Dr Samantha Goodchild

Samantha is a lecturer in anatomy with a background in forensic anthropology. She leads the Anatomy theme for the MBChB course, is the Designated Individual for the Anatomy Centre and is also the Schools and Colleges lead for the School of Medicine.

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Background

Samantha studied BSc (Hons) Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, where she studied gross anatomy, osteology and methods of human identification. After graduating in 2014, Samantha was awarded a Greenhouse PhD scholarship to undertake her PhD research. Her thesis was entitled ‘A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the developing human lumbar vertebral column’ and was submitted in 2019. Her research focused on the development of the internal bony architecture in the lumbar vertebral centra in relation to biomechanical milestones.

During her PhD, Samantha also became a Level 3 certified forensic anthropologist with the Royal Anthropological Institute and worked as a trainee consultant on the Virtual Anthropology Consultancy Service. In October 2018, Samantha began her first lecturing position at the School of Medicine, University of Central Lancashire, where she lectured in Anatomy until July 2019.

Research interests

• Bone development
• Anatomy/Anatomical Variation
• Osteology
• Forensic Anthropology
• Medical Education

Samantha’s research interests include understanding bone development from a biomechanical perspective, and using biological imaging to quantify the internal trabecular architecture of bone. She is also interested in dissection-based research and anatomical variation, research in human identification and medical and anatomical education.

Areas of expertise

• Anatomy
• Osteology
• Bone development
• Lumbar vertebrae

Areas of research supervision

• ARU Summer Internship 2021 Co-Supervisor (alongside Dr Amanda Hunter): The Development of Cadaveric Prosections for the Teaching of Gross Anatomy
• Gerard Griffin (MBChB Year 2)
• Christy Saju (MBChB Year 2)
• Prashanthi Ganeshwaran (MBChB Year 2)
• ARU Summer Internship 2022 Supervisor: The development of cadaveric prosections for the teaching of clinical anatomy
• Alex Farries (MBChB Year 2)
• ARU Summer Internship 2022 Co-Supervisor (alongside Dr Stephen Hughes): An evaluation of the usefulness of ultrasound imaging on Thiel-embalmed cadavers
• Hannah Addison (MBChB Year 1)

Teaching

Samantha lectures in anatomy, histology and embryology, and leads dissection sessions on the MBChB programme at ARU School of Medicine.

She also teaches on the Physician’s Associate and several other Allied Health courses.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee
• PhD in Anatomy/ Forensic Anthropology, University of Dundee. Thesis entitled ‘A qualitative and quantitative analysis of the developing human lumbar vertebral column’
• PG Cert in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education, Anglia Ruskin University

Memberships, editorial boards

• Member of the Anatomical Society
• Member of the British Association of Human Identification (BAHID)
• Member of the British Association of Forensic Anthropologists (BAFA)
• Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute
• Fellow of Advance HE

Recent presentations and conferences

The 19th Congress of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA), ExCeL London, 2019. Poster Presentation titled ‘Age-related changes in the developing trabecular architecture of the human lumbar vertebral column’.

Anatomical Society Winter Conference, University of Dundee, 2017. Oral Presentation titled ‘Understanding the trabecular architecture within the developing human lumbar vertebrae’ Awarded Runner Up Best Oral Presentation.

Annual RPG Student Symposium, University of Dundee, 2017. Oral Presentation titled ‘A quantitative study of human lumbar vertebrae: Using micro‐Computed Tomography (μCT) to understand the developing trabecular architecture’.

Anatomical Society Summer Conference, NUI Galway, 2017. Poster Presentation titled ‘The trabecular architecture of human perinatal lumbar vertebrae: A genetically predetermined structure?’.

British Association of Clinical Anatomists Summer Conference, University of Warwick, 2017. Oral Presentation titled ‘A quantitative study of perinatal human lumbar vertebrae: Using micro‐ Computed Tomography (μCT) to understand the developing trabecular architecture’.