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This week's Doctorpreneur of Doctology is Dr Kevin Rafferty (we are breaking the rules a little as Kevin is from Northern Ireland but we could not ignore the wave of innovative medicos from further afield!).
Kevin is an anaesthetic doctor with a desire to give patients a better perioperative experience and to reduce the distress of children receiving gas inductions.
What organisation / startup did you found?
I founded Bruadar Medical and invented the Rafferty Distraction Headset.
What is its noble purpose? To make gas induction of Anaesthesia less traumatic. This is a single patient use cardboard virtual reality headset, that integrates a detachable anaesthetic mask.
A smartphone is required to create virtual reality and use of the Rafferty Headset allows distraction and better mask acceptance during gas induction of anaesthesia.
Tell me about the first 10 years of your life?
Great. I am very lucky to have a loving and close family.
What age were you when you had your first paying job? What was it? Well it was actually when I became a Junior Doctor at 23 years old!
What made you want to be a Doctor and what specialty did you choose? Why? I wanted to become a doctor since seeing a bad car accident when I was 16, where I was unable to help.
I chose anaesthesia as I enjoy the immediate nature of our interventions. It is a specialty where skills and knowledge are constantly evolving.
I also enjoy that we are able to help in many scenarios. Communication and gaining the trust of patients are what I find the most rewarding parts of anaesthesia.
What made you want to be an Entrepreneur or follow an alternative route? When exactly did you decide?
I had the idea for this product during an anaesthetic list, and now have a desire to give a better gas induction and I believe this will help.
Are you still practicing as a Doctor now? If yes, do you intend to stop if your organisation or project takes off?
Yes I am an Anaesthetic Registrar and have no intention of stopping work as a doctor. I enjoy my work and have worked hard to be able to work in the field of anaesthesia.
Why do you think traditionally many Doctors struggle with entrepreneurship? Or at least they are perceived to? Doctors spend many years passing post graduate exams and working with patients. This may lead to less time for thinking of other projects.
What is your favourite quote?
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today". Malcolm X.
What would you do in the event of a Zombie Apocalypse?
Probably go in to work and no doubt get eaten first!
You can find out more about Rafferty Distraction Headset here:
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