Professor Paul Rea
- Professor of Digital and Anatomical Education (Anatomy)
- Director of Innovation, Engagement & Enterprize (Medicine)
telephone:
01413304366
email:
Paul.Rea@glasgow.ac.uk
Laboratory of Human Anatomy, Thomson Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Biography
Professor Rea is an internationally recognised leading expert, in the applications of digital technologies to biomedical/medical visualisation in education, clinical settings, and industry linked research. Initially he trained in Medicine, undertaking roles in general medicine, paediatric surgery, and emergency medicine, followed by a period as a pathologist. He then changed direction, pursuing a clinical anatomy educator role, and is Full Professor on the Learning, Teaching and Scholarship track. It was in academia he realised the potential digital technologies had for education, simulation, training, and public/civic engagement. He led the strategic partnership with the School of Simulation and Technology (SIT), The Glasgow School of Art (GSA), and founded the MSc Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy, following significant grant funded research. This degree improved graduate employability and had significant high profile media coverage. He was the founding, and now Series Editor (Editor-in-Chief equivalent) for the internationally acclaimed Biomedical Visualiz(s)ation book series with Springer Nature. He holds strategic leadership roles for innovation, engagement, and enterprise; body donation; education and previously project management for large scale infrastructural developments. Professor Rea is a Licensed Teacher of Anatomy, licensed by the Scottish Government, and has held this role for nineteen years.
He is also the Director of Innovation, Engagement and Enterprise within the School of Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing, a role he has held since August 2022. He is responsible for leading, delivering and managing the three pillars of the strategy: driving innovation and enterprise; employability for careers and growing entrepreneurs and regional economic and societal impact.
Research interests
- Digital anatomy
- Medical and biomedical visualisation
- Training, education and simulation using digital technologies
- Virtual and augmented reality and 3D technologies
- Clinical anatomy
- Innovation, engagement and enterprise
- Industrial partnerships
Grants
Grants and Awards listed are those received whilst working with the University of Glasgow.
- 3D Definitive Human Project
NHS Education for Scotland
2014 - 2017
Supervision
Professor Rea has supervised over 60 MSc research projects, c. 90 Honours Anatomy and currently has 1 PhD student. He is happy to supervise Masters and PhD students in the field of clinically applied anatomy, and medical/biomedical visualization.
Teaching
- 1st Year Nursing
- 1st Year Dentistry
- 1st Year Medicine
- 2nd Year Medicine
- 3rd Year BSc (Hons) Anatomy
- 4th Year BSc (Hons) Anatomy
- Clinical Applied Anatomy
- MSc Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2013: Best Poster Presentation: Joint European Congress of Clinical Anatomy 2013, "3D Reconstruction of the Iliotibial Band and Interactive Application for Education, Diagnosis and Treatment of Iliotibial Band Syndrome" (26-29 June, 2013) (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 2013: Research Prize Winner: West of Scotland Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Collaborative Group, Research and Audit in Head and Neck Cancer and General ENT Surgery, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, "Endonasal Transmaxillary Approach (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)
- 2012: Visiting Professor of Anatomy: American University of Antigua (Antigua)
- 2005: Winner of Research Prize for Presentation: Scottish Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society of Glasgow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, "Locating the Facial Nerve in the Computer Age" (September, 2005) (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)
- 2004: Research Prize Winner: West of Scotland Head and Neck Meeting, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, "The Facial Nerve and its Location in Anterograde Parotidectomy - An Anatomical Guide" (April, 2004) (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)
- 2002: Research Scholarship Award: Awarded to undertake MSc for thesis entitled, "The Surgical Anatomy of the Extra-Temporal Portion of the Facial Nerve in Relation to Parotidectomy" (2002-2004)
- 2022: Fellow (Institute of Medical Illustrators)
Grant committees & research advisory boards
- 2022 - PRESENT: National Institute of Education, Singapore, Ministry of Education’s Tertiary Education Research Fund
- 2022 - 2024: Mitacs Accelerate, Fellowship Application
- 2021 - PRESENT: Oak Ridge Associated Universities; Nazarbayev University Research Council, Nazarbayev University FDCRGP and AI Review
- 2021 - 2024: Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council EPSRC,
Editorial boards
- 2019 - PRESENT: Series Editor Biomedical Visualization
- 2018 - 2019: Translational Research in Anatomy
- 2016 - PRESENT: European Journal of Anatomy
- 2014 - 2015: Handbook of Research on Engaging Digital Natives in Higher Education Settings (Invited), IGI Global
- 2019 - 2022: BMC Medical Education
- 2015 - 2022: Executive Editorial Committee and Section Editor, Scientific and Technical (Invited); Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine
