Key Contributions to Teaching
Contributions to blended learning.
Background: Blended learning (BL) is a pedagogical approach that combines – or ‘blends’ – the classroom and online learning environment. Evidence suggests that BL is among the most effective of the pedagogical approaches for post-secondary education, therefore many universities are supporting the development of BL courses, including UBC’s School of Population and Public Health.
Key Contributions:
Development of the SPPH’s first, purpose-built BL course (SPPH 552: Risk and Communication in Public Health)
Co-creation (with Dr. Chris Lovato) and management of the SPPH BL Community of Practice in order to assist other faculty members to introduce BL pedagogy into their courses.
Contributions to open learning.
Background: Open learning generally refers to the free and open sharing of educational materials. Open learning is valuable to both the learner, as it increases access to knowledge and training, and to the instructor, as it improves reach and engagement with diverse groups of students.
Key Contributions:
Creation of an open source textbook on risk communication entitled The Mission, the Message, and the Medium with co-authors Kaylee Byers and Jennifer Gardy.
Recipient of a 2020 UBC Open Education Resources Rapid Innovation Grant for the development and public release of the aforementioned textbook.
Creation of an open Canvas course for the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative for summer students across Canada working on wildlife health-related topics.
Contributions to student supervision.
Background: I am a passionate, engaged supervisor committed to mentoring my graduate students to become the next generation of One Health leaders. I ensure that my students are immersed in and responsible for all aspects of their research project, from developing objectives, to study design, to data collection and analysis, to knowledge translation. This approach is successful because I am also committed to supporting them through each and every step in their unique journey.
Key Contributions (up to May 2020):
Students under my direct supervision…
Received 23 major scholarships, including the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, the NSERC Gilles Brassard Doctoral Prize for Interdisciplinary Research, the Killam Doctoral Scholarship, and the Friedman Award for Scholars in Health.
Made 32 invited and conference presentations, which resulted in 9 awards (e.g., the Wildlife Disease Association Graduate Student Award for outstanding academic and research accomplishment, productivity, and future potential in pursuit of new knowledge in wildlife health or disease).
Were first authors on 25 peer-reviewed publications in significant journals for our field of work, such as Emerging Infectious Diseases, Zoonoses and Public Health, Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases, Journal of Wildlife Diseases, and Frontiers.
Engaged in a variety of different science communication projects and platforms, including websites, social media, film, popular science writing, and 40+ mainstream media interviews.
Have made a number of significant discoveries in their field of research (see Student Supervision section of Teaching Activities for details).
Contributions to experiential learning.
Background: I believe that it is my responsibility to prepare my students for the world in which they will need to work upon graduation, and I believe the best way to prepare them is through experiential learning. I facilitate this learning by using my three professional positions. As a UBC faculty member, I help graduate students to develop collaborations with stakeholders and conduct stakeholder-driven research. As the Director for the BC Node of the Canadian Wildlife Heath Cooperative and Leader for Veterinary Science and Diagnostics with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, I develop and supervise numerous practicum placements for students in a diverse range of programs.
Key contributions:
Primary academic supervisor 2 PhD projects developed with stakeholders for stakeholders: a new approach to urban rat monitoring and mitigation for the City of Vancouver and new avian influenza virus surveillance tool for the BC Ministry of Agriculture (the latter of which was led by PhD student Michelle Coombe pictured at right).
4 BSc Coop and Honors placements, 6 DVM student practicum placements, 2 MPH placements, 3 MSc Occupation and Environmental Health practicum placements.