Staff Profile

OVERVIEW

Meenakshi is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Medical Education (SME). She leads anatomy teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate MBBS, Speech and Language Sciences, Biomedical Sciences and MRes Surgical Anatomy Programmes.

Her research interests are medical education, anatomy pedagogy, clinical anatomy, ultrasound education and supervises undergraduate and post graduate students.

After completing her MBBS in 2009, she obtained MD in anatomy at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India. She has worked as a doctor in the NHS, UK and in India. She has previously taught anatomy and clinical skills at Durham University, St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and St. Christopher’s College of Medicine in the UK.

QUALIFICATIONS

• MBBS, Bangalore University, India (1999)
• MD (Anatomy), Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, India (2003)
• Post Graduate Certificate in Clinical Education, Newcastle University, UK (2010)
• Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK (2010)

MEMBERSHIPS

Professional Bodies:

• British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA), Honorary Secretary https://www.baca-anatomy.co.uk/pages/6-about-us. She is a Director, Trustee and BACA Ambassador of the north east region. She was the Deputy Secretary of BACA (2018-2021).
• Anatomy Associations Advisory Committee (AAAC), Chair (2024- current)
• Anatomical Society
• Human Tissue Authority (HTA) Person Designated
• General Medical Council
• AMEE (2013- 2018)
• ASME (2012- 2018)

Committees and Networks:

• Newcastle University Race Equality Network (NU-REN), Executive Committee member  https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/nuraceequalitynetwork/about/
• Newcastle University Gender Equality Group member
• Newcastle University Race Equality Charter IAG (Implementation and Action Group) member
• Regional Racial Equality Forum member
• FMS Equality Project Strategic Oversight Board member

Meenakshi delivers anatomy teaching on undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across FMS and HASS faculty.

Module and MBBS Case Leadership

• MBBS Year 2 and A101 Case 24 Lead and anatomy lead
• MBBS Year 1 and A101 Case 3 co-lead and anatomy lead
• MRes Surgical Anatomy module lead
• Biomedical Sciences Anatomy module lead
• BSc Speech and Language Therapy and MSc Language Sciences Anatomy module lead

Academic adviser

• Currently Year 1 MBBS Academic Adviser. I have been an academic mentor for Year 2 and A101 MBBS students previously.

Postgraduate medical courses

• FRCR (Fellow of the Royal College of Radiologists) Part 1 regional anatomy course, upper limb anatomy lead
• Newcastle Ultrasound Guided Regional Anaesthesia (NUSGRA) international course, faculty
• Newcastle Ultrasound Guided Advanced Regional Anaesthesia and Pain (NUSGRAP) international course, faculty

External examiner

• University of Manchester, Anatomical Sciences Programmes (2021-2025)
• MRCS (Membership of Royal College of Surgeons) examiner

Awards

Excellence in Teaching Award at Durham University in 2017

Nomination for the NUSU Teaching Excellence Award for outstanding contribution to teaching at NU in 2019

Vice-Chancellor's Education Excellence Award 2022- NU Anatomy

Newcastle University Engagement & Place (Inclusive Education, Lifelong Learning and CPD) Award 2023- NU Anatomy

Other teaching activities

Post graduate clinical anatomy course organiser

Widening participation and outreach activities contributor

Meenakshi has published her work in anatomy and medical education journals. She is an Associate Editor of BMC Medical Education and acts as a peer reviewer for several other journals.

She has successfully hosted British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) conference in December 2019 at Newcastle University. She was an organising committee member for the Anatomical Society first virtual conference, hosted by Newcastle University in January 2021.

She regularly chairs oral research presentation sessions at British Association of Clinical Anatomy conferences

