as a package by people who have attended it previously. This program is due to launch later this year, budget: $0 (its a project looking for funding… hint hint).

On a daily basis I find myself using simulation in the way I interact with colleagues and trainees in getting them to reflect on situations that have arisen in their work. I’m always curious about why things don’t go the way people want them to.

What are your research interests? ​

• What can make low tech/high realism simulation in low resource settings work 
• Simulation as a tool to strengthen networks and support isolated paediatric anaesthesia providers 
• Hot and cold debriefs of critical adverse events  

Why did you join IPSS?

I was pretty much a lone ranger when I started out in simulation. I found out about IPSS and managed to get myself to the 2015 meeting in Vancouver which was mind-blowing. I didn’t join at that point because the membership fees were too high for me. In the intervening years I have grown my simulation team and activities and connected with colleagues in other African countries around simulation. When I attended the 2019 Toronto meeting, I saw the time was right [to join], and I feel like my membership will likely help my team and help me to establish the network of paediatric simulationists on my continent.

What do you gain from your IPSS membership? 

Connections. With people working in a multitude of settings. 

Ideas. I love the webinars and have shared these with colleagues, particularly one around critical event debriefing last year. That was really useful in kick-starting a program I am working on in my hospital. 

What are you looking forward to at IPSSW2020?

Sadly this year’s IPSSW is beyond my budget but I do hope that we will be able to hear some of the presentations in recorded form. This is second best to being there and will mean I can connect with my African colleagues and enjoy these together followed by discussion on relevance to us. [IPSS invites Dr. Gray and all members to join us for IPSS’ virtual events in April]