Profile

Contact Details

Phone: +64 27 212 9306
Email: sarah.rennie@otago.ac.nz

University Links

University of Otago, Wellington

Position: Clinical Skills Director and Consultant General Surgeon
Qualifications: BMSc(Hons1), MB ChB PhD FRCSEd(Medal) FRACS
Research summary: Medical and surgical education, academic misconduct, clinical skills acquisition, leadership development
Clinical: Sarah is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Australasia. She works as a General Surgeon and Surgical Endoscopist and enjoys training future surgeons

Research

Sarah is an academic surgeon with a passion for medical education. In addition to medical education, her research interests include leadership development, academic misconduct and clinical skills acquisition. She studied Medicine in the UK and completed a basic surgical training rotation, whilst researching academic misconduct amongst medical students.

Sarah was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship to complete a PhD in Surgical Education, looking at surgical decision making at Otago University. She is currently researching medical student academic misconduct in Scotland and New Zealand; surgical careers decisions of medical students and their influences. She is supervising HEDC 502 students projects on Burnout and resilience in medicine and a surgical trainee completing a research project on surgical leadership development.

Additional details

Awards and distinctions

May 2019 RACS Surgical Education Prize presentation and Invited Presentation on Surgical Leadership, RACS ASC Bangkok
March 2019 Sponsorship from RACS Academy of Surgical Educators to attend the International Medical Symposium
October 2018 Joint Surgical Colleges Medal (highest mark) – Joint Surgical Colleges Fellowship
December 2017 RACS John Buckingham travelling Scholarship, RACS – funding to attend the ACS annual congress, Boston 2018
August 2017 NZ Conjoint Committee recognition of colonoscopy training
Dec 2015-16 Nelson Medical Student’s Teaching Award - Best Registrar Teacher
May 2009 RACS Surgical Education Prize, RACS ASC Brisbane

Research grants

Sept 2019 OMS Medical Education Research Grants. $8216.60. Exploring academic misconduct and integrity among medical students in New Zealand and Scotland: A mixed methods study. Phase 2.
August 2019 RACS Academy of Surgical Educators Surgical Education Research Scholarship $AU10,000. Which medical students and junior doctors are attracted to surgery as a career and why? What impacts on this career aspiration over time?
April 2019 Quality Improvement Grant. $9,808. Exploring academic misconduct and integrity among medical students in New Zealand and Scotland: A mixed-methods study.
November 2008 CALT e-learning enhancement grant. $32,000. For the development of a surgical decision-making eLearning website for medical students.
January 2002 SCPMDE Education Development Grant,

Publications

Walker, S., Reid, P., Anderson, L., Bull, S., Jonas, M., Manning, J., … Pitama, S., Rennie, S., Snelling, J., Wilkinson, T., & Bagg, W. (2023). Informed consent for medical student involvement in patient care: An updated consensus statement. New Zealand Medical Journal/Te ara tika o te hauora hapori, 136(1579), 86-95. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Article

Rennie, S., & Rudland, J. (2023). Why do medical students engage in academic misconduct? Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Festival. 402. Retrieved from https://www.anzahpe.org/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rudland, J., Poole, P., Wilkinson, T., Thompson-Fawcett, M., & Rennie, S. (2023). The processes adopted in making career decisions by doctors. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Festival. 198. Retrieved from https://www.anzahpe.org/ Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Meyer, J. A., Connell, C. J. W., Rennie, S., Verstappen, A. C., & Poole, P. J. (2023). Women's interest in surgery as a career in the early postgraduate period: A national longitudinal study. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 93, 83-89. doi: 10.1111/ans.17916 Journal - Research Article

Rennie, S. C., Anderson, L., Merry, A. F., Pitama, S., Reid, P., Snelling, J., Walker, S., Wilkinson, T., & Bagg, W. (2022). Medical students and informed consent: Response to "Consent for teaching". New Zealand Medical Journal, 135(1566), 100-102. Retrieved from https://journal.nzma.org.nz/ Journal - Research Other

2023

Journal - Research Article

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

2022

Journal - Research Other

Rennie, S. C., & Rudland, J. R. (2022). Measuring performance for technical skills: How should rating scales be utilized in learning and assessment? ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92, 1589-1590. doi: 10.1111/ans.17809

Rudland, J., & Rennie, S. (2022). Failure to fail: Fear of retribution or a response to neglecting the learner? Medical Education, 56(5), 594-596. doi: 10.1111/medu.14796

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S., & Rudland, J. (2022). Does learner neglect impact on failure to fail? Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Festival. 159. Retrieved from https://www.anzahpe.org/

Chandra, P., McConville, K., Rennie, S., & Rudland, J. (2022). Medical school elective: Holiday or learning through the lens of academic misconduct? Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Festival. 80. Retrieved from https://www.anzahpe.org/

