Professor Steven Burr
Profiles

Professor Steven Burr

Professor in Medical Education

Peninsula Medical School (Faculty of Health)

Deputy Director of Assessment for Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry

Co-Lead for Physiology teaching to medicine

Quality Lead for Peninsula Medical School

University Chair for Quality and Standards

Qualifications

BSc(Hons).MSc.PGDE(FAHE).MMedSci(ClinEd).PhD.

Professional membership

FIBMS.FAcadMEd.FRSB.PFHEA.

Roles on external bodies

General Medical Council - Education Associate (2016-24); Panel member for GMC’s National Review of Scotland (2017-18); Panel member for GMC's accreditation of Aston Medical School (2018-present) 

National University of Ireland (Dublin, Cork, Galway, & Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) - Extern Examiner for Physiology (2017-2019)

University of Buckingham School of Medicine - External Examiner for year 2 of MBChB (2018-23)

University of Manchester School of Medicine - External Examiner for year 3 of MBChB (2016-20)

University of Liverpool School of Medicine - External Examiner for year 1 of MBChB (2015-19)

Medical Schools Council - Member of Assessment Alliance Reference Group (2010-present), Member of Equality Implementation Working Group (2017-19), Lead for assessment adjustments and mitigating circumstances survey (2018-19)

Ministry of Justice, Lord Chancellor's Advisory Committee: Member for Avon & Somerset (2017-19); Member for Avon, Somerset & Gloucestershire (2019-26); Chair of South West Regional Conduct Committee (2019-26)

European Board of Medical Assessors - Online Adaptive International Progress Test; Erasmus project - Partner member (2018-22)

Research interests

I have developed expertise in several areas, primarily revolving around either medical education or neurotoxicology. My neurotoxicology research has used electrophysiological methods to help elucidate mechanisms of action. My interests in medical education include promoting the progressive integration and improvement of Computer Aided Learning and Assessment. I am also a passionate advocate of clinical relevance. My aims are to do all I can to help students fulfil their ambitions to become competent professionals, and to help institutions improve the quality of their assessments.

Other interests include the philosophy of physiology and the limits of human physiology in extreme environments. See Burr SA (2006) The body in balance: A physio-philosophical view of life (ISBN 978-0-9554151-0-4).

