AACA Invited Session
"Putting the Clinical Back into Anatomy and Anatomy Back into the Clinical": A Reciprocal Model for Enhancing Education, Practice and Research"
Session Abstract:
The aim of this presentation is to share experiences from an evolving Department of Clinical Anatomy at Mayo Clinic. Efforts to realign anatomy within practice imperatives and shape the future direction of anatomy education within an experiential learning platform will be demonstrated. This talk will focus on (1) Clinician and Scientist engagement and collaboration, (2) Use of technology in a hybrid learning platform and (3) Evolving tools for developing anatomical competence.
Session Presenters:
Nirusha Lachman, PhD
Biography:
Nirusha Lachman, PhD is Full Professor and Chair of the Department of Clinical Anatomy, Mayo Clinic with joint appointment in the Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery at Mayo Clinic. Her primary focus lies in integrating patient centered anatomical knowledge for practice and research using anatomical data in translational approaches to close clinical practice gaps. Dr. Lachman’s main educational focus is built on Mayo Clinic’s BOLD FORWARD initiative of technological integration and advancement in driving new authentic anatomy curricula for practice-based learning. She is one of few clinical anatomists in the world who works collaboratively on a daily basis with clinicians in an active practice-based setting. In her 28-year career as a clinical anatomist, Dr. Lachman has contributed over 111 scientific publications in peer reviewed journals, 20 book chapters and numerous abstract publications, editorials and national and international presentations. Dr Lachman’s leadership role extends to Mayo Clinic institutional committees, the Council of the American Association of Clinical Anatomists, and holds the position of Associate Editor of Anatomical Sciences Education Journal under the oversight of the American Association of Anatomists.
Robert Morreales, MS
Biography:
Bob Morreale, MS is a medical artist, creative thinker, educator, innovator, and administrative leader. Bob is passionate about how visual experiences are crafted to inform, educate, and empower patients, learners, and healthcare professionals alike.
As technological advancements began to race forward at the turn of the 21st century, Bob was at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (JHU) in Baltimore, MD creating unique opportunities to leverage his creativity. Bob was at the forefront of JHU’s engagement with National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health’s "Next Generation Internet Initiative” –– explored leading-edge information technologies in image annotation, visualization, collaboration, and networking to create the beginnings of the project “The Visible Human Embryo”.
After leaving JHU, and as a creative entrepreneur and owner of his own studio, Bob participated in several innovative initiatives with medical associations and publishers that explored utilizing visuals with evolving Web technologies in unique ways. He would later take his passion for visualizing medicine to the classroom –– Bob was the Chair of the Graduate Medical Illustration Program at the Cleveland Institute of Art in Cleveland Ohio and participated in several adjunct projects at the Case Western Reserve University and The Cleveland Clinic.
The Association of Medical Illustrators (AMI) has recognized Bob as a Fellow and has been awarded its Outstanding Service Award; given to professional members whose actions or creations have had a significant positive impact on the profession of medical illustration.
Today, Bob is the Division Chair of Experiential Learning at Mayo Clinic and an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Communications in Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.
