Professor Steven Yule

Research

The culture of healthcare now embraces non-technical skills as a central driver to making surgery a high reliability industry, reducing avoidable adverse events, and saving lives.

Prof Yule is lead scientist of the Surgical Sabermetrics Laboratory (SaberLab), a pioneering research group that translates data-driven analytics and performance-enhancing techniques from elite sports to enhance surgical team effectiveness. SaberLab is based in Clincial Surgery and the Usher Institute, and supported by federal agencies, foundations, societies, medical charities, and academic training grants. The lab collaborates with research groups at the intersection of surgery and psychology across Europe and North America and was honoured to be the inaugural recipient of the MacLeod McLaren Medal in Patient Safety, awarded by the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in June 2025.

SaberLab provides a scientific platform for advances in behavioral sciences, non-technical skills, human factors and patient safety. Please email steven.yule@ed.ac.uk to inquire about fellowships and research opportunities.

Group Members

Researchers (All University of Edinburgh Unless Stated)

• Emma Howie: Clinical Research Fellow and PhD candidate in Medical Informatics
• Harini Dharanikota: PhD candidate in Medical Informatics
• Joe Norton: Clinical Research Fellow and PhD candidate in Medical Informatics
• Lachlan Dick: Medical Education Fellow and PhD candidate in Medical Informatics
• Connor Boyle, Clinical Research Fellow and MD candidate in Medical Informatics
• Eilidh Gunn: Clinical Research Fellow and PhD candidate in Medical Informatics
• Fiona Kerray: Clinical Research Fellow and MD candidate

Faculty Mentors (All University of Edinburgh Unless Stated)

• Richard Skipworth: Consultant General and Upper GI Surgeon, Honorary Professor and NRS Clinician
• Andrew Tambyraja: Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Clinical Director, and Honorary Clinical Reader
• Stephen Wigmore: Regius Chair of Clinical Surgery
• Domenica Coxon, PhD: Deputy Programme Director (year 1+2), MSc Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors
• Claire Davies, PhD: SaberLab Research Manager and Deputy Programme Director (year 3), MSc Patient Safety and Clinical Human Factors
• Calum Arthur, PhD: Senior Lecturer in Surgical Performance

Associate Mentors

• Douglas Smink: Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School
• Roger Dias: Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Current

Professor and Chair of Behavioural Sciences, University of Edinburgh

Programme Director, MSc Patient Safety & Clinical Human Factors, University of Edinburgh

Lead Scientist, Surgical Sabermetrics Laboratory (SaberLab), Usher institute and Clinical Surgery, University of Edinburgh

Director of Non-Technical Skills Faculty, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Editorial Board: Journal of Surgical Education, Advances in Simulation, Journal of Surgical Research

Past

2020-2022: Honorary Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

2017-2020: Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

2012-2017: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

2011-2012: Lecturer in Surgery, Harvard Medical School

2007-2011 Lecturer in Psychology, University of Aberdeen

Past Leadership Appointments

2018-2023: Global Education Council, Johnson & Johnson Institute, New York City, NY

2011-2022: Leadership Council, Center for Surgery & Public Health, Brigham & Women’s Hospital/ Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA

2015-2022: Associate Faculty, Ariadne Labs for Health System Improvement, Boston, MA

2011-2019 Director of Education, Research & Innovation, STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA

2014-2019 Member, Committee on Surgical Skills Training for Practicing Surgeons, American College of Surgeons

2015-2019: Vice-chair, Committee on Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons, American College of Surgeons

2015-2019 Member, Surgical Quality & Safety Committee, Brigham & Women’s Hospital

2017-2019 Member, Surgical Education Committee, Brigham & Women’s Hospital

2016-2018 Chair, Education committee, Association for Academic Surgery

2006-2012 Member, Patient Safety Board, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

PhD, Industrial & Organizational Psychology, University of Aberdeen (2003)

MSc, Work Design & Ergonomics, University of Birmingham (1999)

MA (Hons), Psychology, University of Aberdeen (1998)

2025 The McLeod and McLaren Medal for Distinguished Contribution to Patient Safety, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

2022 The Stuart Medal, Royal Society of Medicine

2019 Fellowship (Ad Hominem), Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

2019 Innovation Award, Partners Healthcare, Boston, MA

2018 Safety Matters Award for Surgical Team Training Program, Brigham & Women’s Hospital

2016 Joseph E. Murray and Simon J. Simonian Award in Recognition of Outstanding Academic Achievement in Research Mentorship, Brigham & Women’s Hospital/ Harvard Medical School

2016 BMA Council Chair's Choice, British Medical Association Medical Book Awards 2016

2015 Best paper, American College of Surgeons Annual Clinical Congress

2013 Poster of Distinction, Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland

2011 Best paper, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (USA)

2010 Best paper, Human Factors & Ergonomics Society (USA)

2010 Moynihan Award shortlist, Association of Surgeons of Great Britain & Ireland

2010 A.B. Milne Prize, University of Aberdeen

2005 Best paper, Society for Medical Simulation