Staff Profile – Busy Lizzie

It was the Christmas of 2009 when the decision was made to start looking for a new fieldworker for Acumen. The Acumen medical department had been expanding faster than seasonal waistlines and it was apparent to everyone that an extra pair of hands was what was needed. It wasn’t until the February of the New Year when the Christmas wishes of the Acumen team would finally be answered in the form of Elizabeth Coultas.

Known as Lizzie, she quickly made the role of Acumen medical fieldworker her own. With previous experience of building a fieldwork department within a Manchester based research agency; she brought a variety of skills to the role along with a tenacious attitude when recruiting particularly niche medical conditions.

Perhaps less crucially, this former bass guitarist also significantly raised the sartorial stakes in the Acumen office. With a penchant for vintage clothes and a heavy shoe habit, Lizzie has been known to take almost as much pride in her daily attire as she does in correctly pronouncing, and understanding, the complicated medical jargon she is faced with on each and every project.

Top 3 most complicated medical terms and definitions you’ve conquered in your role at Acumen?
Getting my mouth around the terms “Intramuscular”, “Intradermal” and “Subcutaneous” injections was a particularly proud moment of mine. But having to then explain the meanings of these terms to the qualified nurses that I was trying to recruit was definitely unexpected. Other unusual medical encounters include Gaucher’s, Fabry Disease and Multiple Myeloma – but we love a good challenge!

Where would you be now if not a fieldworker?
I would have definitely pursued my career as a rock star. This may have been short-lived as my stage outfits always took more of a priority than my bass playing skills so I probably would have ended up a failed one.

Alternatively, with the medical knowledge that I have picked up since joining Acumen, I could always have a potential career as a healthcare professional myself – possibly treating rock-stars! I can but dream.

What excites you more – finding a respondent with a niche medical condition or finding a unique piece of vintage couture?
That is a tough question... I probably punch the air in the same way whenever I find either!

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