Dr Tierney Kinnison

BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCertVetEd, FHEA
Lecturer in Veterinary Education

Department: Clinical Science and Services

Campus: Hawkshead

Research Groups: Pedagogy

Tierney re-joined the LIVE team in 2018 as a Lecturer in Veterinary Education. Tierney's main interests and teaching relate to the education courses offered by the LIVE Centre, and interprofessional education. 

Tierney studied Animal Behaviour as a BSc and MSc. Her MSc was undertaken at the University of Exeter and included a project on olfactory enrichment for fishing cats in captivity. Tierney maintains a keen interest in behaviour and welfare.

Tierney joined the RVC in 2008 after a brief period as a receptionist at a charity veterinary clinic, where she still volunteers. Tierney worked as a Research Assistant within the LIVE (Lifelong Independent Veterinary Education) Centre under such mentors as Prof. Sarah Baillie, Prof. Stephen May and Prof. Ayona Silva-Fletcher. She was able to work on a variety of projects regarding veterinary and veterinary nursing student education. Her main interest was developed in the area of interprofessional education, where members of two or more professions learn with, from and about each other. It was through this interest that Tierney undertook a PhD, supervised by Prof. David Guile (Institute of Education, University College London) and Prof. Stephen May. Her thesis was entitled: Insights from Veterinary Interprofessional Interactions: Implications for Interprofessional Education (IPE) in the Veterinary Curricula. Her award was made on 28th June 2016.

After her PhD, Tierney undertook a one year post-doc within the LIVE Centre which included working on projects regarding the impact of distance learning CPD on Sri Lankan veterinarians and the experiences of participants of the Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice. Tierney then undertook her second post-doc, a two year position within the Department of Pathobiology and Population Science (PPS), Veterinary Epidemiology, Economics and Public Health (VEEPH) group. She researched equine inflammatory airway disease through a systematic review and the perceptions of veterinarians with regard to the disease through focus groups and a questionnaire. The project was funded by the HBLB. Upon completion of the project, Tierney was appointed as Lecturer in Veterinary Education in the LIVE Centre.

Tierney’s particular interests are veterinary education, research through qualitative and mixed methods, and developing interprofessional education within the RVC’s curricula. 

Since joining the RVC, Tierney has conducted research in a number of areas alongside several different research teams. The overarching focus of the research has been veterinary education. Her main areas of research have included interprofessional education, use of haptic simulators, technology in education, and wellbeing.

A list of Tierney’s publications can be found in the ‘Selected Publications’ tab. 

2024

  • King, N., Lewis, E.G., Kinnison, T., Langridge, A., Civai, C. May, S.A., Cardwell, J.M. 2024. Mental health of veterinary nurses and student veterinary nurses: A scoping review. Veterinary Record, 194(9):e4091.
  • Sharp, P., Baillie, S., Parkes, R.S.V., Janicke, H., Kinnison, T., Routh, J., Muca, E. and Forrest, N. 2024. Setting Up and Running Online Communities of Practice (CoPs) for Veterinary Educators. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, Advance Access

2022

  • Hagen, J.R., Weller, R., Mair, T.S., Batt-Williams, S., Kinnison, T. 2022.  Survey investigating factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary nursing profession. Veterinary Record, Early View. 

  • Kinnison, T., McGilvray, T.A., Couëtil, L.L., Smith, K.C., Wylie, C.E., Bacigalupo, S.A., Gomez-Grau, E., Cardwell, J.M. 2022. Mild-moderate equine asthma: A scoping review of evidence supporting the consensus definition. The Veterinary Journal, 286 105865. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2022.105865. 

  • Gunasekara, Y.D., Kinnison, T., Kottawatta, S.A., Kalupahana, R.S., Silva-Fletcher, A. 2022. Exploring Barriers to One Health Antimicrobial Stewardship in Sri Lanka: A Qualitative Study among Healthcare Professionals. Antibiotics, 11, 968. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11070968

  • Gunasekera, Y.D., Kinnison, T., Kottawatta, S.A., Silva-Fletcher, A., Kalupahana, R.S. 2022. Misconceptions of Antibiotics as a Potential Explanation for Their Misuse. A Survey of the General Public in a Rural and Urban Community in Sri Lanka. Antibiotics. 11(4):454. 

2021

  • Kinnison, T., Lumbis, R., de Mestre, A.M., Cardwell, J.M. 2021. Preliminary testing of psychometric properties of the ‘student perceptions of veterinary interprofessional education and work scale’ (SP-VIEWS). Journal of Interprofessional Care, 36(3):449-457. DOI: 10.1080/13561820.2021.1902961
  • Lumbis, R., Langridge, A., Serlin, R., Kinnison, T. 2021. Developing Inter-Professional Education Initiatives to Aid Working and Learning Between Veterinarians and Veterinary Nurses/Vet Techs. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 48: 8-13.

