.jpg "Helen M. Massa, PhD, PGDip Surgical Anatomy, G Cert Higher Education, BSc (Hons) photo")
Associate Professor
Griffith University
Griffith University, Gold Coast Campus, Australia
Helen Massa is an anatomist/physiologist recognised for excellence in learning and teaching, supporting student success, within her discipline and broadly across Griffith University through numerous academic citations and awards. Her curricular design supported accreditation for Health programs including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing and Environmental Health. Helen initiated and led School of Anatomy development, from Governor-in-Council approval, technical laboratory specification and design of Anatomy facilities and the body donation project.
Helen’s doctoral research won the Australian Society for Reproductive Biology Junior Scientist prize and her honours work was recognised by Australian Society for Medical Research WA. Helen’s research interests range from shark heat exchangers, ovarian endocrinology and currently, the pathogenesis of otitis media in children. Helen also collaborates to utilise her anatomy expertise and small animal microsurgical skills to develop and perform new surgical approaches within physiological experimental design.
Helen has advised and supported students to successfully transition to employment over a range of careers and designed a capstone course to scaffold psychosocial development and communication skills via assessments supporting student focus on their individual career planning and employability.
Helen is a HEA Senior Fellow, a senior fellow of the Griffith Academy Learning and Teaching Academy and Health Group Employability Lead and Innovation/Entrepreneurship Champion.
Helen’s focus on student success increased recruitment diversity by supporting non-traditional student engagement and enrolment at Griffith through her work with Go Health Go Griffith team, led by Suzzanne Owen (AAUT Program Award 2018). Her teaching practice within courses, curricula and program design, creating learning environments/resources within her discipline as well as supporting improved professional practice across Griffith through Peer Observation and Peer assistance for course enhancement was awarded an OLT Citation (2013). These interests are all complementary strategies that aim to support student academic success by provision of the best environments and educators to support learning.