Selected international presentations
- 2022: The Impact of the COVID19 Curricula on the Future of Anatomy Education. Association of Medical Education in Europe (Lyon, France)
- 2021: Using Microsoft Teams to support active small group learning and teaching. 14th Annual University of Glasgow Learning and Teaching Conference: Transforming Teaching and Taking Stock (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2019: Creation Of An E-Tutorial To Support Learning Embryology. The 19th Congress Of The International Federation Of Associations Of Anatomists (London, UK)
- 2018: Interactive Simulation of Biopsy Puncture Training Procedures using Immersive Virtual Reality and Haptic Technology for Motor Skills Training. 11th Annual Learning and Teaching Conference (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2017: Creation of Head Anatomy E-Tutorial. Visualisation in Science Conference, (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2017: Development of a Gastrointestinal E-Tutorial. Visualisation in Science Conference (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2017: Teaching Canine Neuroanatomy: Using Mobile Augmented Reality to Complement the Veterinary Education Experience. Innovation, Science and Beyond. 2017 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine conference (Maryland, USA)
- 2016: How to Effectively Design a Concept Mobile Application to Aid in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescents. Institute of Medical Illustrators 49th Annual Conference (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2016: The Digitisation of Historical Surgical Tools for Inclusion in an Online Learning Module for the RCPSG Glasgow and the Open University. Institute of Medical Illustrators 49th Annual Conference (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2016: Workflow for the Creation of an Interactive Anatomical Learning Application Incorporating a 3D Digital Reconstruction of the Cerebral Ventricles using Medical Imaging Data. Institute of Medical Illustrators 49th Annual Conference (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2016: Digitization of Surgical Instruments from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow Historical Collection to Support an Online Learning Module. In: 10th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2016) (Valencia, Spain)
- 2016: Children and Mobile Applications: How to Effectively Design and Create a Concept Mobile Application to Aid in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Adolescents. In: 10th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2016) (Valencia, Spain)
- 2016: Medically Accurate Four-Dimensional Digital Organ Models for Education: A Workflow and Visualisation Pipeline for Modelling the Heart. In: 10th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2016) (Valencia, Spain)
- 2016: Creation of a Digital Training Package for Canine Neuroanatomy for the Undergraduate Veterinary Curriculum. In: 10th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2016) (Valencia, Spain)
- 2016: Photogrammetric Digitization of a Selection of Pathological Specimens of Dr. William Hunter. In: 10th International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED2016) (Valencia, Spain)
- 2015: The Role of Technology in Education; and the Importance of Student-Developed Resources. In: 7th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN15) (Barcelona, Spain)
- 2015: ). Developing an E-Tutorial of Heart Anatomy with Real-Time 3D Cadaveric Prosections and Cardiac Imaging Techniques. In: 7th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN15) (Barcelona, Spain)
- 2015: 3D Printed Model of Liver for Preoperative Simulation and Rehearsal of Partial Hepatectomy. 6th International Clinical Skills Conference (Prato, Italy)
- 2015: Toward the Development of an Accurate 3D Human Body Model Implemented in a Real-Time, Interactive Application to Enhance Anatomy Teaching. In: American Association of Anatomists at Experimental Biology (Boston, USA)
- 2015: Integrated Anatomy E-Tutorial Designed By Medical Students, Combining Articulate Storyline 2 with Images from Anatomy.TV. In: 7th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (EDULEARN15) (Barcelona, Spain)
- 2015: An investigation to examine the most appropriate methodology to capture historical and modern preserved anatomical specimens for use in the digital age to improve access: a pilot study. In: 9th International Technology, Education and Development Conferenc (Madrid, Spain)
- 2013: 3D Reconstruction of the Iliotibial Band and Interactive Application for Education, Diagnosis and Treatment of Iliotibial Band Syndrome. European Joint Congress of Clinical Anatomy 2013 (26th-29th June, 2013) (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 2013: Utilising two-dimensional patient data to form 3D virtual and physical models for medical education and pre-operative planning. European Joint Congress of Clinical Anatomy 2013 (26th-29th June, 2013) (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 2013: A study of feasibility to access the foramen ovale via an endonasal transmaxillary transpterygoid approach using BrainLAB. European Joint Congress of Clinical Anatomy 2013 (26th-29th June, 2013) (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 2013: Arterial anastomosis in the tongue. European Joint Congress of Clinical Anatomy 2013 (26th-29th June, 2013) (Lisbon, Portugal)
