Professor Sarah Baillie

National Teaching Fellow 2010 Sarah is renowned for her contagious enthusiasm and passion for veterinary education as well as an evident affection for animals, students and her profession. "Your passion and insight have stimulated my thinking and ideas". She has a rather unusual background as she spent many years as a veterinary surgeon in general practice before retraining (after an injury) in computing science. She now uses her unique combination of skills as clinician, teacher and computing scientist to transform many aspects of student learning. Sarah is best known for her work creating computer simulations of animals using haptic (touch) technology, which has been described as possibly the most significant innovation in veterinary education in 50 years. One example, the haptic cow, is a life-like virtual model that trains students in rectal palpation, the classic image of the vet with an arm up a cows butt. The haptic simulators enable students to feel the animals insides while an instructor follows hand movements on the monitor and gives directions. This has revolutionised the teaching of these examinations, which were previously learned blind. Sarah's research has shown that simulator training improves students' performance for the real task, which has clear benefits for student learning and animal welfare. Sarah has also been able to draw on her years of experience in general practice to lead educational initiatives in work-based learning, professionalism and peer-assisted learning. She has secured grants to develop and evaluate learning resources, many of which are integrated into curricula at the Royal Veterinary College and beyond.As well as contributing to UK veterinary education, Sarah has been invited to demonstrate and present her work at medical conferences in Europe and North America. 'Do you feel like a vet?!' was a very popular exhibit at the Royal Society. Recently Sarah's contribution to teaching was recognised when she won Most Innovative Teacher of the Year at the Times Higher Education Awards 2009. She was described as the "clear winner from over 80 entrants across the disciplines in UK higher education."