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=PoLeQPYAAAAJ&hl=en

Researchgate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Meenakshi-Swamy

• Articles

  • Adds P, Ashwood N, Brassett C, Choudhury B, Clancy J, Dangerfield P, Gasmalla HEE, Ginty A, Hamilton DL, Swamy M, Taylor S. What Makes an Anatomist "Clinical"? A Perspective From the British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA). Clinical Anatomy 2025, Epub ahead of print.
  • Pushpalatha K, Manjunatha B, Swamy M. A Delphi Consensus Study to identify most valuable assessment tools and to assess anatomy competencies in CBME curriculum. Journal of Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences University 2023, 12(4), 43-50.
  • Aftab R, Bibby P, White P, Swamy M, Patten D, Saleh DB. An anatomical appraisal of dynamic muscle transfer of the orbicularis oculi muscle. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery 2021, 75(1), 258-264.
  • Ferguson GR, Bacila IA, Swamy M. Does current provision of undergraduate education prepare UK medical students in ENT? A systematic literature review. BMJ Open 2016, 6(4), e010054.
  • Ikah DSK, Finn GM, Swamy M, White PM, McLachlan JC. Clinical vignettes improve performance in anatomy practical assessment. Anatomical Sciences Education 2015, 8(3), 221-229.
  • Swamy M, Sawdon M, Chaytor A, Cox D, Barbaro-Brown J, McLachlan J. A study to investigate the effectiveness of SimMan® as an adjunct in teaching preclinical skills to medical students. BMC Medical Education 2014, 14, 231.
  • Swamy M, Venkatachalam S, McLachlan J. A Delphi consensus study to identify current clinically most valuable orthopaedic anatomy components for teaching medical students. BMC Medical Education 2014, 14(1), 230.
  • Swamy M, Bloomfield TC, Thomas RH, Singh H, Searle RF. Role of SimMan in teaching clinical skills to preclinical medical students. BMC Medical Education 2013, 13(1), 20.
  • Swamy M, Searle RF. Anatomy teaching with portable ultrasound to medical students. BMC Medical Education 2012, 12(1), 99.