- 2013: Endonasal transmaxillary approach to foramen ovale - a radioanatomical study of surgical feasibility. West of Scotland Laryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Collaborative Group, Research and Audit in Head and Neck Cancer and General ENT Surgery, Royal Col (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2013: 3D Visualisation for Education, Diagnosis and Treatment of Iliotibial Band Syndrome. IEEE International Conference on Computer Medical Applications (Sousse, Tunisia)
- 2012: The Clinical Relevance of Classifying the Branching Patterns of the Facial Artery. British Association of Clinical Anatomists, Anglia Ruskin University (Chelmsford, England)
- 2012: Digital Technologies in Education. Technology Enhanced Learning and Teaching Meeting, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2012: 3D Technologies for Human Anatomy Education - Incorporating Computer Visualisation into the Anatomy Curriculum. Anatomical Society and Sociedad Anatómica Española Joint Summer Meeting, Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh, Scotland)
- 2012: Innovative Technologies in Anatomical Education. American University of Antigua (Antigua)
- 2012: The Use of PeerWise in a Student Selected Component Within the Medical Curriculum Led to Improvement in Examination Performance. Learning and Teaching Conference, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2012: Question Writing in a 5 Week Intensive Head and Neck Module led to Improvement in Examination Performance using PeerWise. American University of Antigua (Antigua)
- 2011: The use of PeerWise During a Student Selected Component is Associated with Improved Examination Performance If There is Student Engagement in the Question Writing Process. Tripartite winter meeting of the British Association of Clinical Anatomists, Anatom (Cardiff, Wales)
- 2011: Anatomy in Emergencies. Invited guest speaker at the Inaugural National Undergraduate Emergency Conference (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2011: The Creation of a Unique Anatomically Accurate 3D Model of Head and Neck Anatomy from Cadaveric Material to Aid Training in the Healthcare Professions. Association for Medical Education in Europe (Vienna, Austria)
- 2011: Construction of an Anatomically Accurate 3D Model of the Head and Neck Region of a Male Cadaver Using Digital Technologies to Enhance Dental Education and Training. Joint meeting with the 11th Congress of the European Association of Clinical Anatomy and t (Padua, Italy)
- 2011: Endoscopic Access to Fascia Lata in Static Facial Reanimation. Facial Palsy Surgical Dissection Course, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2010: Pre-conference Workshop - Cutting Edge Developments: Visit to the Digital Design Studio. Association for Medical Education in Europe, SECC, Glasgow and Digital Design Studio (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2010: Virtual Anatomical Training in Medical Education. Association for Medical Education in Europe, SECC (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2010: Development of a 3D Anatomically Accurate Model of the Head and Neck for Dental Education. Association for Dental Education in Europe (Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
- 2010: eLearning Symposium - Anatomy in the Digital Age. Association for Medical Education in Europe, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2010: Neurovasculature of platysma for use in facial reanimation of the orbit. British Association of Clinical Anatomists, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2010: Advances in Anatomical Training in the Digital Age. Joint presentation with Professor Paul Anderson (Director of the Digital Design Studio, Glasgow School of Art), Glasgow Dental Hospital and School (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2010: Anatomy - The Next Generation. Scottish Anatomists Society, University of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2009: The Buccal and Zygomatic Branches of the Facial Nerve in Facial Reanimation Procedures. British Association of Clinical Anatomists, Hilton Hotel (Dundee, Scotland)
- 2009: Endoscopic Access to Fascia Lata for Static Facial Reconstruction. British Association of Clinical Anatomists, Hilton Hotel (Dundee, Scotland)
- 2008: 3D Reconstruction of Skeletal Elements. Invited poster presentation, British Association of Clinical Anatomists winter scientific meeting, University of East Anglia. Research conducted with Professor Paul Anderson, Digital Design Studio (Norwich, England)
- 2008: The Precision of Four Commonly Used Landmarks for Locating the Facial Nerve in Anterograde Parotidectomy in Humans. British Association of Clinical Anatomists winter scientific meeting, University of East Anglia (Norwich, England)
- 2008: Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is Preferentially Associated with NK-1 Neuronal Cell Bodies in the Lateral Spinal Nucleus in the Rat Spinal Cord. Invited poster presentation, Scottish Neuroscience Group Annual Meeting. Research conducted with Profess (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2006: The Human Body and Medical Terminology. Invited guest lecturer to the Diploma in Forensic Medical Sciences, Western Infirmary Lecture Theatre (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2005: Locating the Facial Nerve in the Computer Age. Scottish Royal Medico-Chirurgical Society of Glasgow, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
