Ph.D. in Anatomy Education

Why did you choose graduate school at IUPUI?

I wanted to attend IU for my doctoral degree because the IU Anatomy & Physiology Education Track Ph.D. Program has an excellent reputation for training some of the best anatomy educators. At IU, I was able to get a world-class education and collaborate with incredible mentors and colleagues who supported me every step of the way!

What has been your favorite academic accomplishment since you’ve been here?

My favorite academic accomplishment during my time at Indiana University is earning the Lieber Memorial Associate Instructor Award in 2023! The award represents several years of hard work dedicated towards improving my abilities as an anatomy educator. None of it would have been possible without the support of my Ph.D. Program here at IU!

What do you enjoy most about life in Indianapolis?

I love the people here at IU School of Medicine! All the students, colleagues, and faculty here are so supportive, caring, and an absolute joy to work with.

Please provide some details about your work/research as a graduate student and/or any activities you are involved in.

Most of my research focuses on anatomy education and how we think about our own thinking (aka metacognition). Metacognition is so important when learning challenging subjects like anatomy as well as in clinical professions because it allows us to independently monitor and self-regulate our own learning and performance. Once we are more aware of our own strengths and weaknesses as learners, we can take the appropriate steps to improve! My research interests also include educator development and science communication. Everyone has human anatomy so everyone should have an opportunity to learn human anatomy – to learn about themselves!