Dr Sandra De Cat ~ Senior Lecturer - Small Ruminant Medicine

I graduated with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) from Ghent University (Belgium). After a brief stint in mixed veterinary practice in Belgium, I joined the Mackinnon Project at the University of Melbourne where I completed a Masters of Veterinary Science studying the ecology of the Australian sheep blowfly, Lucilia cuprina.

In 2008, I joined James Cook University (JCU) as a Lecturer in Small Ruminant Medicine and Production with the College of public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences (CPHMVS) being one of the founding faculty members of the undergraduate veterinary program at JCU. In 2020, I was promoted to Senior Lecturer as a Teaching Specialist. I have over 15 years of teaching experience that includes curriculum development, subject coordination and teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. I have particular expertise in designing holistic learning experiences, using an authentic, active and inclusive educational approach, placing students as lifelong learners within the profession from the outset. 

In 2016, I received a JCU and National Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning as the lead nominee of the ‘Veterinary Sciences Early Career Teaching and Development Team’. I am passionate about first year education using the Year 1 veterinary subjects as a successful platform to facilitate ALL students’ transition into higher education and the veterinary community. My contribution to enhancing the quality of learning and teaching in Year 1 has also been recognized with a Teaching Excellence Award in 2020. In addition, my pro-active and innovative approach to meet the needs of ALL learners has been recognized with a JCU Inclusive Practice Award in 2019. 

I am also strongly committed to train and enthuse veterinary students for a professionally inspiring career in mixed rural practice. The ‘Sheep Week’ program in Year 3, an integrated and transdisciplinary ‘classroom to paddock’ experiential learning opportunity, provides an innovative avenue for advancing the skills, knowledge and attitudes of veterinary students as a means to address the current and future needs of the sheep and goat industries in rural areas.  

My research interest are closely related to my teaching profile including first year transition pedagogy and career-development learning as well as research into herd and flock health on sheep and goat farms in northern Australia.

Teaching

• TV1101: Introduction to Veterinary Science (Level 1; TSV)
• TV1103: Fundamentals of Veterinary Science (Level 1; TSV)
• TV2102: Integrated Animal Structure and Function 2 (Level 2; TSV)
• TV3001: Transitions from Health to Disease 1 (Level 3; TSV)
• TV3002: Transitions from Health to Disease 2 (Level 3; TSV)
• TV4001: Veterinary Clinical Sciences Part 1 of 2 (Level 4; TSV)
• TV5211: Veterinary Professional and Clinical Practice 1/3 (Level 5; TSV)
• TV5212: Veterinary Professional and Clinical Practice 2/3 (Level 5; TSV)
• TV5213: Veterinary Professional and Clinical Practice 3/3 (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Professional

• My professional interests include the development and extension of sustainable internal and external parasite control strategies as a means of advancing the health, welfare and production of sheep and goat farms in tropical and subtropical areas to satisfy the growing global demand for safe, sustainable and humane animal products.

Research

• My teaching research interests focus on best practice to support students into higher education and prepare graduates for a rewarding career in mixed rural practice.
• My research interests include applied parasitology to improve herd and flock health on sheep and goat farms in northern Australia.

Teaching

• I aim to influence, inspire and motivate a diverse cohort of veterinary science students by using an authentic and integrated approach to teaching, placing students as lifelong learners within the profession from the outset. By using a collaborative, community based teaching model, I manage to create an engaging, inclusive and relevant academic community for all students. I work closely with course coordinators, learning and teaching support staff and the Australian Veterinary Association to ensure the subject and course outcomes are aligned with the JCU’s Learning and Teaching Policy as well as the goals of the profession.

