Ms Kate Mills
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Ms Kate Mills

BVSc(Hons) GradCert (Educational Studies) MANZCVS(Surg) FHEA
Associate Professor in Veterinary Clinical Skills (Professional Practice) (Education Focused) 
Address
B10 - Evelyn Williams Building
The University of Sydney
Ms Kate Mills

Kathryn Mills (BVSC(Hons)MANZCVScGrad Cert Higher Education FHEA is an
education focused lecturer in Surgery. She received her veterinary degree from the University of Sydney in 1997 and has worked as a veterinarian in general practice for 20 years. She earned her Membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Surgeons in Surgery in 2004. She started working at the University of Sydney in her current role in 2019, teaching DVM students'foundation small animal surgery skills and coordinating the school's clinical skills teaching program.

As an education focused lecturer in Surgery, I teach foundation surgery skills to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students at the Sydney School of Veterinary Science. My student focused teaching philosophy has been shaped by completion of the Graduate Certificate of Higher Education, collaborations with academic mentors, and extensive clinical experience mentoring veterinary interns and graduates. These activities fostered my understanding of the day one competencies that are essential for graduates to transition into the veterinary profession successfully and confidently. My scholarly informed pedagogical leadership of my discipline, my design and leadership of educational quality assurance projects, and my advocacy for and implementation of curricula innovations that create a learning ecosystem that optimizes the student learning experience are the defining features of my outstanding contributions to teaching.

My primary research focus is veterinary education, and the investigation of effective ways to scaffold the acquisition of clinical skills competency in novice learners. My investigative approach centres around evaluating the impact online resource scaffolds have on the ability of novice learners to engage in effective self-guided skills practice. At a curricula level, my research investigates educational quality assurance strategies, and innovations that promote learner autonomy, so graduates develop a culture of sustainable lifelong learning. At present there is minimal evidence-based research that investigates the impact of Hyflex modes of learning on technical skills acquisition. My research outcomes aim to optimise the student learning experience, and graduate preparedness for the veterinary profession.

Selected Grants

2022

  • Clinical Skills Teaching, Learning and Assessment: Scaffolding graduates to acquire and retain day one skill competencies, Mills K, Sydney School of Veterinary Science (SSVS)/Start-up Research Fund