- 2004: The Facial Nerve and Its Location in Anterograde Parotidectomy - An Anatomical Guide. West of Scotland Head and Neck Meeting, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow (Glasgow, Scotland)
Media
Visiting Professor, Zhejiang University International School of Medicine (ZJU-ISM), China
- Professor Paul M. Rea Visits ZJU-ISM: Insights from a Renowned Educator on AcademicExcellence and Internationalisation. Link HERE
- ZJU-ISM's 2024, a Year in Review. Link HERE
- Marketing brochure for ZJU-ISM. Link HERE
MSc Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy
- Videos released of student projects on Vimeo
- News Release (4th September 2018): Deputy First Minister visits the GSA Graduate Degree Show http://gsapress.blogspot.com
- Flickr pages 1, 2, 3, 4
- Innovative taught MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy; article in the Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine; June 2015
- The ‘Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy’ MSc programme in Glasgow (Scotland) http://medvis.org/2013/05/03/the-medical-visualisation-and-human-anatomy-msc-programme-in-glasgow-scotland/ 3rd May 2013
- World Changing Alumnus of the Year 2023. Daniel Crawford, first ever graduate of this degree, following my nomination, shortlisting, and votes from our global community of graduates won this prestigious annual award. This was in recognition of him forming his own successful 3D printing company Axial 3D in 2015 and growing it to an AI medical software utilising cutting edge technologies for surgical 3D printing.
- MSc Students Harness Medical Visualisation to Address Global Health Issues (18th Feb 2021): World Changing https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/lifesciences/news/headline_774281_en.html
- Glasgow Masters Students Harness Power of Medical Visualisation To Address Major Global Health Issues (16th Feb 2021): Postgraduate Showcase:
https://gsapress.blogspot.com/2021/02/news-release-glasgow-masters-students.html
- Innovative Medical Designs Developed At Glasgow University And Glasgow School Of Art (14th Feb 2021):
- I supervised Lisa Ferrie’s MSc research project entitled:
“The use of 3D-printing to develop and validate a perfused renal malignancy model for surgical training of robot-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy”
This was a collaborative project with colleagues at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (Mr. Grenville Oades) and colleagues and Dr. Matt Poyade in the School of Simulation and Visualisation. The project has received significant media attention with the following articles resulting from the Graduate Degree Show where the work was exhibited at the McLellan Galleries, Glasgow, from the 23rd August – 29th August 2019:
- Student creates 3D model of kidney that could help train cancer surgeons https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/news/scotland/student-creates-3d-model-of-kidney-that-could-help-train-cancer-surgeons/
- Model of 3D kidney can be used to train surgeons https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17858316.model-3d-kidney-can-used-train-surgeons/
- Scottish student uses 3D printing technology to create model kidney https://www.thenational.scot/news/17858220.scottish-student-uses-3d-printing-technology-create-model-kidney/
- Art school student helping trainee surgeons https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-49455373/art-school-student-helping-trainee-surgeons
- Student creates 3D Kidney model to help train cancer surgeons https://www.techdigest.tv/2019/08/student-creates-3d-kidney-model-to-help-train-cancer-surgeons.html
- The students changing medicine: Graduates create models of human kidneys and the spine to teach doctors delicate procedures https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7387897/Undergraduates-create-models-cancer-surgery-lumbar-puncture-procedures.html
- Student creates 3D model of kidney that could help train cancer surgeons https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/student-creates-3d-model-of-kidney-that-could-help-train-cancer-surgeons-945774.html
- Model of 3D kidney can be used to train surgeons https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17858316.model-3d-kidney-can-used-train-surgeons/
- Scottish student uses 3D printing technology to create model kidney https://www.thenational.scot/news/17858220.scottish-student-uses-3d-printing-technology-create-model-kidney/
- Art school student helping trainee surgeons https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-49455373/art-school-student-helping-trainee-surgeons
- Student creates 3D Kidney model to help train cancer surgeons https://www.techdigest.tv/2019/08/student-creates-3d-kidney-model-to-help-train-cancer-surgeons.html
- The students changing medicine: Graduates create models of human kidneys and the spine to teach doctors delicate procedures https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-7387897/Undergraduates-create-models-cancer-surgery-lumbar-puncture-procedures.html
- Student creates 3D model of kidney that could help train cancer surgeons https://www.breakingnews.ie/world/student-creates-3d-model-of-kidney-that-could-help-train-cancer-surgeons-945774.html
Grant Funding
1. 3D Definitive Human Project (NHS Education for Scotland and Scottish Funding Council; £950,000; 2014-2017)
- VR transforms health care: 3D human model coming to a school near you.https://venturebeat.com/2017/12/08/vr-transforming-health-care-3d-human-model-coming-to-a-school-near-you/
- New 3D skeleton “to transform” medical training.
