Nick Peres
Digital Futures Co-Lead
Nick Peres is an experienced innovator and researcher in the field of digital healthcare, with a career working creatively in broadcast media and then for the past 12 years within the NHS. He has built innovative projects to develop virtual reality (VR) healthcare solutions, and studied toward a PhD looking at compassionate behaviour in VR. In that time Nick has created, implemented and lead on numerous XR based projects, including the nationally recognised HEE sponsored VR Lab.
Nick is founder of PatientVR, a project that was set up to help teach non-technical skills to healthcare workers by showing immersive patient perspective scenarios. He is also currently the co-lead of the parliamentary award nominated Digital Futures program at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, which facilitates R+D workstreams, digital health studentships and digital literacy programs in XR and other emerging technologies.
Nick has advised NHS organisations in supporting their own journeys and adoptions of XR technologies and continues to hold advisory roles nationally for Health Education England as well as the XR Health Alliance (XRHA). Nick holds an honorary research role as part of Transtechnology Research at Plymouth University and is a TEDx speaker on humanities focused perspectives towards technology in healthcare.
Jacqui Rees-Lee
Digital Futures Co-Lead
Jacqueline is a Consultant Plastic and Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon and Director of Medical Education and clinical lead for the Digital Futures program at Torbay Hospital.She is a Fellow of both the European Board of Surgery and the Royal College of Surgeons, FRCS(Plast).
She has published many research papers and invited editorials and presented internationally.Jacqueline is developing and applying pioneering VR/AR techniques for patients and staff. Conceptualising & developing the Digital Futures Program (HEE funding 2021); a program of digital technology projects for trainees and includes pairing trainees with Digital Masters students from Plymouth University, clinicians and the team at the Horizon Centre, to allow trainees to explore emerging digital technologies and support them in applying these new skills to patient care pathways.Outside of the NHS she is Mum to two teenage boys, a trail runner and the originator of “Mindflow” concept and co-creator of the “Mindflow” prototype and a SWCTN (South-West Creative Technology Network) development grant winner. “Mindflow” creates restorative audio-cinematic storytelling experiences which respond to emotional state. “Mindflow” aims to combat anxiety, and loneliness.
Payal Ghatnekar
Immersive Tech Research Lead
Payal is the Immersive Technology Research Lead at TSDFT, responsible for managing research activities at the Digital Futures Lab. She is a Human-Computer Interaction researcher with a background in behavioral science. Payal has worked as a Research Fellow with Plymouth University’s School of Medicine and Dentistry, and Falmouth University’s Games Academy. Her role at TSDFT involves the evaluation and assessment of immersive experiences and technologies, horizon scanning for research opportunities and academic collaborations, and research development. Payal has a keen interest in- immersive technologies for female health education and self-management of symptoms, and improving access to health education in under-represented groups through immersive technologies.
Buzz Matthews
HEAD OF DIGITAL EDUCATION & SIMULATION
Buzz Matthews is Head of Digital Education & Simulation at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust since June 2022. Prior to this he worked in education at an FE college as a Digital Media technician and Lecturer before taking on the role of Programme Coordinator for Digital Media, Games & Interactive Design and Esports. He is a creative practitioner who has produced award winning documentary films and has frequently had his photographic work featured in a range of international publications. He recently completed a Masters degree at Falmouth University in Photography.
Jon Watt
Digital Innovation Facilitator
Jon is the Digital Innovation Facilitator at TSDFT, working in the Digital Futures Lab. Having been at the trust since February 2022, he has previous experience working as a lecturer in Interactive Design on Further and Higher Education pathways.
Jon’s role within the DF team includes planning, production and delivery of a range of technology-based projects in healthcare, including 360 immersive experiences, 3D scanning & printing and virtual simulated environments. Jon’s background is predominantly in Game Arts design, with a particular interest in 3D content creation and Unreal & Unity development engines.
Jon also facilitates the delivery of the lab’s Deep Dive workshops – providing teams with an introduction to XR technologies, with the aim to develop digital literacy and confidence in the use of related devices, as well as enabling teams to identify opportunities for innovation within their own clinical areas.
Kyra Boyle
Digital Healthcare Fellow
Kyra is the Digital Healthcare Fellow in our team, she started working with us during her masters studies where she worked on a brief making an application to help reduce anxiety in young people before visiting the hospital, after her studies she started working for Digital Futures to help with day to day work and to continue work on the application.
Kyra has a background in Digital Media and Design, she has skills in Unity and Unreal as well as being able to use all applications in the Adobe creative cloud.