Dr. Austin Gibbs – A Journey from Emergency Rooms to Sourdough Pizza (and Everything In Between)
Austin’s words…
Job Title at Continuum:
[Still figuring this one out—something suitably impressive, I’m sure.]
Who Am I?
I’m Dr. Austin Gibbs, cardiologist-tech-enthusiast, with a dash of legal know-how and a passion for sourdough, the ocean and our beautiful island. My journey started at UCL, where I decided that one degree wasn’t enough. So, I went ahead and earned degrees in both medicine and psychology, just to keep things interesting.
My early days were spent running around in Emergency Medicine across the globe, patching people up and trying to keep up with the adrenaline rush. Then, because I clearly needed more excitement, I packed my bags and headed to South Sudan and Mozambique to work on healthcare projects as part of charity I founded (Mobile Medics). Nothing quite like practicing medicine in a field hospital to test your skills—and your patience.
But wait, there’s more! Somewhere along the line, I thought, "Why not throw law into the mix?" So, I studied that too. It’s a handy skill when you’re trying to navigate the murky waters of healthcare regulations—or just win an argument at the dinner table.
The French Connection (or How I Learned to Renovate a 120-Year-Old House)
At one point, I decided to go off the grid (literally) and live off the land in France. This involved renovating a 120-year-old house, which was both a lesson in resilience and a crash course in DIY carpentry. Who knew that balancing a stethoscope with a hammer would be so challenging, nor how much i’d truly love pointing, nor how hard and bad I am at making goat’s cheese.
Back to Jersey (and into the World of Cardiology and Tech)
Eventually, I made my way back to Jersey and joined the Cardiology department. But as much as I love hearts (in both the literal and metaphorical sense), I’ve always been a bit of a tech geek at heart. That’s why I founded The Allan Lab—a place where we take cool new technologies and figure out how to make them actually useful in clinical practice. We’re all about turning sci-fi into reality, one innovation at a time.
On the Side: Jersey Research Foundation and a Cannabis Lab
Because I clearly can’t sit still, I co-founded the Jersey Research Foundation to support local projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible, to give people the opportunity to test their ideas and build a body of locally applicable data to help guide policy and practice. And for good measure, I also founded and became the CTO of an analytical cannabis lab, helping support the emerging cannabis sector and provide scientific rigout to this new field. Think of it as a perfect blend of chemistry and creativity.
Supporting Local Businesses, One Gin at a Time
On top of all that, I’ve lent my support to Sea Level Distillery, a small-batch, eco-friendly gin distillery. Truly a model for Jersey to produce high-quality quality unique and eco-friendly produce. If you’re ever in need of a refreshing drink, you know where to go!
(Spoiler: It’s not me, but you can thank the distiller—they do all of the hard work, try Old Tom with ice ginger ale and a of drop local honey).
Why I Do What I Do Now
I like to think of data as this generation’s coal. It’s got the potential to power just about everything—if we manage it correctly. Currently, we’re burning it in big pits, but soon we’ll be building nanotubes and carbon fibre bike saddles. Jersey should be at the forefront and the best place to ride this far into the future.
Continuum are at the cutting edge of empowering businesses through their clever use of manipulation and data analytical tools. We worked together during COVID to create live data streams of HCS resources and that cemented their team’s ability to truly make data work.
My goal? To make Jersey the happiest, healthiest place on the planet, while also securing the island’s financial future. I firmly believe that with the right tools and a little bit of clever thinking, we can make this dream a reality. We can empower a whole population with the skills, information and funding to live the best life they wish. End the top-down “government knows best” and have a personalised democratised and equitable society.
My Favorite Part of the Job
The best part of what I do? Creating tools that help people do their jobs better—without taking those jobs away. I’m all about getting rid of the tedious stuff so that we can focus on what really matters: being creative, energetic, and just plain fascinating. After all, if a robot can do it, why should we? Let’s leave the boring tasks to the machines and keep the fun stuff for ourselves.
Fun Facts (Because Why Not?)
I make a mean sourdough pizza. Seriously, it’s good enough to rival your favourite pizzeria.
Back in college, I had the chance to sound engineer for Coldplay but decided to work with "Hillbilly Symmes and the Pilgrims of Yoda" instead. No regrets—it was a wild ride. (their second track Buffy (The Vampire Slayer) will naturally be on everyone’s lips….massive hit)
Final Thoughts
So, that’s a bit about me. I’m excited to bring my unique blend of medical, legal, and technological expertise to Continuum Data Services. Together, we’re going to do some amazing things—just as soon as I figure out what my job title is.