This celebrates the joining of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh to the project who have provided external recognition and approval of the quality and validity of the creation of the cadaver into a digital environment to improve simulation, education and training for surgeons, and the wider healthcare professionals.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-34731847
- Royal College of Surgeons backing 3D “definitive human” project. http://news.stv.tv/west-central/1332069-royal-college-of-surgeons-backing-3d-definitive-human-project/
- First images from 3D Definitive Human Project are revealed. http://www.gla.ac.uk/news/headline_431607_en.html
2. Work Programme for 2D & 3D Digital Visualisation Supporting Interactive Educational Content (NHS Education for Scotland; £1.5M; 2009-2012)
- British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC): “Glasgow medics “fly” through head and neck”, 24th April 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-22279395
- “Designer 3D model teaches student medics”, 24th April 2013 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-22283817
- Scottish Television News (STV News):“Virtual head designed to help medical students learn Anatomy”, 24th April 2013 http://news.stv.tv/scotland/222758-glasgow-art-school-designs-virtual-head-for-medical-students/
Grants
Total grant funding for applications of digital technologies in clinical, anatomical and surgical education and training, totalling £2,502,296.
- Learning and Teaching Development Fund; £2819. Basic Science in Focus: Engaging Dental Students in the Study of Anatomy via a Novel Innovation in E-Learning. August 2024- . Co-Investigator
- Medical Research Scotland; £2000. Vacation Scholarship (for undergraduate research student). Localising of Nervus Terminalis (Cranial Nerve 0) in Human Cadavers. May – July 2018. Principal Investigator.
- Anatomical Society; £1800. Undergraduate Student Summer Vacation Research Scholarship. Creation of an E-Tutorial to Support Learning Embryology. May – July 2018. Principal Investigator.
- NHS Education for Scotland (NES) and the SFC; £950,000, 2014 – 2017. 3D Definitive Human, led by the School of Simulation and Visualisation, The Glasgow School of Art. My management and budgetary control as Co-I was c. £80K.
- NHS Highland Research and Development Committee Endowment Fund £2320. 2014. 3-D printed liver model for pre-operative planning of partial hepatectomy. This University of Glasgow funding is to provide 10 fully funded Home (UK)/EU places each year for five years to applicants on the MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy taught degree.
- SFC award c. £500,000, 2013 – 2018. This University of Glasgow funding is to provide 10 fully funded Home (UK)/EU places each year for five years to applicants on the MSc in Medical Visualisation and Human Anatomy taught degree.
- NES, £1,500,000, 2009 – 2012; Work Programme for 2D and 3D Digital Visualisation Supporting Interactive Dental Educational Content, led by the Digital Design Studio (now called SimVis). My management and budgetary control as Co-I was c. £128K.
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; £24,000. 2009 – 2010. Principal Investigator. This grant was awarded to coordinate a fully funded MSc (with stipend) student in dissection of the lower limb of cadaveric material. It also was to allow a further collaboration with the internationally acclaimed Digital Design Studio, Glasgow School of Art, in laser capturing of this data from the dissection undertaken by the MSc student to then model and reconstruct the lower limb anatomical model for use in the 3D stereoscopic environment. This material is then educationally validated and developed for the use of surgical trainees in acquiring clinically relevant anatomical knowledge, and related product development.