Key publications

Key publications are highlighted

Journals
Articles
Burr S, Martin T, Edwards J, Ferguson C, Gilbert K, Gray C, Hill A, Hosking J, Johnstone K & Kisielewska J (2021) 'Standard setting anchor statements: a double cross-over trial of two different methods' MedEdPublish 10, (1:32) 1-13 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
Gray CP & Burr SA (2019) 'Timing is key to providing modified assessments for students with specific learning difficulties' Perspectives on Medical Education 9, (1) 49-56 , DOI Open access
Burr S, Leung YL & McManus KS (2019) 'Sustainability of equality: a paradox for democracy' The Journal of Population and Sustainability 3, (2) 79-85 Open access
Ley T, Kisielewska J, Collett T & Burr SA (2019) 'Improving communication for learning with students: expectations, feedback and feedforward' MedEdPublish 8, (1:14) 1-10 , DOI Open access
Zahra D & Burr SA (2018) 'Analysis of question text properties for equality monitoring' Perspectives on Medical Education Author Site , DOI Open access
Watson HR & Burr SA (2018) 'Research in medical education' MedEdPublish 7, (3:13) 1-4 , DOI Open access
Watson HR & Burr SA (2018) 'Twelve tips for teaching twelve transferable skills' MedEdPublish 7(3:39), 1-9 , DOI Open access
Burr SA, Morrison JM & Salih VM (2018) 'When another assessment attempt is bad for progress' MedEdPublish 7, (3:9) 1-11 , DOI Open access
Burr SA, Collett T & Leung YL (2017) 'The value and challenges of collegiality in practice' British Journal of Hospital Medicine 78, (9) 486-487 , DOI Open access
Burr SA, Zahra D, Cookson J, Salih VM, Gabe-Thomas E & Robinson IM (2017) 'Angoff anchor statements: setting a flawed gold standard?' MedEdPublish 6, (3:53) 1-7 , DOI Open access
Burr SA, Salih VM, Gale T, Moles D, Vallance T & Bristow D (2017) 'Making progression and award decisions' MedEdPublish 6, (4:31) 1-7 , DOI Open access
Burr S, Neve H & Leung Y (2016) 'Evaluating your professionalism' British Journal of Hospital Medicine 77, (11) 634-637 , DOI Open access
Zahra D, Robinson I, Roberts M, Coombes L, Cockerill J & Burr S (2016) 'Rigour in moderation processes is more important than the choice of method' Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education 1-9 Author Site , DOI Open access
Burr SA, Chatterjee AC, Gibson S, Coombes L & Wilkinson S (2016) 'Key points to facilitate the adoption of computer-based assessments' Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development 3, 77-77 Publisher Site , DOI Open access
Zahra D, Hedge C, Pesola F & Burr S (2016) 'Accounting for test reliability in student progression: the reliable change index' Medical Education 50, (7) 738-745 , DOI Open access
Burr SA, Whittle J, Fairclough LC, Coombes L & Todd I (2016) 'Modifying Hofstee standard setting for assessments that vary in difficulty, and to determine boundaries for different levels of achievement' BMC Medical Education 16, (1) , DOI Open access
Burr SA & Leung YL (2015) 'Promoting equality by assessing discrimination in clinical practice' British Journal of Hospital Medicine 76, (11) 642-645 , DOI
Coombes L, Roberts M, Zahra D & Burr S (2015) 'Twelve tips for assessment psychometrics' Medical Teacher 38, (3) 250-254 , DOI Open access
Burr SA & Leung YL (2015) 'Towards a better understanding of clinical leadership' Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 76, (5) 276-280 Author Site , DOI
Pratten MK, Merrick D & Burr SA (2014) 'Group In- Course Assessment Promotes Cooperative Learning and Increases Performance' ANATOMICAL SCIENCES EDUCATION 7, (3) 224-233 Author Site , DOI
Burr SA & Leung YL (2013) 'Towards promoting and assessing clinical compassion' BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE 74, (12) 677-681 Author Site , DOI
Burr SA, Brodier E & Wilkinson S (2013) 'Delivery and use of individualised feedback in large class medical teaching' BMC MEDICAL EDUCATION 13, Author Site , DOI Open access
Abu Bakar MF, Mohamed M, Rahmat A, Burr SA & Fry JR (2012) 'Cellular assessment of the extract of bambangan (Mangifera pajang) as a potential cytoprotective agent for the human hepatocellular HepG2 cell line' FOOD CHEMISTRY 136, (1) 18-25 Author Site , DOI
Fry JR & Burr SA (2011) 'A double-blind atropine trial for active learning of autonomic function' ADVANCES IN PHYSIOLOGY EDUCATION 35, (4) 438-444 Author Site , DOI
Leung YL, Adesara S & Burr S (2011) 'Learning to make better clinical decisions' BRITISH JOURNAL OF HOSPITAL MEDICINE 72, (11) 642-645 Author Site , DOI
Burr S (2011) 'Obituary-David Ray' NEUROTOXICOLOGY 32, (1) 169-169 Author Site , DOI
Burr S & Brodier E (2010) 'Integrating feedback into medical education' Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 71, (11) 646-649 Author Site , DOI
Abu Bakal MF, Mohamad M, Rahmat A, Burr SA & Fry JR (2010) 'Cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in breast cancer cell lines exposed to an extract of the seed kernel of Mangifera pajang (bambangan)' FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY 48, (6) 1688-1697 Author Site , DOI