Experience

• 2020 to 2023 - Senior Lecturer Small Ruminant Medicine and Production, James Cook University (Australia)
• 2008 to 2019 - Lecturer Small Ruminant Medicine and Production, James Cook University (Australia)
• 2005 to 2008 - MVSc Student, Mackinnon Project, University of Melbourne (Australia)

Awards

• 2020 - College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences Teaching Excellence Award
• 2019 - JCU Inclusive Practice Award
• 2016 - JCU Teaching citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. 'For intentional and authentic first year curriculum design aiming to successfully transition students into higher education and the veterinary profession'
• 2016 - National OLT Teaching citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning. 'For Developing a sense of self and professional identity: successfully transitioning veterinary students through intentional curriculum design'
• 2007 - V.W. Officer Prize in Veterinary Science
• 2007 - Sir Ian Clunies-Ross Prize
• 2003 - Belgium Veterinary Association Award for best Honours Thesis 'Pregnancy Diagnosis in Sheep'

Memberships

• 2006 - World Association for the Advancement of Veterinary Parasitology
• 2005 - Australian Veterinary Association
• 2005 - Sheep, Camelid, Goat Special Interest Group AVA
• 2010 to 2014 - James Cook University Teaching and Learning Academy

Other

• 2012 - Australian Wool Education Trust (AWET) Scholarship
• 2005 to 2007 - International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS)
• 2005 to 2007 - Melbourne International Research Scholarship (MIRS)
• 2005 to 2007 - Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) Top-up Scholarship

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

• De Cat S, Larsen J and Anderson N (2012) Survival over winter and spring emergence of Lucilia cuprina (Diptera:Calliphoridae) in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Entomology, 51 (1). pp. 1-11
• Verberckmoes S, Vandaele L, De Cat S, El Amiri B, Sulon J, Duchateau L, de Kruif A, Beckers J and Van Soom A (2004) A new test for early pregnancy diagnosis in sheep: determination of ovine pregnancy associated glycoprotein (OVPAG) concentration by means of a homologous radioimmunoassay. Vlaams Diergeneeskundig Tijdschrift, 73 (2). pp. 119-127

Conference Papers

• Constantinoiu C and De Cat S (2015) Lack of efficacy of monepantel against Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp in small ruminants. Proceedings of the 4th AVA/NZVA Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference. 24-29 May 2015, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
• De Cat S, Cavalieri J and Webster B (2014) Using 'transition pedagogy' to evaluate the revised Year 1 curriculum for first year veterinary science students. Proceedings of the 17th International First Year in Higher Education Conference. In: FYHE 2014: 17th International First Year in Higher Education Conference, 6-9 July 2014, Darwin, NT, Australia
• Gardiner C and De Cat S (2014) New legumes for enhanced sheep/cattle production in dry tropical environments. Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference. In: AVA 2014: Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference, 25-30 May 2014, Perth, WA, Australia

Other research outputs

• De Cat S and Emtage N (2015) Academic performance of undergraduate veterinary students: a retrospective cohort analysis. Abstracts from the HERDSA Qld Branch Mini-conference. 6 November 2015, Townsville, QLD, Australia
• De Cat S, Gardiner C and Fitzpatrick L (2014) "Sheep Week": a holistic model to foster integrated learning. Proceedings of the Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference. In: AVA 2014: Australian Veterinary Association Annual Conference, 25-30 May 2014, Perth, WA, Australia
• Larsen J, De Cat S and Anderson N (2007) Studies on the over-wintering ecology of the sheep blowfly in south-eastern Australia. Proceedings of the Australian Sheep Veterinarians Conference. In: Australian Sheep Veterinary Conference, May 2007, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
• De Cat S (2006) Current blowfly control practices in Victoria. Mackinnon Newletter, March 2006. pp. 1-2
• Verberckmoes S, Vandaele L, De Cat S, El Amiri B, Sulon J, Duchateau L, Van Soom A and Beckers J (2004) Detection of late embryonic mortality by means of ovine pregnancy-associated glycoproteins. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society. 10-14 January 2004, Portland, Oregon, USA
• Vandaele L, Verberckmoes S, De Cat S, El Amiri B, Sulon J, Duchateau L, Van Soom A and Beckers J (2004) Effect of number of lambs, their sex and birth weight on ovine pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (ovPAG) concentrations. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. In: Annual Conference of the International Embryo Transfer Society, 10-14 January 2004, Portland, Oregon, USA