Meet the Team
Dr Theresa Tammy Tran
Tammy graduated from Imperial College London in 2015 and has trained in Palliative Medicine in London. She was a simulation fellow at King's College London in 2021, completing a PG Cert in Clinical Education from University of Edinburgh in 2022. Since then, she has created and led local and regional inter-professional and multi-professional palliative care simulation programmes. In 2022, she co-founded PalliSim network alongside Dr Anna Bradley to support others to deliver novel palliative care simulation across the country.​​​​​​​​
Dr Anna Bradley
Anna Bradley is a palliative medicine consultant at West Middlesex University Hospital. She has an interest in medical education. She is a member of the APM Education Committee and co-chair of the Pallisim network.
Symposium projects and presenters
‘MicroSim’ on the Inpatient Unit
Interprofessional Human-Factors Based Insitu Simulation.
An innovative way of delivering interprofessional simulation sessions on a busy inpatient unit (IPU) - as 45 minute ‘Micro-Sim’ sessions. We focus on both the strength and challenges of designing and delivering these sessions, as well as and the learning from both faculty and participant perspectives.​​​​​​​​​​​
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Dr Sabrina Vitello
Sabrina is a Consultant in Palliative Medicine working across community and inpatient unit settings at Princess Alice Hospice, Surrey. She has an MSc in Medical Education from Cardiff University and has developed a clinical career which also encompasses her passion for human-factors based interprofessional simulation-based education at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels.​​​​​​​​​​
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Collaborative simulation. Undergraduate vs postgraduate, not reinventing the wheel.
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Creating a simulated learning experience demands significant time, expertise, and resources. Because simulation can be tailored to meet the needs of diverse learner groups, a collaborative approach allows us to maximise this investment and ensure consistent, aligned delivery of palliative care education.
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Dr Geoffrey Wells
Dr Geoffrey Wells graduated from St George’s, University of London, in 2011 and completed his specialist training in palliative medicine across London and Sussex. In 2020, he was awarded his MD by the Universities of Brighton and Sussex for research exploring the use of simulation to enhance medical students’ confidence and preparedness in caring for dying patients and their families. Building on this work, Geoffrey has led the integration of mandatory end-of-life care simulations into Brighton and Sussex Medical School’s final-year curriculum. This innovative programme, delivered to more than 500 students across seven partner NHS Trusts, provides practical training to enable graduates to deliver compassionate care to dying patients with confidence. In 2023, Geoffrey was appointed Associate Professor in Medical Education and Palliative Medicine at Brighton and Sussex Medical School. Clinically, he works as Consultant in Palliative Medicine at East Sussex Healthcare Trust, supporting patients in acute hospital and hospice settings. Geoffrey contributes nationally to palliative care education as a steering group member of the Association for Palliative Medicine’s Specialist Interest Forum for Undergraduate Education. He chaired its 13th annual conference in 2025 at the Royal Society of Medicine and represents the forum on the APM Education Committee.
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Foundation Doctors PalliSIM
Palliative care simulation by foundation doctors, for foundation doctors. A novel sim scenario aligned with UKFP Curriculum Outcomes for Foundation Year Doctors. Contact the PalliSim email for access to the faculty pack and access the video resource here.
Dr Sally Barker
​Sally is an Internal Medical Trainee working in London who hopes to pursue specialty training in palliative medicine in the future. ​​​​​​​​​
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Foundation Doctors PalliSIM
Palliative care simulation by foundation doctors, for foundation doctors. A novel sim scenario aligned with UKFP Curriculum Outcomes for Foundation Year Doctors. Contact the PalliSim email for access to the faculty pack and access the video resource here.
