Jennifer McBride
Current Position/Institution: Associate Professor of Surgery, Director of Virtual Anatomy Education, Histology Thread Director, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Education Institute
Ph.D. Institution: Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Purdue University, 2006
Earlier Positions: Assistant Professor (2007-2014), and Anatomy Instructor (2006-2007), Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine; Postdoctoral research fellow (1/2006-5/2006), Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University
Teaching: [Current] Histology Thread Director (medical students); Course Director for Musculoskeletal Sciences I (medical students); Gross Anatomy (medical students); Neuroanatomy (medical students); Surgical Anatomy Elective (medical students); Clinical Anatomy (physician assistant students); [Previous] Problem Based Learning facilitator (medical students); Introduction to Human Physiology & Disease (graduate students); Neuroanatomy review lecture series (Neurology residents); Neural Systems lecture series (Medical Illustrators).
AAA Committee/Roles: Board of Directors (2017-2020); Anatomical Sciences Education Journal editorial board member (2017-present); Innovations Program Grant Review Committee (2017); Strategic Planning Retreat (2017); Short Term Visiting Scholarship Review Committee (2015-2017); Anatomy Connected beta test group member (2014); Strategic Planning Retreat (2013), Educational Affairs Committee Chair (2010-2015), Programming Committee ex officio member (2010-2015), Professional Development Committee ex officio member (2010-2015), Strategic Thinking for Education and Professional Development (2009); Anatomical Sciences Education Journal associate editor (2007-2017); Educational Affairs Committee member (2007-2010).
Other Professional Activities: Chair of Faculty Council – Case Western Reserve School of Medicine (2020-2021); 3D4Medical Advisory Board (2020-2021); Harvard Macy Institute – Systems Approach to Assessment in Health Professions Education (3/2019); Lead Forward: Transforming Enterprise Leadership Development Program – Cleveland Clinic Global Leadership & Learning Institute (10/2018); 3D Anatomy Advisory Board member – Elsevier (2018-2019); Professional Staff Mentoring Circles - Cleveland Clinic Office of Diversity & Inclusion, Global Leadership & Learning Institute (2017-2018); Question writing for NBME (2013); Chair for Anatomy Faculty/Faculty Development for the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Education (2010-present).
Awards: Scholarship in Teaching Award (2017 and 2008-2014); Caregiver Celebrations Excellence Award (2016, 2014); Kaiser-Permanente Award for Excellence in Teaching (2013); Distinguished Educator Award (2009); Scholars Collaboration in Teaching & Learning (2006).
Research Interest: Clinically based anatomical studies, with emphasis on identifying new approaches and devices for use in surgical interventions. Effectiveness of educational technology in the acquisition and retention of anatomical and neuroanatomical knowledge.
Candidate Statement:
As a PhD trained researcher and educator in neuroscience and neuroanatomy, I have been proud to call the American Association for Anatomy (AAA), my professional home for over 15 years. I value the associations’ commitment to a diverse community of scientists, educators, and students studying and learning the many disciplines that constitute the field of anatomy. During my time as a member, I have enjoyed volunteering as Chair of the Educational Affairs Committee, participating on the Strategic Planning Committee, and serving as a Board Member where I could promote open-minded governance and advocate for member needs. In addition to these roles, I previously served as an Associate Editor for the AAA journal, Anatomical Sciences Education, and now serve as a member of the Editorial Board. Through the course of my time as a member and committee volunteer, I have appreciated how the organization has responded and adapted to the changing needs of its diverse community of members. This level of awareness, ability to be inclusive, and willingness to evaluate and implement change, is evident in AAAs mission statement and strategic plan.
As a faculty member in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, I have had the opportunity to work collaboratively with a diverse group of students, basic scientists, clinicians, and physician investigators on various institutional, national, and international committees. During this time, I have had the privilege of serving in many leadership roles. In the curricular setting I serve as Director of Virtual Anatomy Education, Director of Histology, and Course Director for Musculoskeletal Sciences I. These curricular responsibilities, and others, have challenged me to develop new educational experiences, to collaborate with others on planning and delivering a fully integrated curriculum, and to identify research methods to assess the effectiveness of these educational tools. At an institutional level, I serve as Chair of the Faculty Council, the executive body for faculty with appointments in the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and as co-director of the Cleveland Clinic Body Donation Program.
If given the opportunity to serve as President-Elect, I look forward to applying the leadership and knowledge I have gained through these experiences in service to the members of the American Association for Anatomy. I am committed to expanding the opportunities for professional development as a scientist and educator, and championing scientific communication through public, political, and social media forums. Vital to promoting the field of anatomy and its importance to society is the development of more opportunities for advancing diversity in membership, inclusiveness and engagement at both the student and faculty levels. As an association of members with equally diverse scientific interests as geographical locations, I am confident that together with the Board, committee leadership, and professional staff, I can collaboratively advance the goals, relevance and international impact of AAA, ensuring it continues to be an inclusive leader in anatomical science research, education and professional development for all its members.
Other Professional Memberships Currently Maintained: International Association of Medical Science Educators; Association of American Medical Colleges; Association for Medical Education in Europe