My background is in Cardiovascular Physiology. From 1990-97 I ran a Heart and Stroke Foundation and MRC funded laboratory investigating control mechanisms involved in the regulation of arterial pressure in normotensive and hypertensive animals. I teach cardiovascular physiology to undergraduate science and medical/dental students. In addition I am the director of the 5 week Cardiovascular Block for first year medical/dental students. My research now is in the area of medical education with specific interests in medical student admission and faculty development. I am also involved in international education endeavours and have ongoing projects in Nepal, Vietnam and Chile.

Between 1994 and 1999 I was involved in the transition from our traditional lecture based medical/dental program to a hybrid Problem Based Learning (PBL) curriculum. That involved extensive curriculum development, faculty tutor training and PBL case writing. From 1997-2000 I was the Director of the Basic Science Block of Learning for the first and second years of the medical/dental curriculum. Since 1997 I have been the director of the 5-week Cardiovascular Block which has included PBL case and week development. This continues today with ongoing case, quiz and exam renewal.

One of the nicest parts of being a Block Captain in the medical/dental curriculum is having the opportunity to tap into the fabulous artistic talent of our medical and dental students. Please follow this link to the Heartfelt Images Website to explore what happens when the students are allowed to explore their creative side....

My current research is in the area of medical education. I have ongoing research projects associated with the medical admissions. In 2002 I chaired a committee that developed a new panel interview which will be used in the selection of the expanded and distributed UBC medical class. A study examining the efficacy of the new panel interview has already been carried out and continued research will establish it's predictive validity and reliability.

A second line of research is in the area of faculty development. In particular, looking at the influence of a faculty member's own perspectives on teaching and their ability to carry out peer review of other faculty member's teaching.

Since 1999 I have been involved in several international education programs. In Kathmandu, Nepal, I have had the honor to work with Drs. Karki Saroz and Sharad in the development of Kathmandu University Medical School, the first privately funded, not for profit, medical school in Nepal. My role was largely in curriculum development, PBL tutor training and case writing. In 2003, the school accepted it's third incoming class. I have also participated in education programs in Vietnam and Chile.

Medical student selection: choice of a semi-structured panel interview or an unstructured one-on-one interview. By: Courneya, Carol Ann; Wright, Kristin; Frinton, Vera; Mak, Edwin; Schulzer, Michael; Pachev, George. Medical Teacher, Sep2005, Vol. 27 Issue 6, p 499-503.

Predictive value of admissions indices based on a structured non-academic file review. C.A. Courneya, J. Bates, and G. Pachev. (Presented at Canadian Association of Medical Educators, 2003).

A comparison of multiple individual interviews vs panel interviews in medical school admissions. C.A. Courneya, K. Wright, V. Frinton, E. Mak, M. Schulzer, and G. Pachev. (Presented at Association of Medical Educators of Europe, 2003).

Problem-Based Learning: Case Studies, Experience and Practice. Eds: Peter Schwartz, Stewart Mennin and Graham Webb; Kogan Page, London Publishing, 69-77, 2001.

Selection of Medical Students: Improving the Objectivity of the Interview. By D. Powis, T. Bristow, CA Courneya, K D'Este and M. Bore. (In preparation).

University of Newcastle Admissions Interviewer Training Manual (2000).

A Template for The Weekly Wrap Up Session by C.A. Courneya.

The Harried Professor's Guide to Case Writing by D. Ostrow and C.A. Courneya.

Thoughts on the University of New Mexico's PBL Curriculum by C.A. Courneya.

Case and Week Development Guide. by C.H. Fell, C.A. Courneya, D. Fairholm, A. Towle, M. Broudo and D. Ostrow.

A Model for Competency-Based Interdisciplinary Education in a Biomedical Graduate Curriculum. By C.A. Courneya. (Presented at AAMC, 1998).

Development and Implementation of a Novel Interdisciplinary Basic Science Graduate Course. C.A. Courneya and S. Mennin. (Presented at AERA 1997).