Born and bred in Derry~Londonderry, Medical School technician Luke Coyle first took up an electrician apprenticeship at Foyle Port on leaving school but never lost his passion for biology.
Re-enrolling at the local college of further education he soon resumed his interest with an access to science A-level equivalent pathway to University, leading him to John Moore’s University in Liverpool to study biology. Luke explains:
“The human body and anatomy has always held a fascination for me and I am intrigued by the work on the frontiers of science and new research.”
Whilst studying in Liverpool, Luke watched with keen interest as Ulster University’s medical school plans came to fruition back home.
“The development of the medical school was huge news for the city and the healthcare system and I considered this graduate entry route myself. As time progressed, I began to think of it as a potential place of work as well as an opportunity for further study.”
In his final year of his degree programme, Luke worked in the Liverpool’s Lighthouse lab – the high throughput Covid-19 testing facility for NHS track and trace, before moving back to Derry~Londonderry to take up a role as a healthcare science associate in the histopathology labs at Altnagelvin hospital. With a long held interest in forensic pathology, Luke was also very aware of the anxiety arising from red-flagged referrals, working on testing that would return results to clinicians and inform patient outcomes. Finishing his degree as the medical school prepared to open its doors to its first students, a friend then sent him the job advertisement for the technician role, one of 3 in the new graduate entry school.
Day to day as part of the team at Ulster’s Graduate Entry Medical School, Luke sets up equipment for clinical skills sessions for both the medical students and those on the physician associates programme and any technical requirements for visiting clinical lecturers from the HSC Trusts. He also supports the weekly problem based learning through which students follow a mock patient scenario and work through the anatomy linked to the case.
Luke also plays a part in preparation for assessment – supporting the set up for the important OSCE ( Observed Structured Clinical Examination) which allows students to practice and show clinical skills in a standardised medical scenario.
“As technicians we try to ensure enough privacy in the space between stations to reduce noise as much as possible in this assessment environment and support students to best demonstrate their skills, knowledge and patient interaction.”
With about half of the cohort of 70 students per year group on campus at any time, students come to Luke and the other technicians to collect their scrubs and he also supports the setup of materials and equipment for self-directed revision. Very much in line with the multidisciplinary teams of the NHS, Luke liaises with other health technicians on campus, including through the anatomy modules in sports and podiatry.
With Ulster a signatory to the Technician Commitment, as Chair of Ulster University’s Technician Sub group for sustainability Luke leads fellow technicians and academic colleagues in discussion to secure the sustainable future of technicians across all disciplines, exploring apprenticeship routes and other ways to safeguard the pipeline of vital technical skills and expertise. Luke adds:
“Following my love of biology and human anatomy, supporting teaching and active learning , being part of a community of technicians and working in such a progressive school in my home city is an interesting and rewarding way for me to make a positive impact in healthcare.”