 

2020

  • Hagen, J.R., Weller, R., Mair, T.S., Kinnison, T. 2020. Investigation of factors affecting recruitment and retention in the UK veterinary profession. Veterinary Record, 187(9):354. doi: 10.1136/vr.106044
  • Kinnison, T., Cardwell, J.M. 2020. Conflict Between Direct Experience and Research-Based Evidence is a Key Challenge to Evidence-Based Respiratory Medicine on British Racing Yards. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7: 266. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00266
  • Kinnison, T., Thuranira-McKeever, C., Kalupahana, R., Silva-Fletcher, A. 2020. Multi-level impact of continuing professional development on Sri Lanka’s veterinary sector, Open Learning: The Journal of Open, Distance and e-Learning, DOI: 10.1080/02680513.2020.1758650
  • Tindell, C., Weller, R., Kinnison, T. 2020. Women in veterinary leadership positions: Their motivators and enablers. Veterinary Record, 186: 155.

2018

  • Kinnison, T. 2018. Simulators in Veterinary Clinical Skills Education: Background and Examples. IN Veterinary Clinical Skills Manual. Eds Nichola Coombes and Ayona Silva-Fletcher. CABI, UK. PP 368-375.
  • Bostock, R., Kinnison, T., May, S. A. 2018. Mindset and its relationship to anxiety in clinical veterinary students. Veterinary Record, 183(20): 623.

2017

  • Kinnison, T. 2017. Portrayal of professions and occupations on veterinary practice websites and the potential for influencing public perceptions. The Veterinary Nurse, 8(10): 563-568.
  • Cardwell, J.M., Magnier, K., Kinnison, T., Silva-Fletcher, A. 2017. Student experiences and perceptions of compulsory research projects: a veterinary perspective. Veterinary Record Open 2017;4:e000243. doi:10.1136/ vetreco-2017-000243.
  • Dixon, W.H.R., Kinnison, T., May, S.A. 2017. Understanding the primary care paradigm: An experiential learning focus of the early veterinary graduate. Veterinary Record, 181: 480.
  • Kinnison, T., May, S.A. 2017. Continuing Professional Development: Researching Non-Technical Competencies can support Cognitive Reappraisal and Reduced Stress in Clinicians. Veterinary Record, 181(10):266.
  • Kinnison, T, Guile, D., May, S.A. 2017. Working in Professional Teams. IN Veterinary Medical Education: A Practical Guide. Eds Jennifer L. Hodgson and Jacquelyn M. Pelzer. Wiley Blackwell. PP 419-432.
  • Kinnison, T., Whiting, M., Magnier, K., Mossop, L. 2017. Evaluating #VetFinals: can Twitter help students prepare for final examinations? Medical Teacher. 39(4):436-443.

 

2016

  • Kinnison, T. 2016. When veterinary teams are faced with clients who can't afford to pay. Veterinary Record, 179 (23) 594-595
  • Kinnison, T., May, S.A. 2016. Evidence-Based Healthcare: The Importance of Effective Interprofessional Working for High Quality Veterinary Services, a UK Example. Veterinary Evidence, [S.l.], v. 1, n. 4, nov. 2016.
  • Kinnison, T., Guile, D., May, S.A. 2016. The Case of Veterinary Interprofessional Practice: From One Health to a World of its Own. Journal of Interprofessional Education and Practice, 4: 51-57.
  • Whiting, M., Kinnison, T., Mossop, L. 2016. Teaching Tip: Developing an intercollegiate Twitter forum to improve student exam study and digital professionalism.  Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 43(3): 282-286.

 

2015

  • Kinnison, T., Guile, D., May, S.A. 2015. Veterinary team interactions, part two: the personal effect. Veterinary Record, 177: 541.
  • Kinnison, T., Guile, D., May, S.A. 2015. Errors in veterinary practice: preliminary lessons for building better veterinary teams. Veterinary Record, 177: 492.
  • Kinnison, T., May, S.A., Guile, D. 2015. Veterinary team interactions, part one: the practice effect. Veterinary Record, 177: 419.
  • May, S.A., Kinnison, T.  2015 Continuing professional development: learning leads to change in clinical practice.  Veterinary Record, 177: 13.
  • Kinnison, T., Dernat, S. 2015. The Winding Path to a PhD in Veterinary Education. Veterinary Record, 176: 8-10.

 

2014

  • Kinnison, T. 2014. Working together: researching interprofessional education. Veterinary Record, 174: 24.
  • Kinnison, T., May, S.A., Guile, D. 2014. Inter-Professional Practice: From Veterinarian to the Veterinary Team. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 41(2):172-8.