Meyer, J., Connell, C., Rennie, S., Verstappen, A., & Poole, P. (2022). Women's interest in surgery in the early postgraduate period: A national study. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Festival. 64. Retrieved from https://www.anzahpe.org/

Rennie, S., & Rudland, J. (2022). Where do we lose women considering a career in surgery and why? ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92(Suppl. 1), (pp. 205-206). doi: 10.1111/ans.17634

Barnes, T., & Rennie, S. (2022). Are we preparing general surgery trainees for their role as clinical leaders? A New Zealand survey. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 92(Suppl. 1), (pp. 156). doi: 10.1111/ans.17626

2021

Journal - Research Article

COVIDSurg Collaborative, and GlobalSurg Collaborative, including, Wright, D., Benson, R., Kieser, D., Rennie, S., Clifford, Z., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Lim, E., Lyons, O., O'Grady, M., Roake, J., Ailabouni, R., Alqassab, M., Amer, M., Haddow, J., Hawkins, R., Oliver, T., Saw, K. S., Gaston, M., & Haimona, M. (2021). Effects of pre-operative isolation on postoperative pulmonary complications after elective surgery: An international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, 76, 1454-1464. doi: 10.1111/anae.15560

COVIDSurg Collaborative, and GlobalSurg Collaborative, including, Wright, D., Benson, R., Kieser, D., Rennie, S., Clifford, Z., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Lyons, O., O'Grady, M., Roake, J., Ailabouni, R., Alqassab, M., Amer, M., Haddow, J., Hawkins, R., Oliver, T., Saw, K. S., Gaston, M., & Haimona, M. (2021). Timing of surgery following SARS-CoV-2 infection: An international prospective cohort study. Anaesthesia, 76, 748-758. doi: 10.1111/anae.15458

COVIDSurg Collaborative, and GlobalSurg Collaborative, including, Wright, D., Benson, R., Kieser, D., Rennie, S., Clifford, Z., Frizelle, F., Glyn, T., Lim, E., Lyons, O., O'Grady, M., Roake, J., Ailabouni, R., Alqassab, M., Amer, M., Haddow, J., Hawkins, R., Oliver, T., Saw, K. S., Gaston, M., & Haimona, M. (2021). SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: Data from an international prospective cohort study. British Journal of Surgery, 108, 1056-1063. doi: 10.1093/bjs/znab101

Journal - Research Other

Rennie, S. C. (2021). Learner neglect in the surgical training setting. Medical Education, 55, 1214. doi: 10.1111/medu.14547

Barnes, T., & Rennie, S. C. (2021). Leadership and surgical training part 2: Training toolkit for leadership development during surgical training. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 1075-1082. doi: 10.1111/ans.16777

Barnes, T., & Rennie, S. C. (2021). Leadership and surgical training part 1: Preparing to lead the way? ANZ Journal of Surgery, 91, 1068-1074. doi: 10.1111/ans.16685

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rudland, J., Darlow, B., & Rennie, S. (2021). Near peer video consultations: A viable learning modality during and after social isolation. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference: Redefining Health Professionals Education Together. (pp. 598). Retrieved from http://amee.org

Chin, B., Rogan, A., Rudland, J., & Rennie, S. (2021). Development of a tool to assess peer tutors' feedback skills in a virtual consultation. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference: Redefining Health Professionals Education Together. (pp. 566). Retrieved from http://amee.org

Gallagher, S., Mohammed, S., Gladman, T., Rennie, S., Radue, P., & Newman, N. (2021). Virtual simulation: Medical student readiness and engagement during the COVID-19 lockdown. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference: Redefining Health Professionals Education Together. (pp. 159). Retrieved from http://amee.org

Rennie, S., & de Vries, N. (2021). Developing a toolkit for cultivating resilient learners. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference: Redefining Health Professionals Education Together. (pp. 112). Retrieved from http://amee.org

Rennie, S., Bahirathan, K., Ballantyne, A., Bates, P., Chandra, P., & Murtagh-Souza, M. (2021). Are today's doctors honest? A comparative analysis of a questionnaire study exploring medical students' attitudes and reported behaviour on academic misconduct in 2000 and 2020. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference: Redefining Health Professionals Education Together. (pp. 52). Retrieved from http://amee.org

Barnes, T., & Rennie, S. (2021). Are we preparing New Zealand general surgery trainees for their role as clinical leaders? Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference: Redefining Health Professionals Education Together. (pp. 41). Retrieved from http://amee.org

2020

Journal - Research Article

Gladman, T., Tylee, G., Gallagher, S., Mair, J., Rennie, S. C., & Grainger, R. (2020). A tool for rating the value of health education mobile apps to enhance student learning (MARuL): Development and usability study. JMIR mHealth & uHealth, 8(7), e18015. doi: 10.2196/18015

Journal - Research Other

Rennie, S. C. (2020). Surgery, social responsibility, and the COVID-19 pandemic [Invited]. New Zealand Medical Student Journal, 31, 16-19. [Editorial].

