Shannon Washburn
Clinical Professor
Phone: (979) 845-1993Email: [email protected]Research and Scholarly Interests
Fetal-maternal health and development; Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) mechanisms; neuroimaging, biomarkers and nutritional interventions for FASD; clinical medicine; pharmacology; pathophysiology; teaching methods and learning
About Me
Focus Areas
Research
Teaching
Trainees
Publications
Dr. Washburn received a B.S. in Biomedical Science and a B.S. in Veterinary Science from Texas A&M University before proceeding to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine. She was in private clinical practice for several years before returning to Texas A&M to complete a Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Science and begin a career in academia.
Dr. Washburn’s research provides advancement of knowledge in the field of both veterinary and human medicine with a focus on the field of fetal-maternal health, as well as educational research on teaching and learning methodology. She has been the recipient of several awards for excellence in teaching and research.
- Physiology
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology
- Fetal Physiology
- Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
- Integrative Physiology
- Prenatal Development
- Dietary Impact and Nutritional Intervention Strategies for Fetal Health
- Technology Use in Education
- Teaching and Learning Methods
- Placental Biology
- Developmental Neurobiology
Replacing a Veterinary Physiology Endocrinology Lecture with a Blended Learning Approach Using an Everyday Analogy (2022) Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 10.3138/jvme-2020-0061
http://www.tamucet.org/product/hypothalamus-pituitary-axis/
Fentanyl patches or IM injection of buprenorphine in pregnant ewes provided acceptable perioperative analgesia w/minimal fetal effects, but fentanyl was superior in regard to extent of analgesia induced, inhalant-sparing effects, & anesthesia recovery time https://t.co/FLqEL2Vc4i pic.twitter.com/hDvpFsLlhr
— AVMA Journals (@AVMAJournals) July 19, 2020
Dr. Washburn’s research provides advancement of knowledge in the field of both veterinary and human medicine with a focus on the field of fetal-maternal health. She has devoted considerable effort to investigating the mechanisms mediating injury to the fetus from prenatal exposure factors such as nutrition, alcohol, environment, therapeutic drugs and anesthetics. Her long-range goal is development of more sensitive and practical methods to identify/screen for these injuries, and determining how they can be prevented or ameliorated.
Dr. Washburn’s educational research centers around the use of technology in teaching, learning, and communication, as well as development of methods to help students learn and link physiologic concepts and clinical application. She has two collaborative projects underway with the University of Georgia:
- Assessing Academic Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Cardiovascular Physiology, with an Interactive Computer Animated Model
- Evaluating Biomedical Research Self-Efficacy, Knowledge, and Attitudes in Glucose Homeostasis and Diabetes, with an Interactive Computer Animated Model
Funded Projects:
- Development of an Open-Source Learning Resource for Students in Biomedicine
- Understanding Placental Adaptation to Maternal Malnutrition, National Institute of Health and USDA (Dual Purpose Dual Benefit Grant)
- Building a Bridge from Physiology to Internal Medicine; CVM Curricular Enhancement Program
- Distribution of orally administered feed grade chlortetracycline in sheep; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology
- Physiology Flip; CVM Center for Educational Technologies
- Curricular Enhancement; Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology
- Maternal-Fetal Effect of Dexmedetomidine Infusion in Anesthetized Sheep; Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Clinical Sciences
- MAC Value of Desflurane in Sheep and MAC Sparing Effect of Oxymorphone and Hydromorphone; Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital Clinical Sciences
- Pharmacokinetics of Tulathromycin in Sheep Following a Single Subcutaneous Dose of 2.5 mg/kg; Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences.
- Ovine Model System for Alcohol Related Birth Defects; National Institute of Health, NIAAA
- Flipping Your Course; TAMU Instructional Technology Services Information Technology Award
- Translational Studies of FASD Using a Sheep Model; National Institute of Health, NIAAA
- Mechanisms and Nutritional Intervention for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; National Institute of Health, NIAAA
The majority of Dr. Washburn’s current teaching is in the graduate and professional program, teaching physiology, organ dysfunction, diagnostics/therapeutics and communications.
Dr. Washburn is a recipient of the inaugural Provost Academic Professional Track Teaching Excellence Award from the Texas A&M Center for Teaching Excellence. This new award honors faculty who give students meaningful educational experiences through effective teaching methods and celebrate those who value student-centered learning.
Provost Announces Academic Professional Track Teaching Awards
She developed and published an online instructional module on the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Target Gland axis that is now available to other academic institutions:
Dr. Washburn co-led a team of 11 veterinary students to Honduras to provide veterinary care to non-served villages in remote areas. The students learned to be resourceful with limited supplies and facilities. Improving the health of livestock and companion animals leaves behind a big impact on the public health and economy of the villages. The team also visited schools and their human medical facility as well as learning about their agricultural programs.
Shannon Washburn is not accepting trainees at this time.
Dr. Washburn has chaired the committee for 2 PhD student and 7 Masters students as well as service on the committees of 5 PhD and 9 Masters students. She has a professional student advisory role in various capacities as a mentor, surgical instructor, and research instructor.
Dr. Washburn is a Faculty Research Advisor for the CVM’s NIH T35 Veterinary Medical Research Training Grant and the NIH T32 Training Grant on Collaborative Learning Initiatives in Maternal, Perinatal, and Infant Health Research.