 

2013

  • Bachynsky, E.A., Dale, V.H.M., Kinnison, T., Gazzard, J., Baillie, S. 2013. A survey of the opinions of recent veterinary graduates and employers regarding early career business skills. Veterinary Record, 172(23): 604.
  • Bates, L., Crowther, E., Bell, C., Kinnison, T., Sarah Baillie. 2013. Development of the Animal Management and Husbandry Online Placement Tool. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 40(4): 349-354.
  • Kinnison, T., May, S.A. 2013. Veterinary career ambitions correlate with gender and past experience, with current experience influencing curricular perspectives. Veterinary Record, 172(12): 313.

 

2012

  • Ogden, U., Kinnison, T., May, S.A. 2012. Attitudes to Animal Euthanasia do not Correlate with Acceptance of Human Euthanasia or Suicide. Veterinary Record, 171(7): 174.
  • Quinn, C., Kinnison, T., May, S.A. 2012. Care and justice orientations to moral decision-making in veterinary students. Veterinary Record, 171: 446-450.
  • Kinnison, T., Lumbis, R., Orpet, H., Gregory, S. and Baillie, S. 2012. How to run Talking Walls: an inter-professional education resource. The Veterinary Nurse, 3(1): 4-11.

 

2011

  • Baillie, S., Kinnison, T., Forrest, N., Dale, V.H.M., Ehlers, J.P., Koch, M., Mándoki, M., Ciobotaru, E., de Groot, E., Boerboom, T.B.B., van Beukelen, P. 2011. Developing an Online Professional Network for Veterinary Education: The NOVICE Project. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 38(4): 395-403.
  • Kinnison, T., Orpet, H., Pullen, S., McNae, J., Bell, C., Gregory, S., Baillie, S. 2011. Development of the VN online clinical placement tool. The Veterinary Nurse, 2(8): 428-433.
  • Rhind, S.M., Baillie, S., Kinnison, T., Shaw, D.J., Bell, C.E., Mellanby, R.J., Hammond, J., Hudson, N.P.H., Whittington, R.E., Donnelly, R. 2011. The transition into veterinary practice: Opinions of recent graduates and final year students. BMC Medical Education, 11:64.
  • Kinnison, T., Lumbis, R., Orpet, H., Welsh, P., Gregory, S., Baillie, S. 2011. Piloting Interprofessional Education Interventions with Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing Students. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 38(3): 311-318.
  • Dale, V.H.M., Kinnison, T., Short, N., May, S., Baillie, S. 2011. Web 2.0 and the veterinary profession: current trends and future implications for lifelong learning. Veterinary Record, 169(18):467.
  • Low-Beer, N., Kinnison, T., Baillie, S., Kneebone, R., Bello, F., Higham, J. 2011. Hidden practice revealed: using task analysis and novel simulator design to evaluate the teaching of digital rectal examination. The American Journal of Surgery, 201(1): 46-53.

 

2010

  • Bell, C., Baillie, S., Kinnison, T., Cavers, A. 2010. Preparing veterinary students for extramural clinical placement training: Issues identified & a possible solution. Journal of Veterinary Medical Education, 37:190-197.

 

2009

  • Kinnison, T., Forrest, N.D., Frean, S.P., Baillie, S. 2009. Teaching Bovine Abdominal Anatomy: Use of a Haptic Simulator. Anatomical Sciences Education, 2(6): 280-5.

Tierney currently has three main areas of teaching. As a LIVE Lecturer in Veterinary Education, Tierney is involved in the range of education courses offered by the Centre.

The second is interprofessional education (IPE). Tierney and a group of veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses at the RVC have been instrumental in initiating opportunities for IPE between veterinary and veterinary nursing students. This RVC IPE team believe that IPE enables students to learn about each other’s background, beliefs, reasoning and motivation, and enables them to work as a more cohesive team, which reduces potential errors caused due to, for example, interprofessional communication mistakes. For more information on Tierney’s IPE work, please click here. 

Tierney’s third area of teaching is with the Haptic Cow. The Haptic Cow is a virtual reality touch-technology tool for teaching rectal palpation of cows. It was developed, and validated, by Prof. Sarah Baillie. More information can be found about the Haptic Cow (and other haptic simulators) here. Tierney’s teaching involves training a group of third year veterinary students to train their peers, as a form of peer learning. The trained group also teach basic anatomy to first year veterinary students in near-peer teaching.

N/A

Tierney has been a part of the Haptic team at the RVC since she joined in 2008. Alongside the Cow’s inventor, Prof. Sarah Baillie, as well as the RVC’s education liaison team and widening participation group, Tierney has been involved with several outreach activities.

This has included multiple school visits to the RVC, as well as: The Royal Society’s Summer Science Exhibition (2009), The Royal Institution’s Family Fun Day (2009), The British Library (2011), The Science Museum’s ‘Lates’ (2012) and Royal Institution CHRISTMAS LECTURE (2014).

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