Barnes, T., & Rennie, S. C. (2020). Disrupting clinical education: WhatsApp-ened to patient handover? Clinical Teacher, 17(5), 493-496. doi: 10.1111/tct.13186

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S., Rudland, J., Wilkinson, T., & Poole, P. (2020). Does medical school influence wanting to be a surgeon? [Short communications]. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference. SC9.13 (6255). Retrieved from https://amee.org/conferences/amee-2020

Rudland, J., Rennie, S., & Wilkinson, T. (2020). Supporting junior clinical teachers: How do they know what to teach and what do they need? [Short communications]. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference. SC6.3.1 (4563). Retrieved from https://amee.org/conferences/amee-2020

Rennie, S. (2020). Reflections on predictions of the medical student in the year 2020 and beyond [Invited address]. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE): The Virtual Conference. IA4. Retrieved from https://amee.org/conferences/amee-2020

2019

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S. C., & Beasley, S. (2019). Engaging junior doctors and emerging leaders in leadership. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 89(Suppl. 1), (pp. 153). doi: 10.1111/ans.15180

Rennie, S., & Rudland, J. (2019). Supporting undergraduate medical students in surgery: Is it time for a different teaching model. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 89(Suppl. 1), (pp. 171). doi: 10.1111/ans.15180

Tylee, G., Gladman, T., Rennie, S., Gallagher, S., & Grainger, R. (2019). Student-led development of a checklist to measure usefulness of educational apps for just-in-time learning. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe (AMEE) Annual Conference. (pp. 1476). Retrieved from https://amee.org/home

Tylee, G., Gladman, T., Rennie, S., Gallagher, S., & Grainger, R. (2019). Developing a method of measuring the usefulness of clinical skills apps for just-in-time learning. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Conference. (pp. 148-149). Renmark, Australia: ANZAHPE. [Abstract]

Rennie, S., Rudland, J., Grainger, R., Wilkinson, T., & Beckert, L. (2019). Supporting clinician teachers of medical students: Viewpoints of effective practices. Proceedings of the Australian & New Zealand Association for Health Professional Educators (ANZAHPE) Conference. (pp. 110-111). Renmark, Australia: ANZAHPE. [Abstract]

2018

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Rennie, S., Grainger, R., & Rudland, J. R. (2018, June). Triangulation data: What does this really mean? Verbal presentation at the Otago Medical School Medical Education Research Symposium, Dunedin, New Zealand.

2014

Journal - Research Article

Rudland, J. R., & Rennie, S. C. (2014). Medical faculty opinions of peer tutoring. Education for Health, 27(1), 4-9. doi: 10.4103/1357-6283.134290

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S. C., van Rij, A., & Jaye, C. (2014). Evaluation of a surgical decision-making eLearning programme. Proceedings of the 16th Ottawa Conference and the 12th Canadian Conference on Medical Education: Transforming Healthcare through Excellence in Assessment and Evaluation. OTT-OG5-2. Retrieved from http://www.ottawaconference.org/

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Rennie, S. (2014, February). Audit outcomes in low and high volume centres: Is regionalisation necessary in NZ? Verbal presentation at the Vascular Society of New Zealand Meeting, Wellington, New Zealand.

2013

Journal - Research Article

Benoiton, L. A., Schmidt, E., Tarr, G. P., Thomson, I. A., Rennie, S. C., & van Rij, A. M. (2013). Assessment and management of leg ulcers in the community and an outpatient clinic. New Zealand Medical Journal, 126(1368). Retrieved from http://www.nzma.org.nz/journal

2012

Journal - Research Article

Rudland, J. R., Swan, J., & Rennie, S. C. (2012). Improving e-learning initiatives: What can the non-participants tell us? Focus on Health Professional Education, 14(1), 35-39.

2011

Journal - Research Article

Rennie, S. C., van Rij, A. M., Jaye, C., & Hall, K. H. (2011). Defining decision making: A qualitative study of international experts' views on surgical trainee decision making. World Journal of Surgery, 35(6), 1214-1220. doi: 10.1007/s00268-011-1089-4

2009

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Full paper

Rennie, S., Blyth, P., Swan, J., Rudland, J., Hall, K., Baxter, S., Tweed, M., Wilkinson, T., Dockerty, J., van Rij, A., Loke, S. K., Winikoff, M., Vlugter, P., Cohen, A., & McDonald, J. (2009). Developing surgical decision making skills through dynamic branching short cases and reflection. In R. J. Atkinson & C. McBeath (Eds.), Proceedings of the 26th Annual Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education Conference: Same Places, Different Spaces. (pp. 832-836). ascilite. Retrieved from http://www.ascilite.org.au/conferences/auckland09/?m=Programme

