Current Students
Asmita Aryal
Entering Fall 2021
Frederick Bauer
Entering Fall 2021
Jonathan Bendinger
Entered Fall 2014
Jany Cabezas
Entered Fall 2019
Benjamin Cundick
Entered Summer 2020
I am a first year student in the Education Track in Anatomy PhD program. I am currently looking into research on memory and learning tools designed to help students in medical sciences. My interests are towards graduate/health professional students. I have a background in clinical medicine, I was an optician for five and a half years and spent a year volunteering at the intravenous clinic at Portneuf medical center. I received my bachelors in biomedicine from Idaho State University. I started a clinical doctorate in Optometry at Ohio State University. Before I got too far in the program I realized teaching was my passion, so I transitioned to the education track PhD degree here at IU where I mostly work with undergraduates. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
Michael Goodwin
Entered Fall 2016
Mentors: Dr. Valerie O'Loughlin and Dr. Polly Husmann
I am currently in my fifth year of the Education Track in Anatomy PhD program. My research interests are focused on understanding the college experiences and academic performance of undergraduate students with ADHD and specific learning disabilities in anatomy and other large introductory STEM courses. I am originally from Melbourne, Australia, and prior to attending IU I received my Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Melbourne. During my spare time, I enjoy practicing landscape photography, travelling, hiking, and watching or playing cricket.
Danielle Loder
Entered Fall 2018
I am currently in my third year of the Education Track in Anatomy PhD Program. My current research is focused on the relationship between US medical licensure and medical school curriculum. I am originally from central Kansas, and obtained my Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from Bethany College. During my free time I like to read, cycle, travel, and knit with my husband and our two cats!
Drew Nichols
Entered Fall 2020
Trey Shupp
Entering Fall 2022
Alumni
J Bradley Barger, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham
and University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Class of 2016
Dissertation: "Visual Literacy in Anatomy"
J Bradley Barger, PhD, is an assistant professor of anatomy at University of Alabama School of Medicine, where he teaches anatomical sciences (including histology and embryology) to a wide variety of student populations. Dr. Barger’s research focuses on improving education in anatomy, specifically on the visual interpretation and mental rotation of anatomical images. 3D printing is a fascinating new part of this research and has led to numerous collaborations with the engineering school, department of rheumatology, and the school of dentistry. Recent work includes; creating and patenting (pending) 3D-printed medical devices and procedure trainers, and acting as program director for the new MS in anatomical sciences.
Keely Cassidy, PhD
Assistant Professor and Director of Allied Health Anatomy Education
Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Class of 2016
Dissertation: "Embryology in Medical Education: A Mixed Methods Study and Phenomenology of Faculty and First Year Medical Students."
Keely Cassidy, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Medicine. Her primary focus in the department is teaching gross anatomy and embryology to medical, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, genetic counseling, and graduate students. Dr. Cassidy is the director for the College of Medicine Genitourinary, Reproductive, and Developmental block, serves as the embryology component leader, and is the departmental Director for Allied Health Anatomy Education. The graduate advanced dissection course that she created in 2017 now forms the basis for the Masters of Medical Anatomy program's comprehensive exam. Dr. Cassidy's secondary focus is improving the scholarship of anatomical teaching and learning through evidence-based, mixed methods research. Her current research involves faculty and student experiences and perceptions of embryology content in the basic science curriculum; the effects of advanced anatomical dissections and demonstrations on student learning outcomes and confidence; and UNMC's surface anatomy curriculum.
Barbie Klein
Assistant Professor
University of California, San Francisco
Class of 2018
Dissertation: "Simulation in Medical Education: A Case Study Evaluating the Efficacy of High-Fidelity Patient Simulation"
Barbie Klein, PhD, is an assistant professor with joint appointments in the Department of Anatomy in the School of Medicine and the Department of Cell and Tissue Biology in the School of Dentistry at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Klein teaches gross anatomy, embryology, histology, and neuroscience to health professional students and graduate-level learners. Her research explores curriculum development, interprofessional education, and using technology to improve anatomy instruction.
Amberly Reynolds
Assistant Professor of Anatomical Sciences
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sam Houston State University
Dr. Amberly Reynolds was nominated by the SHSU Osteopathic Students for the SOMA Foundation Northup Education of the Year Award. She is one of three national finalists for the award.
Click here to see a video about Amberly
Class of 2020
Dissertation: "Pre-Nursing Student Progression Towards Admissions to Nursing School at Indiana University Bloomington: A Mixed-Methods Study Exploring Anatomy Coursework as a Prerequisite for Admission"
Audra Schaefer, PhD
Assistant Professor of Neurobiology & Anatomical Sciences
University of Mississippi Medical Center
Class of 2013
Dissertation: "Remediation Trends in an Undergraduate Anatomy Course and Assessment of an Anatomy Supplemental Study Skills Course"
I serve as the assistant director of the Clinical Anatomy PhD program, and as such, I am able to work with and mentor graduate students as they progress through the program. I also currently teach histology to medical and dental students, as well as neuroscience to medical students. My own research has focused on training of anatomy educators, students’ learning strategies, and metacognition, and I’m interested in beginning to utilize social network analysis to better understand how peer relationships influence student learning and academic performance, as well as the impact of peer relationships among faculty on professional activities (project in the works!). When not at work I enjoy time with my husband and our son, often with adventures in our local parks, trails and playgrounds.
Theo Smith
Class of 2020
Melissa Taylor, PhD
Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Class of 2019
Dissertation: "The Impact of Medical Education Reform on the Teaching and Learning of the Anatomical Sciences"
Melissa Taylor, PhD, is an assistant professor of anatomy at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, where she teaches gross anatomy and histology to medical, dental, and physician assistant students. Dr. Taylor’s research focus is in the field of anatomy education and pedagogy, specifically related to the best teaching practices in the anatomical courses for health professional students. Additionally, she conducts research in curricula of health professional programs, including how the anatomical sciences are organized into medical curricula.