Dr Rachel Boscott
​Dr Rachel Boscott is an Internal Medicine Trainee working in Thames Valley. She joined PalliSim in 2023 as the only Foundation Year 1 Doctor and was the first member working outside of London. She has enjoyed being part of the pan-London foundation simulation project, and is enthusiastic about developing further opportunities for improving palliative medicine education.​​​​​​​​​
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Multi-professional palliative care sim teaching emotional intelligence
​Steve Bass​​​​​​​​​​
I am the Lead Clinical Nurse for Palliative and End of Life Care across UHSussex, I have been involved with palliative care for 20 years and employed by the NHS for the last 30! My aim is to improve the quality of living and dying for those patients deteriorating from advanced and progressive illness, who are living in the last year of their life, and to support those identified as important to them. I am the service lead for the Palliative Care Team who advise and support health care staff on the management of complex physical symptoms, psychological distress, spiritual issues, family and carer distress, social, and financial issues from time of diagnosis into the dying phase and into bereavement.
I work closely with all those with an interest in ‘person-centred care’ who need support and advice around end of life care. My academic interests are ‘person-centred compassion and its associated emotional intelligence’, ‘Early recognition of supportive and palliative care needs aligned to shared decision making’, ‘creating conversations’ and how we can teach these through sImulation
To keep me sane: I run! I run a lot!
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Palliative Simulation for postgraduate doctors
We hold a one day palliative simulation course for post graduate doctors covering core skills in palliative and end-of-life care, aligned with postgraduate competencies. ​​​​​​​​​​​
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Dr Lucy Ison​
​Dr Lucy Ison is Consultant in Palliative Medicine at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in NW London. She has previously worked as an Academic Clinical Fellow at the Cicely Saunders Institute, look at service delivery models for palliative care for older people. She is a new member of the APM Education and Training Committee.​​​​​​​​​
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Palliative Medicine Simulation for IMS2 trainees
In response to changes to the centrally run IMS2 simulation training programme, we developed a simulation day specifically themed around palliative medicine for interested trainees in the deanery. There was huge appetite for the session from generalist trainees. Our specialist faculty helped non specialists build additional skills and knowledge for their palliative medicine CIP, and was well received. Our next steps are to attempt to deliver this on a larger scale.
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​Dr Ben Anderson
Ben is an ST6 in Palliative Medicine based in the North West, with a particular interest in education and simulation. He is passionate about using simulation-based learning to enhance palliative medicine skills in both specialist and generalist clinicians.
His current project focuses on the development of a Palliative Medicine Simulation Day for General Internal Medicine trainees, designed to support generalists in managing complex palliative scenarios. The day combines realistic, high-fidelity simulation with specialist faculty feedback, fostering open discussion and shared learning across disciplines.
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Palliative Medicine Simulation for IMS2 trainees
In response to changes to the centrally run IMS2 simulation training programme, we developed a simulation day specifically themed around palliative medicine for interested trainees in the deanery. There was huge appetite for the session from generalist trainees. Our specialist faculty helped non specialists build additional skills and knowledge for their palliative medicine CIP, and was well received. Our next steps are to attempt to deliver this on a larger scale.
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Dr Charlotte French
Dr Charlotte French is a palliative and general medicine specialty training registrar currently working a part of the supportive oncology team at the Christie Hospital. She has experience in working in a variety of settings including acute and specialist hospitals, emergency departments and hospices.
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​Multi-professional palliative care simulation for HCPs (from F1 to consultant level, all nursing staff and AHPs)​​​​​​​​​​
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​Sharlyn Celino Papez
Sharlyn qualified as a nurse in 2011 and has over a decade of experience working in acute NHS hospital settings. Her clinical background is in Haematology, where she worked as a Clinical Nurse Specialist and Unit Manager supporting patients with complex, life-limiting conditions. She is currently the Clinical Educator in Palliative and End of Life Care at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust. Her role focuses on developing the knowledge, confidence, and capability of nurses and healthcare professionals across acute services. She delivers education through bedside teaching, structured programmes, and service-level initiatives. Sharlyn also leads the Trust’s monthly multidisciplinary Palliative Care Simulation sessions, involving healthcare professionals across all disciplines, with a strong emphasis on reflective practice, psychological safety, and staff wellbeing.
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​Multi-professional palliative care simulation for HCPs (from F1 to consultant level, all nursing staff and AHPs)
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Nina Kale
Nina Kale is a Senior Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, based at Kingston Hospital, where she has worked for the past four years.
