Patricia Livingston, OC, MD, FRCPC, MED

Education:

• MEd (Acadia University)
• Fellowship, pain management (Dalhousie University)
• Anesthesia residency (University of Toronto)
• MD (University of Colorado School of Medicine)
• BA, chemistry (University of Colorado)

Research interests:

Dr. Livingston’s main academic interests are in curriculum development, medical education, simulation and improving health care in resource-limited and remote settings.

Selected publications:

• Mossenson A, Mukwesi C, Elaibaid M, Doverty J, May A, Murray M, Livingston P (2021). Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST); immersive simulation designed for diverse settings. International Journal of Surgery: Global Health, 4. [Published] Available here.
• Mossenson A, Bailey J, Whynot S, Livingston P (2021). Qualities of effective Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training facilitators delivering simulation-based education in resource-limited settings. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 133(1), 215-225. [Published] DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000005584.
• Skelton T, Irakoze A, Bould MD, Przybylak-Brouillard A, Twagirumugabe T, Livingston P (2020). Retention and Migration of Rwandan Anesthesiologists: A Qualitative Study. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 131(2), 605-612. [Published].
• Mossenson A, Tuyishime E, Rawson D, Mukwesi C, Whynot S, MacKinnon S, Livingston P (2019). A VAST improvement: Promoting anaesthetists' non-technical skills through the Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training Course in a low-resource setting. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 124(2), 206-213. [Published] DOI: 10.1016/j.bja.2019.10.022.
• Hanley M, Shearer C, Livingston P (2019). Faculty perspectives on the transition to competency-based medical education in anesthesia. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia. [Published] DOI: 10.1007/s12630-019-01412-w.
• Skelton T, Nshimyumuremyi I, Mukwesi C, Whynot S, Zolpys L, Livingston P (2016). Low-cost simulation to teach anesthetists' non-technical skills (ANTS) in Rwanda. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 123(2), 474-480. [Published] DOI: DOI: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000001434
• Livingston P, Evans F, Nsereko E, Nyirigira G, Ruhato P, Sargeant J, Chipp M, Enright A (2014). Safer obstetric anesthesia through education and mentorship: a model for knowledge translation in Rwanda. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia, 61(11), 1028-1039. DOI: 10.1007/s12630-014-0224-8.

Biography:

Dr. Livingston is a professor of anesthesia in the Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine at Dalhousie University and an Honourary Associate Professor at the University of Rwanda. She has worked in anesthesia and pain management at Dalhousie University since 1990. Dr Livingston is currently working with collaborators to build capacity for simulation-based education in resource-limited and remote settings. She is a director of Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST). Extensive work in Rwanda has included anesthesia curriculum development, establishment of a simulation and skills centre and introducing the first Rwandan Safer Anesthesia From Education (SAFE) Obstetric Anesthesia Course.

Selected awards and honours:

• Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal (2022)
• Officer of the Order of Canada (2021)
• Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society Humanitarian Award (2020)
• Mentor/Role Model of the Year, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine (2014)
• Certificate of Merit, Canadian Association for Medical Education (2014)
• Dr. John Savage Memorial Award in Global Health, Dalhousie University (2012)

Service & activity:

• Director of Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training (VAST) Ltd. (2020 – present)
• Vice chair, Board of Directors, Canadian Anesthesiologists’ Society International Education Foundation (2014 – 2019)
• Co-chair, Curriculum Renewal Committee, Department of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine (2011 – 2017)

Curriculum development (all in collaboration):

• VAST Wellbeing Course – to promote wellbeing and prevent burnout for healthcare providers in resource-limited and remote settings (2022)
• VAST Foundation Year – a yearlong program of half-day weekly simulation-based sessions to teach essential skills and practices to beginning anesthesia trainees (2022)
• Vital Anaesthesia Simulation Training Course – to teach essential clinical practices and non-technical skills for perioperative healthcare providers in resource-limited and remote settings (2018)
• Teaching and Learning Course – effective teaching practices for medical educators (2017)
• University of Rwanda Anesthesia Curriculum (2012)