A new teaching method that could revolutionise the training of surgeons and deliver significant savings for the NHS has won a prestigious award at London Metropolitan University (London Met).
Route 4 is a teaching and training system which enables users to simulate and practice surgical procedures at their own pace and in their own time and recently won the highly competitive 2013 London Met Student Business Awards.
London Met Accounting and Business Economics student, Zahra Charaffdeen, 23, led the team of three students, including two from King’s College, who developed Route 4 and were all inspired by the need to improve teaching aids for medical students.
Zahra and her team are hoping that Route 4 will eventually deliver healthcare simulations for medical students globally using four different techniques – healthcare education, online communities, digital games and simulation instruments like the surgical tool. ‘Route 4’ provides training solutions via an innovative combination of take-home tools, courses and online resources.
Zahra said: “Current options for ‘hands on’ simulation training are typically performed in a lab – which means they are expensive and difficult to access. We knew that a tremendous opportunity existed if we could enable organisations to provide their medical students and trainees with access to practical training in an affordable and convenient way – and that’s what we’ve done with Route 4.
“Our business is pioneering the way technical skills are taught. Just as flight simulators result in improved air safety, surgical simulation improves the technical skills of medical students, doctors and surgeons. The development in skills will enable better standards of patient care, and ultimately, cost savings for the NHS.”
Zahra believes Route 4 can revolutionise the way healthcare is taught. Current simulation labs costs hundreds of thousands of pounds to set up, maintain and staff and also take clinicians and medical equipment out of wards and theatres – and thus out of service.
Route 4’s current keyhole surgery trainer by comparison costs £700 and can be taken home – so there is no limit to the amount of practice a student can get to prepare them for the high pressure world of the operating theatre.
Zahra cites her undergraduate studies in Accounting and Business Economics at London Metropolitan University, and the guidance received from Accelerator, the university’s business incubator, as important factors in winning the judges over.
She added: “The advice and support provided by Accelerator and through the Student Enterprise Programme, particularly in the later stages of the competition, has been invaluable – especially the opportunity to practice my pitch to a panel of experts drawn from UBS and Linklaters. That experience, whilst challenging, really helped be perfect the pitch in the days leading up to the final.”
Zahra, who moved to London from Lebanon in 2006, admitted that she was shocked to have won the prestigious prize. She added: “I was overwhelmed and speechless when we won. I knew our business concept was strong, new and exciting but the competition was of a very high standard and for our team of three undergraduates to win was an amazing experience. It has helped to boost our confidence and reinforce how strongly we believe in our product.”
The London Met Student Business Awards, which are run every year by the university’s Student Enterprise Programme, gives aspiring student entrepreneurs an opportunity to pitch business ideas and compete for funding and support needed to start their own venture.
Student Enterprise Manager Simon Boot explained how tough the competition was this year. He said: “This year’s London Met Student Business Awards were probably the most competitive they have ever been with more than double the submissions we received in 2012. That makes Zahra’s achievement all the more impressive. Her business plan and vision makes the product really viable and it could become a huge international success.”
As winner, Route 4 receives £2,500 in funding, a market research report prepared by marketest.co.uk and space in the London Met Student Business Hatchery, part of Accelerator, London Met’s business incubator.