Abu Bakar MF, Mohamed M, Rahmat A, Burr SA & Fry JR (2010) 'Cytotoxicity and polyphenol diversity in selected parts of Mangifera pajang and Artocarpus odoratissimus fruits' Nutrition & Food Science 40(1), 29-38
Leung YL & Burr SA (2010) 'Trapdoor technique for intertransverse process arthrodesis of the lumbar spine' Techniques in Orthopaedics 25(4), 237-239
Breckenridge CB, Holden L, Sturgess N, Weiner M, Sheets L, Sargent D, Soderlund DM, Choi J-S, Symington S & Clark JM (2009) 'Evidence for a separate mechanism of toxicity for the Type I and the Type II pyrethroid insecticides' NEUROTOXICOLOGY 30, S17-S31 Author Site , DOI
Burr S (2009) 'Integrating assessment innovations in medical education' Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 70, (3) 162-163 Author Site , DOI
Burr S (2009) 'Integrating teaching innovations in medical education' Br J Hosp Med (Lond) 70, (2) 104-106 Author Site , DOI
Ray DE, Burr SA & Lister T (2006) 'The effects of combined exposure to the pyrethroids deltamethrin and S-bioallethrin on hippocampal inhibition and skeletal muscle hyperexcitability in rats' TOXICOLOGY AND APPLIED PHARMACOLOGY 216, (2) 354-362 Author Site , DOI
Burr SA & Ray DE (2004) 'Structure-activity and interaction effects of 14 different pyrethroids on voltage-gated chloride ion channels' TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES 77, (2) 341-346 Author Site , DOI
Mulheran M, Degg C, Burr S, Morgan DW & Stableforth DE (2001) 'Occurrence and risk of cochleotoxicity in cystic fibrosis patients receiving repeated high-dose aminoglycoside therapy' Antimicrobial Agents & Chemotherapy 45(9), 2502-2509
Holton JL, Nolan CC, Burr SA, Ray DE & Cavanagh JB (1997) 'Increasing or decreasing nervous activity modulates the severity of the glio-vascular lesions of 1,3-dinitrobenzene in the rat: effects of the tremorgenic pyrethroid, Bifenthrin, and of anaesthesia' Acta Neuropathologica 93, 159-165
Letters
Todd I, Burr S, Whittle J & Fairclough L (2014) 'Modifying the Hofstee method may overcome problems' Med Teach 36, (4) 358-359 Author Site , DOI
Books
Burr SA (2006) The body in balance: A physio-philosophical view of life. Nottingham University Press
Chapters
Burr SA & Leung YL (2016) 'Towards a better understanding of clinical leadership' in McKimm J; O'Sullivan H Clinical leadership made easy: integrating theory and practice London Quay Books 121-134
Burr SA & Leung YL (2015) 'Towards a better understanding of clinical leadership' in McKimm J; O'Sullivan H Clinical leadership made easy: integrating theory and practice 121-134
Burr SA (2014) 'Acid-base physiology' in Randall MD Medical Sciences at a Glance Oxford Wiley-Blackwell 68-69
Leung YL & Burr SA (2014) 'Botulinum toxin' in Wexler P USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 540-542
Burr SA (2014) 'Chemical Warfare' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 814-816
Burr SA (2014) 'Chemical Warfare Delivery Systems' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 817-821
Burr SA (2014) 'Control of breathing' in Randall MD Medical Sciences at a Glance Oxford Wiley-Blackwell 66-67
Burr SA & Leung YL (2014) 'Curare (D-Tubocurarine)' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 1088-1089
Burr SA & Leung YL (2014) 'Cyanide' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 1093-1095
Burr SA (2014) 'Cypermethrin' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 1120-1121
Burr SA (2014) 'DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 1141-1143
Burr SA (2014) 'Deltamethrin' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 1158-1159
Burr SA (2014) 'Gas transport' in Randall MD Medical Sciences at a Glance Oxford Wiley-Blackwell 64-65
Ray DE & Burr SA (2014) 'Pyrethrins/Pyrethroids' in Wexler P Encyclopedia of Toxicology USA Elsevier Inc., Academic Press 1152-1158
Burr SA (2014) 'Respiratory pathophysiology' in Randall MD Medical Sciences at a Glance Oxford Wiley-Blackwell 70-71
Burr SA (2014) 'Respiratory physiology' in Randall MD Medical Sciences at a Glance Oxford Wiley-Blackwell 62-63
Conference Papers
Burr SA, Mulheran M, Degg C & Collinson J (1998) 'Differences between two types of spontaneous otoacoustic emission in a patient group receiving frequent gentamicin therapy compared with control subjects' 84-85
Burr SA, Mulheran M & Degg C (1997) 'Characterization of 'click-synchronized spontaneous oto-acoustic emissions' (CSSOAEs) in humans' 93-94
Mulheran M, Burr SA & Degg C (1997) 'Frequency resolution in audiologically normal young subjects compared with a patient group receiving frequent gentamicin therapy' 93-93

Conferences organised

Annually, lead for an interprofessional day conference focussed on assessment. Themed around feedback in 2010, standards in 2011, transition in 2012, psychometrics in 2013, e-assessment in 2014, professionalism in 2015, equality in 2016, student perceptions in 2017, modified assessment provision in 2018, and teamwork in 2019