Dr. Nick Peres

Nick Peres, Live demonstration of PatientVR BBC1 News

 

nicholas.peres@plymouth.ac.uk
n.peres@nhs.net

Research: 
– (PhD 2024) Technological Mediation and the Development of Humanistic Skills in Medical Simulation: Lessons from Covid-19 and the Impact of Immersive Media and Minimal Viable Simulation (MVS)

  • Co-Design Solutions to Digital Literacy in Health and Care Provisions
  • Minimal Viable and frugal innovation approaches to simulation practise and digital transformation
  • Digital compassion in virtual learning environments

Responsibilities: 

  • Director of Digital Innovation and Transformation, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
  • Co-Lead Digital Futures Lab, Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust
  • National Advisor for XR Technologies, NHS England 
  • UKRI Mindset Advisory Committee member 
  • XR Technologies Advisor, Health Innovation Network 

BIO

Nick Peres is the Programme Director of Innovation and Transformation at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. He is an innovator and researcher in the digital healthcare field, with experience in broadcast media and the NHS for the last 12 years. He has created cutting-edge projects for virtual reality (VR) healthcare solutions and completed his PhD within transtechnology focusing on compassionate behaviour and technology in medical education and simulation. During that period, Nick has developed, executed, and overseen various XR-based projects, such as the nationally recognised NHSE-supported VR Lab. Nick is the founder of PatientVR, a project designed to educate healthcare workers on non-technical skills through immersive patient perspective scenarios. He currently co-leads the Digital Futures programme at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, which is nominated for a parliamentary award. The programme supports research and development projects, digital health fellowships, and digital literacy initiatives, working in collaboration with Transtechnology on a number of publications in this subject, as well as supporting the adoption of XR and other emerging technologies. Nick has provided guidance to NHS organisations on implementing XR technologies and holds advisory positions for NHS England and the University of Plymouth. Nick is often also involved in digital health communication and public speaking, including TEDx talks on humanities perspectives on technology in healthcare.

PhD research super short abstract:

This research chronicles the integration of innovation and technology in medical simulation and training within an NHS organisation from 2014 to 2023. It challenges the current trend towards high-fidelity simulations driven by technology-centric marketing strategies and explores the potential of immersive media to enhance empathy and compassion in healthcare education. The study developed two innovative outputs: PatientVR, an immersive patient perspective experience, and minimal viable simulation (MVS), a sustainable and humanistic approach to simulation-based education. Drawing upon diverse theoretical frameworks, the research employs a multidisciplinary approach to demonstrate the potential of immersive media and MVS in enhancing empathy, compassion, and human connection. The research advocates for the incorporation of humanities-based concepts and language in healthcare education, terming these qualities as ‘humanistic skills’. It presents novel approaches to recording simulations for reflective learning, emphasizing the importance of film theory and visual interpretation skills. The most significant contribution is the introduction of MVS, which aligns clinical and interpersonal experiences with educational objectives rather than technological capabilities, reframing the conversation around technology and humanism in medical simulation.

Recording patient perspectives

Selected publications and conference presentations

Publications 

Ford, C., Peres, N., et al. (2024) Definitions of Simulation and Immersive Technologies (NHSE TEL). NHS National Learning Hub. NHS England. 

Halkes, M., Peres, N., and Ghetnekar, P., (2023). Technology-Enhanced Learning (TEL) Solutions for COVID-19: Use Cases from Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. In: Healthcare Innovation. Shaping Future Models of Delivery. 1st ed. World Scientific Publishing Company, pp. 133–152. 

Peres, N., (2023) Health Education England VR360 Creation Toolkit: How to Develop a Virtual Reality (VR) 360-degree Video Part 1 & 2. NHS Learning Hub. NHS England.

Bellali,.J., Haines, .A.,  Knight, .J., Peres, N. and Punt, M. (2022). A CO-DESIGN SOLUTION TO DIGITAL LITERACY IN HEALTH PROVISION. Transtechnology Research Open Access Papers. 

Mason T, Peres N (2021) Remote 360 virtual simulation- can you ‘do sim’ completely online? Archives of Disease in Childhood 2021;106:A258

Nasser, M., Peres, N., Knight, J., et al. (2020) Designing clinical trials for future space missions as a pathway to changing how clinical trials are conducted on Earth. Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 13(2), pp.153-160.

Knight, J. and Peres, N. (2018) TAaCT: Technology, Affect and Clinical Training. Transtechnology Research Open Access Papers. 

Peres, N. (2017) Practise Portfolio: A Filmmaker in the Simulation Suite. Transtechnology Research Reader 2016/17: Tropes of Affect; Devices, Narrative and Illusion. Leonardo Open Access Journals.  

Peres, N. (2015) Thoughts on a Ceiling Canvas. Transtechnology Research Reader 2014/15: Media Archaeology and Cognition.Leonardo Open Access Journals.  

Presentations at conferences:

Peres, N. (2023) ASPiH Conference 2023: Sustainable Simulation. Brighton. 7- 8th November 2023. Workshop: Practical Approaches to VR Development in Healthcare Education: A Low-Cost and Sustainable Strategy.

Baxendale, B., Munsch, C., Peres, N. (2023) ASPiH Conference 2023: Sustainable Simulation. Brighton. 7- 8th November 2023. Presentation: Evaluation of Simulation and Immersive Learning in Education or Systems Improvement: The NHSE Evaluation Toolkit

Peres, N (2023) In Another’s Skin: The Social Benefits of Virtual Embodiment. Greenwich University 21st April 2023. Presentation & Panel: Virtual Embodiment in Healthcare Education. 

Peres, N (2020) Compassion in Healthcare Education Conference. University of Plymouth. 6th December 2020. Presentation: The Humanity of Technology: A Change of Perspective

Halkes, M., Peres, N., (2020) ISPIM Innovation Global Conference 2020: Innovating in Times of Chrisis. Germany. Virtually Attended Conference. 7-10th June 2020. Keynote Presentation: Immersive Technologies in Healthcare. 

Peres, N. (2018) TEDx Torquay: Wisdom and Innovation. Torquay. 17th November 2017. Presentation: The Humanity of Technology; A Change of Perspective. 

Peres, N. (2018) VIRTUAL REALITY for the ARTS, HUMANITIES, & SOCIAL SCIENCES symposium. University of Reading. 11th June 2018. Presentation: Virtual Reality Interventions for Humanities Considerations in Healthcare Training 

Peres, N (2017). UKRCO The UK Radiological and Radiation Oncology Congress. Mon 12th Jun 2017 – Wed 14th Jun 2017. Workshop: Adventures with Google Cardboard; an accessible route to exploring VR in health education.  

Peres, N (2017). UKRCO The UK Radiological and Radiation Oncology Congress. Mon 12th Jun 2017 – Wed 14th Jun 2017. Presentation: Experiences of using virtual reality to enable clinicians to experience the patient journey firsthand. 

Peres, N & Gay, C. (2016). ASPiH Conference 2016: Celebrating Excellence. Bristol. 15th-17th November 2016. Workshop: An Introduction to Virtual Reality In Healthcare. From Content Creation to Distribution.

Peres, N (2015). ASPiH Conference 2015. Brighton. 3rd – 5th November 2015. Presentation: PatientVR: Virtual Reality experiences from the patient perspective.

Peres, N. (2015). Inside Government; Raising the Quality of Hospital Standards Forum. London 8th October 2015. Primary Case Study Presentation: The Role of Innovative Technology in Helping to Raise System Standards.