Dr Mary-Kate Burke is Head of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at South East Technological University (SETU) and an experienced veterinary surgeon, educator and academic leader. As founding Head of Department and former Veterinary Medicine Programme Development Lead, she has led the development of SETU’s Veterinary Medicine programme.
Mary-Kate graduated from University College Dublin with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (MVB) and has worked in equine and mixed clinical practice in Australia and the UK. She subsequently held clinical and teaching roles at the University of Surrey and the University of Cambridge, where she led equine clinical teaching and assessment and contributed to the development of innovative approaches to clinical education.
She holds a Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP) in Equine Stud Medicine, a Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Professional Studies (PgCertVPS), and a Master’s in Medical Education (MMedEd). She is a Fellow of Advance HE (FHEA) and is currently undertaking a Doctorate in Education at the University of Bath.
Her research interests include diversity and inclusion in veterinary education, student-centred teaching, veterinary curriculum development, and innovative approaches to teaching and assessment. She is particularly committed to developing accessible, practice-focused veterinary education and works collaboratively with veterinary practices, professional bodies and industry partners to support educational quality and the future veterinary workforce.
Mary-Kate has extensive experience teaching veterinary students across all stages of the curriculum, from foundational sciences to advanced clinical practice. At the University of Cambridge, she taught equine reproduction, orthopaedics, equine practice, wound management and clinical skills, as well as professionalism and problem-based learning. She also delivered clinical work-based teaching during the equine clinical rotation. Previously, at the University of Surrey, she provided clinic-based teaching and mentoring within a partner veterinary practice. At SETU, she has led the development of the Veterinary Medicine curriculum, with a focus on practice-based, student-centred and clinically relevant learning.
