Researcher biography

I have worked as an academic with a passion for biomedical and health education for the last 20 years. I have extensively taught medical, nursing, paramedicine, rehabilitation science and biomedical science students. My primary teaching responsibilities were delivery of physiology, anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical methodology, clinical bedside coaching, basic and advanced life skills, procedural skills and surgical skills (virtual) with cohort sizes from 10 to 1500 students. By creating a unique amalgam between biomedical and clinical concepts I have enhanced learning and students' experience. My significant contributions to health professionals' education have been complemented via multiple institutional awards and national teaching awards and nominations . As an academic, I have developed and implemented various innovative teaching methodologies. These include eLearning, mLearning, VoPP, flipped classrooms, patient-based and simulation-based learning to enhance students' understanding of basic and clinically applied science.

My interest in medical education has strengthened my educational philosophy with innovative research since 2008. I pioneered and implemented the first and largest student staff partnership (SSP), looking into designing quality assessments. This project attracted a UQ Strategic Grant ($26.5K) and was completed over 4 years (2008-2012). In 2016, I furthered my research interests, when I designed, developed and implemented two more projects to enhance nursing and midwifery education: (1) flipped classrooms and (2) simulated patients. Data collection was completed in 2017. In 2019, as the chief investigator, I designed and developed two innovative projects implementing: (1) virtual classrooms and (2) ward-round teaching pedagogy in medicine. Both projects were completed and pilot data were presented at conferences in Australia.

In July 2020, my SSP project submission, "Phase 1- Deconstructing the nervous system (NS) to improve learner perceptions and outcomes" was approved by UQ SSP program and received an internal grant of $4,000. In 2021, I was invited to further extend this project (Phase 2) with an additional grant of $4,000.

In September 2021, I applied for UQ Teaching Innovation Grants for following projects: the application of VR in human gross anatomy classrooms and the development of radiological image database of human cadaveric organs. The VR project was awarded a TIG of $8,500 from UQ ITaLI.

I enjoy many facets of my academic and professional roles that have defined me as a CBL tutor, course & module coordinator, lecturer, evolving researcher, team leader and member. I am humbled by student feedback which has furthered my passion to positively impact academic and prosocial behaviours in coming generations of healthcare professionals.