- Faculty Management Committee, University of Glasgow, 2008; £4357. This funding allowed for a Pilot Study allowing the development of an exciting collaboration with myself in the Laboratory of Human Anatomy and Professor Paul Anderson, Director of the Digital Design Studio (now called SimVis), in laser scanning of skeletal elements and subsequent digital reconstructions
Visiting Positions
Visiting Professor at the International School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, China
October – December 2024.
Invited Faculty to enhance and improved anatomical training standards to medical students of a growing internationally facing and recruiting medical school. This was centred on curriculum review, development and implementation of revised training across all body systems, standardising to international anatomical education standards for western universities. In addition, my role involved quality assurance of standards across management, professional and administrative roles. ZJU is ranked 44th in the QS World Rankings 2024, 3rd in world rankings of ARWU in China, 2023; 6th in QS Asian Universities Ranking and 33rd in World Rankings of ARWU 2023.
Visiting Guest Professor Faculty, Hackspace for Innovation and Visualization in Education, Faculty ofArts, University of British Columbia, Canada
January – February 2020
Invited faculty to provide guest talks, training, and as subject expert in medical and biomedical visualization. Here I provided expertise and guidance for developing training and courses in digital technologies applied to anatomical education, visual communication and how innovations can be utilized in the educational setting, with industry linked and relevant applications
Visiting Professor – American University of Antigua
April – May 2012
Invited as a subject expert to enhance their anatomical education and training programme for medical students.
Public Engagement and Knowledge Exchange
Professor Rea has led major public and civic facing engagement events and initiatives:
a) Hunterian Museum of Anatomy Showcase
Since September 2023, he collaboratively created, managed, and coordinated monthly events where he has opened the Museum of Anatomy to the wider public. These events have been attended by c.350 visitors and enabled and facilitated communities to learn about health and disease, anatomy, pathology, and the history of anatomy. This has been achieved via our Hunterian collections (human anatomy, including the gravid uteri; 18th century) and comparative anatomical collections from John Cleland (c.19th century) as well as our prosected teaching collections for school groups.
b) Night at the Museum of Anatomy
Professor Rea created, managed, and delivered 5 major public engagement events (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5), coordinating partners from the School of Innovation and Technology (GSA), RCPSG, NHS, University of Edinburgh, and Hunterian Museum. These were delivered by 40 academics, clinicians, heritage officers and students to over 560 members of the public attending. These events focussed on surgical techniques, history of anatomy/surgery, human anatomy in health and disease, sheep heart dissections, extended reality, body painting and arts and crafts.
c) Science Festivals
Professor Rea has coordinated numerous events locally and as part of established festivals UK wide, which have been attended by >2,000 people, including the Museum of Anatomy events listed above. The following I have directly led, coordinated and managed.
- Body Donation Talk, Large Lecture Theatre, Thomson Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Science Festival, 6th June 2024 (attended by 32 people)
- Human Body exhibition, Museum of Anatomy, University of Glasgow, Glasgow Science Festival, 6th June 2023 (attended by 42 people)
- Human Body exhibition, Riverside Museum, Glasgow Science Festival, 5th-6th June 2023 (attended by c.300 people)
- Body Donation Talk, Advanced Research Centre, University of Glasgow 5th June 2023 (attended by c.30 people)
- “Let’s Talk About… Donating Your Body to Medical Science” talk. Demystifying Death Week. MS Teams. NHS and multiple partners (attended by 17 people)
- Led the partnership with the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow and the Glasgow Science Centre to lead an event (with 15 experts) called “Visualising Medical Heritage and Innovations”,(1), Glasgow Science Centre, 16th March 2018 (attended by c.400 people)
Previously, he was a “Meet the Expert” at the Glasgow Science Centre (GSC) and was the key anatomist to the GSC Advisory Committee for the longest running (15 yrs.) funded international exhibition BodyWorks. As part of that, he trained 5 Science Communicators to take resources across all council areas in Scotland to improve outreach of the educational materials developed within the exhibition
Books
Series Editor: Biomedical Visualisation volumes in Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, Springer International Publishing (Springer Nature Switzerland AG) 2018 – ongoing. My role previously was to source and coordinate all publishing authors globally, it expanded to become its own independent series with a slight title change (only by spelling!) to Biomedical Visualization. With this growth, I have now recruited international Editors to work with me who identifying themes, chapter contributors, editing, and senior leadership roles in this series, where I work as the equivalent Editor in Chief now. In total, there are 22 book volumes published as the series grows from strength to strength.
