Dr Aaron McDonald has over 25 years of experience teaching Human Anatomy to university students. His earlier research was in skeletal development and repair, while his current research interests involve Learning and Teaching in Higher Education. He has designed, redesigned, and coordinated anatomy courses for various year levels and programs within Science and Allied Health disciplines at La Trobe University. At present, he is developing first- and second-year anatomy subjects that emphasise practical application of knowledge. Additionally, he is designing two anatomy and physiology subjects for first-year students, aiming to enhance understanding of how structure relates to function.

Aaron has presented and published on a range of topics related to teaching and learning strategies, including assessment weighting, blended learning, team-teaching, and the incorporation of digital technologies into anatomy curricula. He holds Fellow (FHEA) status and has received multiple teaching awards, including an Australian Award for University Teaching, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to teaching and learning support in higher education.

Dr McDonald is a member of the La Trobe Education Committee, is secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Clinical Anatomists and is on the local organising committee for the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists 2026 congress.