E. Lela Giannaris, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Division of Translational Anatomy, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School
Candidate Statement: Since joining AAA in 2013, I have been an actively engaged member and deeply grateful for the many opportunities for growth and connection our Association has provided. Building community, innovating, and advancing together have been at the heart of my work within AAA and beyond. If selected to serve on the Board of Directors, my vision is to continue creating inclusive spaces that inspire connection, collaboration, and growth for all members.
To help realize this vision, I hope to focus on expanding programming that supports career advancement and provides structured mentoring opportunities for members at all stages. Peer and tiered mentoring approaches foster a sense of belonging, encourage career growth, and help members build transferable skills. My commitment to these goals is demonstrated by co-developing and co-leading the DELTA Program (Developing and Elevating Leaders with Tools for Advancement), which provides mentorship along with leadership and career advancement training for early and mid-career faculty. The forward-thinking strategy of this program is to ultimately increase engagement within AAA and aligns closely with AAA’s Strategic Plan and DEI Action Plan.
Another focus is to expand cross-committee and interprofessional collaborations to create inclusive, interdisciplinary programming that encourages dialogue, integrates AAA’s mission areas, and meets the needs of our diverse membership. During my tenure on the Professional Development Committee (PDC) as a member and Chair, I helped develop career advancement resources and shaped annual meeting sessions that foster engagement across career stages and roles. Most recently, I spearheaded the new “Pick and Probe” focused-discussion format for the 2025 meeting and assembled an interprofessional, cross-committee planning group. Together with attendees, we created meaningful conversations around research, education, and professional development.
I am committed to upholding AAA’s core values while advancing our mission through increased mentoring and networking opportunities, interdisciplinary collaborations, and innovative programming. I would be honored to help AAA grow and thrive while continuing to strengthen our community and advance together.
Ph.D. Institution: Ph.D. in Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 2010
Earlier Positions: Senior Research Technician, Belfer Gene Therapy Core Facility, Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University (2002-2004)
Teaching: [Current] Anatomy and neuroanatomy for medical students; [Past] Anatomy and neuroanatomy for graduate students; Anatomy for dental students
AAA Committee/Roles: Co-Director, Developing and Elevating Leaders with Tools for Advancement Program (DELTA); Professional Development Committee (2019-2025, Chair 2023-2025); Program Committee (2023-2025); Symposium Organizer (2025, 2023, 2021), Anatomy Curriculum Content Task Force Member, Head, Neck, and Introductory Material (2015-2018)
Other Professional Activities: Longitudinal Biomedical Topic Director for Anatomy at UMass Chan Medical School; Block Co-Director for Skin and Musculoskeletal Systems; Chair, School of Medicine Educational Policy Committee; Distinguished Educator, Health Education Academy for Leadership and Learning (HEALL), UMass Chan Medical School; Founding member, Global Neuroanatomy Network (GNN)
Awards: Faculty Marshal (2022, 2024); Sarah Stone Excellence in Education Award (2022); Educational Achievement (STAR) Award (2022, 2021, 2020); AAA Innovations Award, DELTA (2021); Outstanding Basic Science Pre-Clerkship Medical Educator (2020, 2015)
Research Interests: Anatomical sciences, curriculum development, and faculty development
Other Professional Memberships Currently Maintained: American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA); International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE)
Web Link: https://profiles.umassmed.edu/display/130591