With over twenty years of experience in palliative care, Nina began her career at The Royal Marsden Hospital before moving on to Princess Alice Hospice, where she worked within the community team managing patients at home. This breadth of experience across specialist cancer services, hospice care, and acute hospital settings has shaped her holistic and patient-centred approach to end-of-life care.
Nina is actively involved in delivering the Palliative Care MDT simulation training programme, focusing on communication, symptom management at end of life, and guiding complex decision-making. She is particularly passionate about reflective practice and creating psychologically safe learning environments that strengthen multidisciplinary teamwork and improve patient and family experiences.
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​Multi-professional palliative care simulation for HCPs (from F1 to consultant level, all nursing staff and AHPs)
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Dr Laura Nightingale
Laura Nightingale is Clinical Lead for Palliative and End of Life Care at Kingston and Richmond NHS Foundation Trust, having trained in London, Surrey and Sussex prior to taking up her Consultant post. She undertook an MSc in Palliative Care at Cardiff University, was selected to undertake the Prepare to Lead programme at the King’s Fund and has undertaken the Leaders Plus NHS Fellowship. She has an interest in simulation training and co-founded the multi-professional PalliSim programme at Kingston Hospital.
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Enhancing Specialist Palliative Care Nursing Through Inter- Professional Simulation-Based Education
We developed, delivered and evaluated a pilot simulation education programme that supports both community and inpatient palliative care nurses in developing shared clinical and interpersonal competencies. Results confirm shared simulation experiences can strengthen clinical competence, emotional readiness, and teamwork – supporting nurses to deliver compassionate, consistent care across the palliative continuum.
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​Mary Spaight
Mary Spaight is a Nurse Tutor in Palliative Care with over 17 years of experience in Specialist Palliative Care. A lifelong learner, Mary holds a Higher Diploma in Health Promotion, a Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Care, and a Master’s in Nurse Education, all from the University of Galway (NUIG). Dedicated to enhancing clinical practice through simulation-based learning, her work bridges research and practice, equipping nurses to meet the complex challenges of palliative and end-of-life care while contributing to Ireland’s evidence base in the field. Mary also maintains a part-time clinical role, ensuring her teaching remains grounded in current practice.
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Enhancing Specialist Palliative Care Nursing Through Inter- Professional Simulation-Based Education
We developed, delivered and evaluated a pilot simulation education programme that supports both community and inpatient palliative care nurses in developing shared clinical and interpersonal competencies. Results confirm shared simulation experiences can strengthen clinical competence, emotional readiness, and teamwork – supporting nurses to deliver compassionate, consistent care across the palliative continuum.
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Jackie Reed​
I have worked in Palliative Care at Milford Care Centre, Limerick, since 2001, building my career within specialist palliative care nursing across a range of clinical settings. Over the course of 14 years in the inpatient hospice unit, as well as in the specialist palliative care day unit and community services, I developed a deep commitment to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care to people with life-limiting illness and their families. In 2019, I qualified as a nurse tutor and subsequently joined the Education Department at Milford Care Centre, where I discovered a natural alignment between my clinical experience, my curiosity, and my passion for learning and teaching. Since 2022, I have served as Head of Education and Research, a role that allows me to support excellence in palliative care and care of the older person services through high-quality educational programmes and research initiatives. Collaboration is central to my work, and I value the opportunity to explore key questions in palliative and end-of-life care alongside colleagues who share a commitment to continuous improvement. I am particularly excited about advancing simulation-based education at Milford Care Centre. With a new simulation strategy underway, we aim to grow our simulation hub and deliver clinically excellent, immersive learning experiences that enhance the quality of palliative and end-of-life care
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Palliative care simulation around managing uncertainty and complexity and leading sensitive conversations
Dr Zoe Palmer
Zoe Palmer is a Clinical Lead and Consultant in Palliative Care at UHS Sussex Hospitals Foundation Trust, with a particular interest in postgraduate medical education. She is actively involved in simulation training focusing on supporting healthcare professional to navigate uncertainty, manage complexity and lead sensitive conversations with confidence.
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