Impact:
- I have published 11 volumes as sole editor and have 6 volumes published with 7 additional Editors in the current format and 4 in the new Biomedical Visualization series i.e. 17 in this series.
- So far, over 517 authors from over 138 institutions across 24 countries contributed to the 222 chapters. There have been more than 191K downloads, 989 citations, and 472 social media mentions and read in 75 countries so far (July 2024).
As the Series developed into Biomedical Visualization, I have globally recruited Editors, who have led thematic editions detailed below. This has published 6 volumes so far, with 5 in press.
- Medical Visualization and Applications of Technology; Editor - Paul M. Rea HERE
- Graphic Medicine, Humanizing Healthcare and Novel Approaches in Anatomical Education; Editor - Leonard Shapiro HERE
- Microscopy Techniques for Biomedical Education and Healthcare PracticePrinciples in Light, Fluorescence, Super-Resolution and Digital Microscopy, and Medical Imaging; Editor - Leonard Shapiro HERE
- Medical Visualization and Applications of Technology, Volume 2; Editors – Jenny Clancy and Matthieu Poyade HERE
- Approaches for Science Illustration and Communication; Editor – Mark Roughley HERE
- How to use 3D Printing Innovations and Digital Storage to Democratize Anatomy Education; Editor - Leonard Shapiro HERE
In Press
- Applications of Digital Visualization in Life Sciences Education and Public Engagement; Editor Flora Gröning HERE
- Accessibility, Inclusivity and Diversity in Education and Beyond; Editor Rachael Door HERE
- International Anatomical Education; Editors Iain D. Kennan and Isabel Steele
- Imaging Modalities and their Application in Research and Healthcare Practice; Editor – Leonard Shapiro
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare and Biomedical Visualization; Editors Johann Malawana, Arian Arjomandi Rad, Robert Vardanyan and George Miller
Associate Editor for BMC Medical Education. Invited to this position in February 2019 – January 2022
Invited Special Issue Guest Editor, Medical Visualization: The Applications of Techniques and Technology in Science. This was released in 2019 in the journal Translational Research in Anatomy. My role was coordinating the 6 invited contributors, and selecting additional external manuscripts for publication, for that edition. These are the following contributions received and edited:
- Anatomical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh: Initial experiences of teaching anatomy online Kelsey et al. (2020). This article can be found here. (cited 28 times).
- How Do We Make Facial Expressions? A Study into How Modelling can Aid in the Public’s Understanding of the Muscles of Facial Expression. McCulloch (2020). This article can be found here.
- Polyphonic Murders: a holographic biography of trauma. Kranioti et al. (2020). This article can be found here. (cited 1 time).
- Implementing ultrasound sessions to highlight living anatomy for large medical student cohorts. Allsop et al. (2021). This article can be found here. (cited 8 times)
- Using videoconferencing to deliver anatomy teaching to medical students on clinical placements. Allsop et al. (2020). This article can be found here. (cited 17 times).
- The organisation of vascular smooth muscle cells; a quantitative Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) based assessment. Cordoba and Daly (2019). This article can be found here. (cited 9 times).
Associate Editor in Gross and Clinical Anatomy (Invited), European Journal of Anatomy. March 2016 – ongoing.
Executive Editorial Committee and Section Editor, Scientific and Technical (Invited); Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine. December 2015 – July 2022. This journal is the lead journal (published quarterly) for the national body representing the Institute of Medical Illustrators, and ALL UK wide registered Medical Illustrators in the NHS and private practice.
Editorial Advisory Board for the Handbook of Research on Engaging Digital Natives in Higher Education Settings (Invited), IGI Global. 2015
Consultancy
Professor Rea provides or has provided consultancy and advisory roles for the following companies and organisations and is open to discussions with potential new industries and collaborators.
- 3D4Medical Ltd. From Elsevier
- Association for Learning Technologists
- Axial3D
- Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
- Costello Medical
- Glasgow Science Centre
- Institute of Medical Illustrators
- Kilbryde Hospice
- National Health Service, Scotland
- NHS Education for Scotland
- Nuffield Council on Bioethics
- Primal Pictures
- Scottish Ambulance Service
- TerumoAortic
- The Buchanan Institute
- Twig World
- University of British Columbia