‘Proud to share what I’ve experienced’: Meet Dr Mark Priestley, guide for Westmead Hospital’s AR tours

Westmead Hospital is launching Australia’s first Augmented Reality (AR) hospital tour, as part of the hospital’s 45^th birthday celebrations.

The exclusive tours, called ‘Past meets future’, will take place on Friday 17 November and Friday 24 November. They will showcase the history of Westmead Hospital through archival footage, documents, photographs and written historical information; combined with interactive design constructions of operating tables and other medical tools.

The Pulse has spoken with several of the esteemed members of the Westmead Hospital community who will be guiding these free tours for the community and staff.

Click here for more information about the tour, or reserve your place here.

Introducing Dr Mark Priestley, Head of Department – Anaesthesia and Perioperative Medicine at Westmead Hospital.

Can you share a bit about your journey and experience working at Westmead Hospital?

I came to Westmead Hospital as a medical student in 1983 and have been here ever since: medical student, intern, resident, trainee in anaesthesia and finally as a consultant anaesthetist in 1995. I was the supervisor of training in anaesthesia for 19 years then became head of department in 2016.

What excites you most about taking on the role of a tour guide for the hospital’s 45th-anniversary celebration?

I’ve made many friends over the 40 years I’ve been here and enjoyed helping many patients in need. I’ve watched the hospital grow and would be proud to share what I’ve experienced and what I’ve learnt.

In your opinion, what makes Westmead Hospital a special place to showcase through a tour?

In 45 years Westmead Hospital has become a premier teaching and research institution with a capacity to deal with an ever increasing population. Not many hospitals in Australia can match Westmead Hospital for its combination of high quality academic work and extremely busy clinical load.

Why do you think it’s important to showcase the history of Westmead Hospital as part of the 45th-anniversary celebration?

I think it’s important for the current staff and the community to know what the site used to be like and what the challenges and achievements have been over the years. Knowing our history leads to a better understanding and appreciation of our current environment.

To find out how to book your place on the tour click here.