Professor Katherine Linehan
School of Biosciences
Professor of Anatomical Education
Faculty Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
+44 114 222 2347
Full contact details
School of Biosciences
C105
Addison Building
Sheffield
S10 2TN
- Profile
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- 2019-Professor of Anatomical Education
- 2018-present Faculty Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
- 2013-2019: Senior University Teacher
- 2003-2013: Teaching Fellow
- 2009: MEd Learning and Teaching for University Lecturers, University of Sheffield
- 2002-2003: Postgraduate Certificate in Education, University of Sheffield
- 2000-2002: Postdoctoral Researcher, Unit of Ophthalmology, University of Liverpool
- 1997-2000: Graduate Teaching Assistant whilst reading for a PhD in Cardiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Hull
- 1994-1997: BSc (Hons) Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Sheffield
- Teaching interests
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- Teaching Human Anatomy in the most engaging, inspiring and effective manner has been the main focus of my career. Creating inclusive classrooms that enable students, irrespective of the class size, to receive an individually tailored learning experience has been my primary goal.
- Independent learning. Researching and implementing teaching strategies that are effective in facilitating university students to learn independently.
- Teaching activities
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Senate Award Winner 2005 and 2017
Inclusion is key to the teaching and learning of my students. I have spent over 20 years in Higher Education designing classes that appeal to all learners. My aim is to tailor the learning resources and teaching sessions so that they are student-focused, engaging and accessible to all. This promotes a positive learning environment where the contribution of the individual is valued irrelevant of the size of the cohort.
This has involved a number of innovative projects and initiatives including establishing a new module, BMS 352 Forensic Anatomy, which teaches students the forensic skills required to identify a deceased individual. This module is taught in partnership with the Forensic Science Service, Police Force with contributions from Anthropologists and Pathologists. A digital open access course, Finding Mr X, has also been designed to support the learning of students on the module but also to provide all members of the public to learn some of these skills.
Most recently, I have written a new Postgraduate course, MSc Human Anatomy with Education, the aim of which is to address the national shortfall in individuals trained to teach cadaveric dissection. This course uses a wide range of novel teaching strategies to allow students to develop in depth anatomical knowledge whilst gaining hands on experience of teaching in HE. This course aligns with the HE Advance Professional Standards Framework and thus makes participants eligible for Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy.
Undergraduate and postgraduate taught modules
Level 3:
- BMS 352 Forensic Anatomy (Coordinator)
Masters (MSc):
- Human Anatomy with Education (Programme Director)
- BMS 6017 Anatomy of the Trunk and Limbs (Coordinator)
- BMS6016 Anatomy of the head, Neck and Brain
- BMS 6015 Action Research: Scholarship in Learning and Teaching (Coordinator)
- Professional activities and memberships
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- 2017-present: External Examiner, University of Leeds
- 2017-present: Member of University Learning and Teaching Committee
- 2017-present: Athena SWAN Award Reviewer
- 2017: Senate Award for Collaborative Activities (2nd award)
- 2013: Senior Fellowship of Higher Education Academy (HEA)
- 2013-present: Assessor for Anatomical Training Programme (National Anatomical Society)
- 2012-13: Consecutive Exceptional Contribution Awards (University of Sheffield)
- 2012-present: Member of Education Committee for National Anatomical Society
- 2009: Runner up-HEA National Bioscience Lecturer of the Year
- 2005: Senate Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
National projects and institutional projects
- Consultant to Primal Pictures (Digital learning resource company)
- Forensic Facial Reconstruction MOOC: Finding Mr X
- Contributor to content for National Anatomical Society website
- Student Transition and Retention (STAR) project
- The Academic Skills Hub (TASH)
- Made to Measure-tailoring the learning experience to the individual student
- Inclusive Learning and Teaching project
- Student Complex Mental Health project
- Faculty Director
As Faculty Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion I am committed to the Faculty being a place of work and study which embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. By embedding this ethos into all the day to day running of the establishment, the goal of the Faculty is to have motivated and diverse staff and students who demand the highest standards from each other and work together to maximise the benefits of difference.
As part of the Senior Leadership Team and Faculty Executive Board I am involved in the decision making for all key aspects of the Faculty including recruitment, teaching, research and promotion. This approach means that the potential impact any management decisions may have on equality, diversity and inclusion are at the forefront of discussions.
To embed this ethos throughout the Faculty, a Director for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion has been appointed to sit on the Executive Committee in each department. The Departmental Directors chair the departmental Equality, Diversity and Inclusion committees and thus precipitate the same consideration of equal opportunities throughout the day to day running of their department.
For more information on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion work across the Faculty please see the EDI Hub.