Victoria McCulloch

Lecturer in Anatomy

Victoria McCulloch

Lecturer in Anatomy

  • Anatomy@Edinburgh
  • Edinburgh Medical School: Biomedical Sciences
  • University of Edinburgh

Contact details

Address

Doorway 3
Medical School
Teviot Place
Edinburgh
EH8 9AG

Other Affiliations

Biomedical Teaching Organisation (BMTO)

Biography

Victoria studied a BSc (Hons) in Anatomical and Physiological Sciences at the University of Dundee. Along with an interest in human anatomy, Victoria is passionate about art and how it can be used to communicate medical and anatomical information. After graduating in 2012 Victoria undertook an MSc in Medical Art, University of Dundee, through which Victoria gained skills that allowed her to set up as a freelance Medical Illustrator. In 2014, Victoria became a Professional Member of the Institute of Medical Illustrators and is a Registered Medical Illustrator with the Academy for Healthcare Science, UK.

In 2016 Victoria graduated from Glasgow School of Art with an MSc in Medical Visualisation & Human Anatomy, allowing her to further enhance her skills in medical and anatomical communication using digital technology and enhance her anatomical knowledge.

Victoria joined Anatomy@Edinburgh in September 2016. Whilst in post, Victoria has contributed to both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching, public engagement events and is the Principal Investigator for Art-Beat: Art & Anatomy Edinburgh.

Victoria was awarded Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy in November 2019 following her graduation from the University of Edinburgh with a Postgraduate Certificate in Academic Practice.

Teaching

Victoria contributes to the MBChB programme, the Online Postgraduate Certificate & Diploma in Anatomical Sciences, MSc Human Anatomy and modules within Biomedical Sciences. Victoria is Deputy Programme Director for the Anatomical Sciences Online Programme, and a Course Organiser for the Level 11 postgraduate elective course, Visualising Human Anatomy, part of the Diploma year of the Anatomical Sciences programme. Victoria is also Deputy Course Organiser for the Level 10 Honours elective module, Applied Human Osteology.

Research

Victoria is passionate about the enhancement of anatomy education through the use of technology and arts-based learning. Victoria is part of the ATLAS Facility team, focusing her research area on how 3D scanning and 3D printing can be used to aid in and create resources for teaching human anatomy to both students and the public.

ATLAS Facility website

Victoria supervises undergraduate and postgraduate research projects focusing on technology and arts-based learning as teaching resources in anatomy education. Recent projects have included:

  • Investigating how best to create an anatomical model for teaching visually impaired people the anatomy of the eye
  • A literature review on the accessibility in anatomy education for individuals with visual impairments
  • Investigating if free Apple software can be used to create an Augmented Reality anatomy resource for students
  • A literature review into the use of comics as an educational resource in anatomy education
  • Investigating the effectiveness and usability of an anatomy e-learning module using Articulate Storyline 360

Publications/ Presented Work

McCulloch, V., 2024. Testing the Longevity of Painted 3D Printed Models in an Anatomy Teaching Laboratory: An Arts-Based Study [Poster]. Anatomical Society Winter Meeting, University College of Lancashire, Preston, 2025.

McCulloch, V., 2020. How do we make facial expressions? A study into how modelling can aid in the public's understanding of the muscles of facial expression. Translational Research in Anatomy, 19.

Kelsey, A.H.C.M., McCulloch, V., Gillingwater, T.H., Findlater, G.S., and Paxton, J.Z., 2020. Anatomical sciences at the University of Edinburgh: Initial experiences of teaching anatomy online. Translational Research in Anatomy, 19.

McCulloch, V., 2019. The Creation of a Contemporary Art Collection within an Anatomy Department. [Conference Talk] Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) Conference, Belfast, 2019.

McCulloch, V., 2019. How Do We Create Facial Expressions? A Study into how Plasticine Modelling can Aid the Public's Understanding of the Muscles of Facial Expression [Poster]. The 19th Congrees of the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) Conference, London, 2019.

McCulloch, V., 2018. Anatomy in Your Pocket, Gilroy A.M., illustrations by Voll, M., and Wesker, K. (ed) (2018), Thieme [Book Review]. Journal of Anatomy, 233 (5), 685. 

McCulloch, V., Hope, S., Loranger, B. and Rea P., 2017. How to Effectively Design and Create a Concept Mobile Application to Aid in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescents. Journal of Visual Communication in Medicine, 40 (3), 101 - 108. 

McCulloch, V., Gillingwater, T.H., Pollitt, R. and MacCallum, M., 2017. Historic Anatomical Artwork in the Modern Anatomy Department [Poster]. Anatomical Society Winter Meeting, Dundee, 2017.

McCulloch, V., Dhumale, S., Thompson, C. and Alashkham, A., 2017. Multiple Tendons of Abductor Pollicis Longus: a Cadaveric Study [Poster]. Anatomical Society Winter Meeting, Dundee, 2017.

McCulloch, V., 2016. How to Effectively Design a Concept Mobile Application to Aid in the Managment of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescents. [Conference Talk] Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) Conference, Glasgow, 2016.

McCulloch, V., Hope, S., Loranger, B. and Rea, P., 2016. Children and Mobile Applications: How to Effectively Design and Create a Concept Mobile Application to Aid in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes in Adolescents. International Technology, Education and Development Conference (INTED), Valencia, Spain, March 2016.

McCulloch, V., 2013. Does Creating One’s Own Anatomy Flashcards Help Improve Medical Students’ Retention of Anatomical Knowledge? [Conference Talk] New Voices, Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI) Conference, Leicester, 2013.

McCulloch, V. 2009. Charcoal Drawing of a Human Rib Cage. AXIS Online Journal of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification (CAHID), 1 (2), 71.

Awards

Awarded the Anatomical Society Best Image Prize (Artwork Category) entitled "3D Printed Lungs" with BSc Hons Anatomy & Development student Kilmeny Wong.

Anatomical Society Best Image Prize Website

Professional Membership

  • Full Member of the Anatomical Society
  • Professional Member of the Institute of Medical Illustrators (IMI)
  • Registered Medical Illustrator with the Academy of Healthcare Sciences

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