Prof Parr decided to focus on education early in her career and has taught on a wide range of courses since her first teaching fellow contract in 2000. Her main subject area is Physiology and she has mainly taught medical, science and dental students but the focus of her work now is in education leadership. Having acted as a programme lead, Director of Programmes, Associate Dean (Education) and Head of Department within faculties, she now leads university wide education enhancement activities through her role as CHEP Director. The current leadership role encompasses our triple helix approach as it provides support for Research, Education and Knowledge exchange and enterprise. 

Scholarly activities include:

Prof Parr has presented scholarly work at National and International Conferences on the topics of

• Education focused academic career routes
• CPD Education programmes in HE 
• Innovative use of Audience response systems
• Student Engagement Best Practice 
• Demographics of Graduate Entry Programme Students at the University of Southampton
• Postgraduate Certificates in Academic Practice at the SEDA conference 2008

Prof Parr has been an External Examiner for

• Year 1 of the BDS Dental programme at Cardiff University 2011/12 to 2015/2016
• Year 1 of the Graduate Entry Medical Programme at Birmingham University 2014/15-2018/19
• All years of the new SCOTGEM Medical programme jointly lead by St Andrews & Dundee 2018/19-2022/23

Prof Parr has acted as a reviewer Nationally  & Internationally for

• BMC Medical Education Journal
• Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellowship applications
• Higher Education Academy National Teaching Fellowship Fund Applications
• Academic Review of the Masters Programmes at Birmingham University Medical School
• Academic review of a physiology textbook: Third Edition of Human Physiology, An Integrated Approach by Dee Unglaub Silverthorn.

After attaining a first class degree in Biological Sciences (Physiology) and PhD in Medical Physiology (Thesis title: Deafness in Meningitis) at the University of Birmingham Prof Parr undertook one postdoctoral research position (Effectiveness of Ginkgo biloba in treating tinnitus) and successfully published her findings in the BMJ before deciding to actively pursue a career in teaching and learning in higher education (in preference to a career in medical research).

Prof Parr was appointed as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Birmingham in 2000 and subsequently Lecturer upon completing a PGCert in Teaching and Learning. Prof Parr moved to Cardiff University in 2004 for a similar post. In both posts she was responsible for delivering teaching, assessment and student support to science, medical and dental students and a range of module, programme and curriculum change leadership responsibilities. Before leaving Cardiff Prof Parr was the Deputy Subdean (Academic) for the Medical Programme meaning she was responsible for all of the academic aspects of years 1 and 2 of the BM programme.

In 2007 Prof Parr made the decision to step out of medical education and take up an educational developer appointment at the University of Southampton to advance and widen her knowledge, understanding and experience of educational theory, evidence and practice whilst also developing and widening her skills in staff development, quality assurance and quality enhancement. She was responsible for leading a range of university wide enhancement activities including the PGCert in Academic Practice for which she was awarded a University Vice Chancellors teaching award in 2011. She worked with HR for the PVC (Education) to lead development of a new Framework for the professional development of staff at Southampton with respect to Education that was accredited by the HEA and is now in place as PREP.

In January 2011 Prof Parr went back into Medical Education as the BM4 (graduate entry medicine) Programme Leader in the Faculty of Medicine and successfully lead this programme until April 2017. In 2014 Professor Parr was successfully appointed to the role as Head of the Academic Unit for Medical Education (HoAUME), however she relinquished this role in 2015 to act as the interim Associate Dean (Education for the Faculty). Upon Appointment of a permanent, Associate Dean Prof Parr chose to take on the role as Director of Undergraduate Programmes rather than return to her HoAUME role.

In 2014 Prof Parr lead a team of staff and students who submitted a successful application on behalf of the Faculty for an international ASPIRE student engagement award.

Professor Parr’s sustained and significant skills, experience and reputation for academic excellence in learning and teaching was recognised in 2015 through her Principal Fellowship of the HEA and in 2016 when she was promoted to Professorial Fellow in Medical Education.

In 2018 Prof Parr was successfully appointed to the Director of CHEP role at the University of Southampton where she leads the Centre for Higher Education Practice. 

Prizes

• Vice Chancellors Teaching Award (2011)