Professor Steven Yule
I lead international innovations in surgical research, human factors and patient safety in order to contribute significantly to the betterment of society.
Professor Steven Yule
Chair of Behavioural Sciences
Group Members
Researchers (All University of Edinburgh Unless Stated)
- Emma Howie: Clinical Research Fellow and PhD candidate in Surgical Sabermetrics
- Eilidh Gunn: Clinical Research Fellow and PhD candidate in Surgical Coaching
- Harini Dharanikota: PhD candidate in MDT Decision Making for Cancer Care
- Fiona Kerray: Clinical Research Fellow and MD candidate in Digital Surgical Education and Human Factors
- Patrick Robinson: Orthopaedic Surgical Trainee
- Majid Rashid, Scottish Clinical Leadership Fellow, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Andrew Linn: PhD Candidate in Surgical Robotics, Usher Institute
- Saskia Clark-Stewart, Medical Education Fellow
- Lewis McColm: 5th Year Medical Student
- Max Riley: Safe Surgery/ Safe Systems Research Fellow, Ariadne Labs, Boston
- Stef Soelling: Safe Surgery/ Safe Systems Research Fellow, Ariadne Labs, Boston
- Joel Norton: Clinical Research Fellow and MD candidate in Surgery (from August 2023)
- Lachlan Dick: Medical Education Fellow and MD candidate in Surgery (from August 2023)
Faculty Mentors (All University of Edinburgh Unless Stated)
- Richard Skipworth: Consultant General and Upper GI Surgeon, Honorary Reader and NRS Clinician
- Andrew Tambyraja: Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Honorary Clinical Reader
- Stephen Wigmore: Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery
- Domenica Coxon, PhD: Deputy Programme Director, Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors
- Claire Davies, PhD: Deputy Programme Director, Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors
- Douglas Smink: Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
- Adam Johnson: Vascular Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery, Duke University
Background
I am an academic psychologist with 20 years’ experience studying team performance and non-technical skills in high risk/high reliability industries (surgery, healthcare, energy, transportation, space exploration). I returned to Scotland in January 2020 after 8 years on faculty at Harvard Medical School.
Research Overview
The culture of healthcare is shifting to one that embraces non-technical skills as a central driver to make surgery a high reliability industry, reduce avoidable adverse events, and save lives. Our multidisciplinary research program provides a scientific platform for advances in behavioral sciences, non-technical skills, human factors and patient safety. Please email steven.yule@ed.ac.uk to inquire about current fellowships, research positions, faculty opportunities, and new ideas for collaboration in the following core areas:
Surgical Sabermetrics: These are advanced analytics of digitally recorded surgical training and operative procedures targeted at enhancing insight, supporting professional development, and optimising clinical and safety outcomes. Current research is implementing peer assessment, vision science, and smart checklists to objectively measure and improve the technical and non-technical practices that characterize surgical team behavior. Funded by National Institutes for Health R01HL146619 and R01HL126896.
Coaching: Peer coaching has substantial potential for lifelong learning in technical, non-technical and teaching skills for established surgeons. We developed the Surgical Coaching for Operative Performance Enhancement (SCOPE) program and have implemented it at four Harvard hospitals since 2018. Future directions include scalability, involving all operating theatre team members, and optimizing the use of video coaching.
Global Surgery: Resource level has a fundamental impact on team performance and non-technical skills, and with funding from Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Johnson & Johnson, we have been implementing a non-technical skills (NOTSS) curriculum in Rwanda and measuring barriers to implementing non-technical skills in clinical practice. Future work is to scale this program within sub-Saharan Africa, enhance faculty development and support, and develop digital tools for training, monitoring and evaluating impact.
Space Medicine: Long duration spaceflight is a fixed low medical resource setting. To support astronaut crews manage medical events in space, we have developed full scale simulations and behavioral training tools. Current work is developing mixed reality digital training and real time guidance for management of potential medical and surgical events in preparation for future deep space missions. These tools also have applications for telemedical support on earth. Funded by Translational Research Institute for Space Health and NASA 80JSC017N0001.
The following PDF provides a brief visual summary of this group’s current research.
You can view a full catalogue of graphical research summaries for each group in the Centre for Inflammation Research by visiting our Research page.
Other Responsibilities
- Programme Director, MSc Patient Safety & Clinical Human Factors, Edinburgh Surgery Online
- Director of Non-Technical Skills, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School