• Book Chapters

  • Almen J, Parkes AE, Chaudhry A, Saunders EL, Scotcher K, Swamy M, Keenan ID. Student and Educator Perceptions of Asynchronous Anatomical Education and a Digital Anatomy Learning Resource. In: Flora Gröning, ed. Enhancing Biomedical Education: Integrating Digital Visualization and 3D Technologies. Cham: Springer, 2024, pp.43-73.
  • Keenan ID, Green E, Haagensen E, Hancock R, Scotcher K, Swainson H, Swamy M, Walker S, Woodhouse L. Pandemic-Era Digital Education: Insights from an Undergraduate Medical Programme. In: Biomedical Visualisation: Volume 14‒COVID-19 Technology and Visualisation Adaptations for Biomedical Teaching. Springer International Publishing, 2022, pp.1-19.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Keenan I, Green E, Swainson H, Scotcher K, Swamy M, Saunders E, White P. Rapid and medium-term adaptations to Covid-19: Insights from an undergraduate medical programme. In: Anatomical Society summer meeting. 2022, Glasgow and Virtual: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Parkes A, Chaudhry A, Saunders E, Swamy M, Keenan E. Student and educator perceptions of a digital 3D anatomy learning resource. In: Anatomical Society Virtual Summer Meeting. 2021, Glasgow, UK: Journal of Anatomy, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Swamy M, Kakwani R, Venkatachalam S. Role of clinically relevant anatomy teaching in undergraduate medical education. In: British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) Virtual Conference. 2021, Virtual: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc. In Press.
  • Raditya M, Swamy M. Unilateral partial absence of rectus abdominis muscle and variations of the abdominal vasculature: a cadaveric study. In: British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) Virtual Conference. 2020, Virtual: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Munro S, Swamy M. An unusual accessory infrahyoid muscle: a cadaveric study. In: British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) virtual conference. 2020, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.
  • Jarman B, Womack J, Koneti K, Swamy M. Workshop on Improving Medical Education with Innovative Ultrasound. In: British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) Winter Meeting. 2019, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Dangerfield P, Moulton A, Swamy M. Workshop on Clinical Anatomy Education. In: British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) Summer Meeting. 2019, Preston, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Gough M, Clowry G, Swamy M, Surash S. Anterior transcallosal approach to the lateral ventricle: A cadaveric study comparing an innovative approach using a minimally invasive port-assisted device with a standard retractor technique. In: British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA) Winter Meeting. 2019, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Swamy M, Ngu S, McCaughey S. Anatomy teaching with DICOM image viewer on iPad as an adjunct to medical students. In: International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) conference. 2019, London, UK: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Hamilton D, Manickam B, Swamy M. Pattern of spread of injectate following erector spinae plane block in human cadavers: preliminary findings. In: 37th Annual European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA) Congress. 2018, Dublin, UK: BMJ Group.
  • Illing J, Corbett S, Kehoe A, Carter M, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Finn G, Medford W, Ikah D, Rothwell C, Swan L, Page G, McLachlan J, Tiffin P. How does the education of health and social care staff lead to patient benefit: a realist synthesis. In: AMEE Annual Scientific Meeting. 2018, Switzerland: An International Association for Medical Education.
  • Hesselgreaves H, Swamy M, Kehoe A, Illing J. Evaluating the effectiveness of educational interventions for patient benefit: The development of reporting guidelines. In: AMEE Annual Scientific Meeting. 2018, Switzerland: An International Association for Medical Education.
  • Swamy M, Putturaya S, Ballard P. Clinically most relevant aspects of anatomy in current obstetrics and gynecology practice for teaching medical students. In: AMEE Annual Scientific Meeting. 2017, Finland: An International Association for Medical Education.
  • Swamy M, Ngu S, McCaughey S. Anatomy teaching with DICOM image viewer on iPad as an adjunct to Phase I medical students. In: Joint Summer Meeting of the British and European Associations of Clinical Anatomists. 2017, Coventry, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
  • Illing J, McLachlan J, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Tiffin P, Finn G, Corbett S, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Kehoe A. How does learning transfer to practice to improve patient safety, clinical effectiveness and the patient's experience?. In: AMEE Annual Scientific Meeting. 2016, Barcelona: Association for Medical Education in Europe.
  • Illing J, Corbett S, McLachlan J, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Tiffin P, Finn G, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Kehoe A. How can we enhance the transfer of learning into practice?. In: AMEE Annual Scientific Meeting. 2016, Barcelona: Association for Medical Education in Europe.
  • Swamy M, Sawdon M, Chaytor A, Cox D, Barbaro-Brown J, McLachlan J. First-year medical students' perceptions of using SimMan® in clinical skills examination session. In: 13th Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference (APMEC). 2016, Singapore: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Ferguson GR, Bacila IA, Swamy M. Does current provision of undergraduate education prepare UK medical students in ENT? A systematic literature review. In: AMEE Annual Scientific Meeting. 2016, Barcelona: Association for Medical Education in Europe.
  • Swamy M, Venkatachalam S. Clinically oriented anatomy teaching to maximise second year medical students learning experience. In: 17th Ottawa Conference on the Assessment of Competence in Medicine and the Healthcare Professions 2016. 2016, Perth, Australia.
  • Illing J, McLachlan J, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Tiffin P, Carter M, Corbett S, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Ikah D, Finn GM, Swan L, Page G, Husband A, Kehoe A. A realist synthesis of the evidence linking education and training to patient benefit. In: Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) conference. 2016, Perth, Australia: ANZAHPE.
  • Swamy M, Searle RF. Evaluation of body painting as a learning gap in anatomy and clinical examination session. In: International Congress of Clinical Anatomy. 2015, Rouen, France: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
  • Swamy M, Searle R. Evaluation of anatomy teaching with portable ultrasound to medical students. In: The Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) conference 2014. 2014, Brighton, UK: ASME.
  • Swamy M, Sawdon M, Chaytor A, Cox D, Barbaro-Brown J, McLachlan JC. A study to investigate the effectiveness of SimMan as an adjunct in teaching preclinical skills to medical students. In: 16th Ottawa Conference on the Assessment of Competence in Medicine and the Healthcare Professions. 2014, Ottawa, Canada: Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE).

• Reports

  • Illing J, Corbett S, Kehoe A, Carter M, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Finn G, Medford W, Ikah D, Rothwell C, Swan L, Page G, McLachlan J, Tiffin P. How does the education and training of health and social care staff transfer to practice and benefit patients? A realist approach. Final Report for Department of Health. 2018.
  • Illing J, Corbett S, Carter M, Kehoe A, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Sawdon M, Swamy M, Medford W, Finn G, Tiffin P. How does the education and training of health and social care staff lead to patient benefit? A realist synthesis. Interim report for the Department of Health. 2017.
  • Illing J, Corbett S, Crampton P, Carter M, Tiffin P, Hesselgreaves H, Kehoe A, Sawdon M, Swamy M, IKAH D, Medford W, Page G, Finn G, Swan L, McLachlan J. Education Outcomes Framework: Developing indictors and the evidence base. Interim Report for the Department of Health. 2016.
  • Illing J, McLachlan J, Hesselgreaves H, Crampton P, Tiffin P, Carter M, Corbett S, Sawdon M, Swamy M, IKAH D, Finn G, Swan L, Page G, Husband A, Kehoe A. The Education Outcomes Framework: Interim report for the Department of Health. 2015.