Rate My Professor Carol Dunstone

Ms Carol Dunstone serves as the Technical Manager in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago. In this capacity, she oversees personnel, projects, and resources supporting more than 250 staff and postgraduate students. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with the 2021 University of Otago Professional Staff Award, as well as the 2012 Otago School of Medical Sciences Distinguished Research Support Staff Award. These honors highlight her dedication to the department's operational excellence and facilitation of teaching and research.

Dunstone has made significant impacts on departmental infrastructure. She has been key to establishing a new surgical skills suite, which she describes as purpose-built to effectively cater to the medical workforce's training needs. Located in a historic building, it features expanded space, specialized equipment, and integrated teaching areas to address growing demand and enable additional professional development. Since 2017, following an energy trial, she has promoted Stirling ultra-low freezers, now numbering five in Anatomy, for storing invaluable research materials like DNA, cells, tissues, chemicals, antibodies, enzymes, ELISA kits, and sera. These freezers offer quieter operation, reduced heat and energy use, and minimal maintenance. During the COVID-19 lockdown, Dunstone collaborated on transitioning undergraduate courses such as ANAT101, ANAT241, ANAT331, ANAT333, ANAT336, BIOA201, CELS191, DENT201, HUBS191, MELS241, MICN201, MICN301, and PHTY250 to online formats via Zoom, ensuring continuity. She has also supported research efforts, including ancient DNA laboratory setup. Her work exemplifies professional leadership in biomedical sciences.