Associate Professor Voula Gaganis

Associate Professor in Physiology

College of Medicine and Public Health

place Health Sciences
GPO Box 2100, ADELAIDE, SA, 5001

I have been fortunate to experience Flinders University across varied roles, initially in research as a PhD student and post-doctoral researcher in Clinical Pharmacology, followed by over a decade teaching in the MD Program as a PBL tutor, and Course Coordinator and Teaching Program Director roles in Medical Biosciences. I am currently serving my college, Medicine and Public Health, in the role of Clinical Teaching Program Director working with teaching teams from our Doctor of Medicine, Paramedicine, Clinical Education and Counselling degrees.

One of my passions in teaching is active learning, particularly using innovative teaching techniques. I have introduced a cloud-based learning technology into medical science physiology topics which I am very excited about, and have published with colleagues nationally and internationally in physiology education about active learning and physiological core concepts.

I have been recognised for my teaching practice - in 2024 I was selected as STEMM Educator of the Year at the South Australian Science Excellence and Innovation Awards, and in 2021, I was awarded an Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT) Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning.

I am convenor of my college's Teaching Specialist Community of Practice which is an interdisciplinary community representing disciplines across medicine and public health. We foster ongoing interactions between teaching specialist staff across the College with a focus on scholarship of teaching and learning, enabling and building relationships, collaborative activities, sharing knowledge of our practice including repertoire of resources, techniques, trouble-shooting, tools and experiences.

Qualifications

Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK (SFHEA)

Master of Education (Higher Education) - Flinders University

PhD - Flinders University, School of Medicine

Bachelor of Applied Science (Honours) - University of South Australia

Honours, awards and grants

Awards/Fellowships

2024, SA Science Excellence and Innovation Awards - Educator of the Year (University)

2024, Student-Led Teaching Award, Flinders University - Honourable Mention

2023, Senior Fellow, Higher Education Academy UK (SFHEA)

2023, Student-Led Teaching Award, Flinders University - Honourable Mention

2021, Australian Awards for University Teaching (AAUT) – Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

2021, Teaching Innovation and Scholarship Award, CMPH Flinders University

2020, Nominee - Osmosis Raise the Line Faculty Award

2019, Teaching Innovation and Scholarship Award, CMPH Flinders University

2019, Vice Chancellor's Innovation in Teaching Award, Flinders University

2019, Best Short Talk Early Career Academic, Emerging Leaders Showcase CMPH Flinders University

2016, Best PBL Tutor MD1, CMPH Flinders University

2015, Best PBL Tutor MD1, CMPH Flinders University

2004, Percy Prize - 8th World Congress on Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Annual Scientific Meeting of ASCEPT

2003, Peter Meffin Prize in Drug Metabolism & Disposition - ASCEPT Annual Scientific Meeting, Sydney, Australia

Key responsibilities

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE & PUBLIC HEALTH

Teaching Program Director, Clinical (2024-current)

Program Coordinator, Medical Science Laboratory Medicine (2022-current)

Teaching Program Director, Medical Biosciences (Jan - Oct 2024)

Course Coordinator Medical Science Programs (2021-2023)

Topic Coordinator

  • MMED2931: Human Physiology
  • MDSC2000: Skills for Medical Scientists 2

Topic Lecturer

    • MMED2931: Human Physiology
    • MDSC2000: Skills for Medical Scientists 2
    • MMED1005: How your Body Works: human physiology and structure
    • MED1007: Histology: the building blocks of the human body
  • HERGA (Higher Education Research Group Adelaide), Flinders Executive Group
  • Flinders International, CMPH representative
  • Teaching Specialist Community of Practice (CMPH TS CoP), convener
Teaching interests

COLLEGE OF MEDICINE & PUBLIC HEALTH

Teaching Program Director (Medical Biosciences)

Coordinator Medical Science (Laboratory Medicine)

Topic Coordinator

  • MMED2931: Human Physiology
  • MDSC2000: Skills for Medical Scientists 2

Topic Lecturer

    • MMED2931: Human Physiology
    • MDSC2000: Skills for Medical Scientists 2
    • MMED1005: How your Body Works: human physiology and structure
    • MED1007: Histology: the building blocks of the human body
Topic coordinator
MMED2931 Human Physiology
MDSC2000 Skills for Medical Scientists
Topic lecturer
MMED1005 How your body works: human physiology and structure
MMED1007 Histology: the building blocks of the human body
MDSC2000 Skills for Medical Scientists
MMED2931 Human Physiology