University of Tasmania, Australia

Deputy Head (Academic)
Director, Medical Education Unit

BSc(Hons), PhD(Qld), MHED(Griff)

General Responsibilities

Professor Zimitat has contributed significantly to the implementation of institution-wide developments in teaching and learning (e.g. flexible learning, Retention, First year experience) and large scale curriculum reform and development in the health sciences. The latter includes introduction of PBL-based graduate MBBS program at the University of Queensland, the development of the suite of Oral Health degree programs at Griffith University and now the ongoing development of teaching programs within the School of Medicine at UTAS.

Teaching Responsibilities

Professor Zimitat has taught undergraduate biochemistry to medical, dental, pharmacy, science and veterinary science students for more than a decade, and general medicine in the graduate MBBS program at the University of Queensland from 1997-1999.

Over the last 5 years, the majority of his teaching has been at post-graduate level through supervision of students enrolled in Graduate Certificate of Higher Education/Flexible Learning, Master of Higher Education, Master in Health, professional doctorates in education (EdD) and PhD students in higher education.

Publications

• Bell, E., Zimitat, C., & Merrick, J. (2011). Rural medical education – practical strategies. New York: Nova Publishing.
• Malau-Aduli, B. S., Zimitat, C., & Malau-Aduli, A. E. (2011). Evaluating staff response to change in quality assurance processes of assessment: A case study. Journal of Higher Education Policy & Management, 33, in press.
• Zimitat, C. (2011). A curriculum framework for rural medical education. International Journal of Child Health and Human Development, 44, 55-62.
• Zimitat, C. (2007). Capturing community of practice knowledge for student learning. Innovations in Education and Teaching International, 44(3), 321-330.
• Horstmanshof, L. & Zimitat, C. (2007). The role of time orientation in student engagement. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 77, 703-718.
• Pandey, P., & Zimitat, C. (2007). Medical students’ learning of anatomy: memorisation, understanding and visualisation. Medical Education, 41, 7-14.

Web Access Research Portal (WARP)

Additional Information

Research Interests and Projects

Prof Zimitat completed his PhD studying the molecular neuropathology of thiamin deficiency in a novel glucose-loaded rat model. In line with his Medical Education Unit (MEU) role, current research interests focus on the student experience of higher education, use of technologies to support teaching and learning, and innovation in medical and higher education.

There a several research projects across the Faculty of Health Science and School of Medicine in areas of health literacy, internationalisation, graduate outcomes (Preparation for Hospital practice), plagiarism, and development of epistemological views of medical students.

Grants

• Launceston – Active Healthy City. Hart, G., Brooker, R., Venn, A., Kilpatrick, S, Zimitat, C., Marshall, L., Dixon, B. (2008) Department of Health & Ageing, Canberra. AU$200,000
• Walls, J., Robinson, A., Fassett, D., Foa, L. & C. Zimitat. (2008) Breaking down the barriers – improving inter-professional learning in the Health Sciences. Teaching & Development Grant, UTAS. 2007

The MEU is presently planning an ongoing institutional research agenda that seeks to develop a greater understanding of the MBBS program for the purpose of consolidation and improvement.