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S. C., van Rij, A., Hall, K., & Theis, J.-C. (2009). Generating a model to explore decision making in an acute surgical setting. ANZ Journal of Surgery, 79(Suppl. 1), (pp. A70-A71). doi: 10.1111/j.1445-2197.2009.04930_5.x

Swan, J., & Rennie, S. (2009). Developing an e-learning surgical decision-making website for medical students. Proceedings of the Association for Health Professional Education (ANZAME) Conference. (pp. 33). Retrieved from http://www.anzame.unsw.edu.au/conf.htm

Conference Contribution - Poster Presentation (not in published proceedings)

Rennie, S., van Rij, A., Hall, K., & Theis, J.-C. (2009, March). Generating a model to explore decision making in an acute surgical setting. Poster session presented at the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons Annual Meeting, Invercargill, New Zealand.

Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Rennie, S., van Rij, A., & Theis, J.-C. (2009, March). Factors that influence acute surgical patient management decisions by trainee surgeons. Verbal presentation at the New Zealand Association of General Surgeons Annual Meeting, Invercargill, New Zealand.

2008

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rudland, J. R., & Rennie, S. (2008). Maximising the apprenticeship model in medical education: From leaky cauldron to Holy Grail? Proceedings of the 13th Ottawa International Conference on Clinical Competence. Retrieved from http://www.ozzawa13.com/OZZAWA%20Abstracts%20and%20Posters.pdf

Rennie, S., van Rij, A., & Theis, J.-C. (2008). Steep hierarchial structures in surgery may inhibit management decision making by trainee surgeons: Three case studies. Proceedings of the 13th Ottawa International Conference on Clinical Competence. Retrieved from http://www.ozzawa13.com/OZZAWA%20Abstracts%20and%20Posters.pdf

Rennie, S., van Rij, A., & Theis, J.-C. (2008). Factors that influence acute surgical patient management decisions by trainee surgeons. Proceedings of the 13th Ottawa International Conference on Clinical Competence. Retrieved from http://www.ozzawa13.com/OZZAWA%20Abstracts%20and%20Posters.pdf

2005

Journal - Research Article

Rudland, J. R., Pippard, M. J., & Rennie, S. C. (2005). Comparison of opinions and profiles of late or non-responding medical students with initial responders to a course evaluation questionnaire. Medical Teacher, 27(7), 644-657.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Malek, L., Rudland, J. R., Martindale, J. P., Rennie, S. C., & Pippard, M. J. (2005). Competence of junior doctors in simple wound suturing. Proceedings of the Association for the Study of Medical Education Annual Scientific Meeting. Edinburgh, UK: ASME. Retrieved from http://www.asme.org.uk/conf_courses/2003/docs_pix/asm03_abs004_rsch_coj_malek.pdf

2004

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rudland, J. R., Rennie, S. C., MacLeod, R., & Smith, K. (2004). The attitudes of medical faculty staff to peer tutoring. Proceedings of the AMEE: An international association for medical education. (pp. 118). [Abstract]

2003

Journal - Research Article

Rudland, J. R., & Rennie, S. C. (2003). The determination of the relevance of basic sciences learning objectives to clinical practice using a questionnaire survey. Medical Education, 37(11), 962-965.

Rennie, S. C., & Rudland, J. R. (2003). Differences in medical students′ attitudes to academic misconduct and reported behaviour across the years: A questionnaire study. Journal of Medical Ethics, 29, 97-102.

2002

Journal - Research Article

Rennie, S. C., & Crosby, J. R. (2002). Students′ perceptions of whistle blowing: Implications for self-regulation. A questionnaire and focus group survey. Medical Education, 36(2), 173-179.

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S., & Crosby, J. (2002). Clinical operative test: A test of practical skills. Proceedings of the Association for Medical Education in Europe Annual Conference. (pp. 61). [Abstract]

2001

Journal - Research Article

Rennie, S., & Crosby, J. R. (2001). Are ″tomorrow′s doctors″ honest? Questionnaire study exploring medical students′ attitudes and reported behaviour on academic misconduct. BMJ, 322, 274-275.

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Rennie, S. C., Mossey, P. A., & Rudland, J. R. (2001). Structured clinical operative tests: Assessing invasive practical procedures. Medical Education, 35, 1066-1067.

2000

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Rennie, S., & Rudland, J. R. (2000). Ethics and plagiarism. Times Higher Education, September(suppl.).

Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Rennie, S. C., Brown, E. M., & Rudland, J. R. (2000). Are 'tomorrow's doctors honest? Medical Teacher. 22(4), (pp. 416). [Abstract]

1999

Journal - Professional & Other Non-Research Articles

Crosby, J. R., & Rennie, S. C. (1999). Off the mark. Times Higher Education Supplement, (November 19).