Sue O'Connor

Having undertaken a work placement year at the James Paget Hospital Histopathology laboratory during my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Science, I returned to the James Paget Hospital to begin my postgraduate career as a trainee Biomedical Scientist in 2001.  I attained State Registration in 2002 and moved to the Norfolk and Norwich University hospital Histopathology laboratory. In 2003 I started searching for a new challenge and was appointed "Anatomy assistant" at the newly opened Norwich Medical School to assist with the development and running of prosection and later, dissection based anatomy classes for the MB BS course and other health sciences courses.

The anatomy facility at Norwich Medical School is licensed by the Human Tissue Authority to receive, store, anatomically examine and dispose of human remains under the Human Tissue Act (2004). Since February 2014 I have been the designated individual for the anatomy facility license and published point of contact for enquiries regarding whole body donation in Norfolk. I am responsible for overseeing all practices surrounding whole body donation and anatomical examination at Norwich Medical School, and to ensure that they are carried out in accordance with the Human Tissue Act (2004).

I have had several changes of job title as I have progressed in my career at UEA but most recently in August 2014, I was promoted to anatomy Lecturer / prosector. I am currently undertaking an MA in Higher Education Practice and am passionate about improving the student experience in anatomy by inclusion of clinically active demonstrators in anatomy seminars and development of learning resources such as workbooks and screencasts to aid learning. I am academic theme lead for anatomy and work closely with the anatomy team and Clinical Anatomy theme lead to develop and improve anatomy seminars and as an SSS. 

I have undertaken two modules of the Anatomy Teachers' Programme run by the Anatomical Society (Great Britain and Ireland) and achieved Distinction in both. In 2004 I won the dissection prize at the Institute of Anatomical Sciences Autumn Scientific meeting and my entry was published in McMinns Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy (6th Ed), which has been republished in later editions. I was offered the opportunity to prosect for the Hanno Boon Anatomy Masterclass run by Prof Peter Abraham in 2011 but declined after only having recently returned to work following maternity leave. 

I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and have developed an avid interest in the delivery and support of anatomy teaching through my studies undertaken during my MA in Higher Education Practice and the Anatomy Teachers' Programme and focus my developments around student feedback and experience.