Victoria A. Roach, Ph.D., Research Assistant Professor, Division of Healthcare Simulation Science, University of Washington (2021 - present); Director of Evaluation and Assessment, WISH (WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Institute for Simulation in Healthcare) (2023 - present); Director of Academic Programs, Division of Healthcare Simulation Science, University of Washington (2024 - present)
Candidate Statement: My vision for the AAA is rooted in the simple belief that every anatomical scientist, whether an educator, a researcher, a clinician, or a trainee, should feel that this association is their professional home. I want to strengthen the AAA as a welcoming, responsive, and forward-looking community, and to elevate our leadership in education, research, and professional development in ways that meet the realities of our rapidly evolving field. This includes building strategic partnerships with societies in simulation, surgical education, and the broader STEM education community—partnerships that can expand programming, increase interdisciplinary visibility, and enhance opportunities for our members.
My long history of service and leadership with the AAA, including my time as Chair of the Committee for Early Career Anatomists (CECA), has given me firsthand understanding of the impact this society can have when members feel connected, seen, and supported. During my tenure with CECA, I led efforts to strengthen the rigor and transparency of our review processes, including revising scoring rubrics, improving workflow consistency, and enhancing the clarity of evaluation criteria. This experience also revealed where we still have opportunities for growth: listening more deeply to member needs, widening paths into leadership, increasing communication between committees to decrease redundant work, and ensuring that members at all career stages understand that they belong here—not by chance, but by design.
In my career thus far, I have supervised 15 medical students, 4 master’s students, and 4 surgical residents in research and educational scholarship, and mentored these trainees as they navigated the challenges of identity, confidence building, and community within the anatomical sciences and medicine. Fostering inclusion and representation is central to my mentorship. I know how powerful it is to see someone like you in front of a room, on a panel, or in a position of influence. Belonging should not be left to luck or personality; it should be cultivated through mentorship, visibility, and intentional opportunities that lower barriers and invite participation. Transparency is also essential to building that sense of belonging. Our members should feel confident that decision-making processes, leadership pathways, and committee activities are communicated clearly, consistently, and openly.
Looking ahead, the AAA is uniquely positioned to lead where anatomy intersects with simulation, emerging technologies, scholarship of teaching and learning, and evidence-driven educational design. My work developing anatomically precise simulation-based training models, including those for airway management, ureteral repair, and physiology-integrated simulators, has shown how innovations such as physiologic modeling, cognitive task analysis, and high-fidelity tissue simulation can deepen learners’ understanding of complex anatomy. This work depends on sustained collaboration with engineers, artists, and clinicians, underscoring a model of teamwork and shared expertise that I believe the AAA is well-positioned to cultivate and expand. In building a new graduate program in Healthcare Simulation Education at the University of Washington, I have also seen how the right structures empower people to succeed—not just initiatives. I would bring that same collaborative mindset to the Board: dreaming boldly, testing thoughtfully, scaling transparently, and ensuring that our innovations remain rooted in the needs of our members.
Most importantly, I bring a genuine commitment to the people who make up this association. I want to help the AAA grow in ways that inspire participation, broaden who feels invited to shape our future, and amplify the visibility and value of the anatomical sciences across disciplines. I deeply believe in this community, and I am excited about the possibility of contributing to its next chapter.
Ph.D. Institution: PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Western Ontario, 2016
Earlier Positions: Assistant Professor of Surgery, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (2019–2021), Assistant Professor, Foundational Medical Studies, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (2016–2021), Instructor, Continuing Studies, Western University (2015–2017).
Teaching: [Current] Research Capstone Courses (Graduate Students); Advanced Assessment Techniques in Healthcare Simulation (Graduate Students); Educational Concepts for Healthcare Simulation (Graduate Students). [Past] Anatomical Foundations of Clinical Practice 1 & 2 (Medical Students); Embark Scholarly Concentration Program Courses (Medical Students); Anatomy Laboratory Instruction in Organ Systems courses: Musculoskeletal, GI/Hepatology, Renal/Urinary, Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Endocrinology (Medical Students); Financial Aspects of Clinical Trials Management (Certificate in Clinical Trials Management).
AAA Committee/Roles: Chair, Committee for Early Career Anatomists (2020–2023);
Committee Member, Committee for Early Career Anatomists (2017–2020); Committee Member, London Ontario Regional Meeting Task Force (2018); Committee Member, Online Community Task Force (2014); Student Director, AAA Board of Directors (2012–2014).
Other Professional Activities: Guest Editor, Special Collection on Simulation & E-learning, BMC Medical Education; Editorial Board Member, BMC Medical Education;
Faculty Development Committee, American College of Surgeons—Accredited Education Institutes; Creator/Organizer, AAA-Sponsored Anatomy Education Research Unconference (2023).
Awards: Anatomical Sciences Education Manuscript of the Year Award (2022);
Excellence in Educational Research Award, OUWB School of Medicine (2019);
Francis Chan Award for Outstanding Extracurricular Involvement & Mentorship (2015).
Research & Productivity: Integration of anatomical sciences with simulation-based education, emphasizing the development and validation of high-fidelity physical simulators that accurately represent complex anatomical structures for surgical and procedural training. Additional interests include the role of visuospatial cognition and anatomical understanding in skill acquisition, and the application of human factors and modern validity frameworks to improve assessment design, performance analytics, and educational transfer in the health professions. Author of over 30 peer-reviewed full length manuscripts, published in high impact journals, including Anatomical Sciences Education, Science Advances, Medical Teacher, Military Medicine and the Journal of Internal Medicine. Co-Investigator or Principal Investigator on grants totalling in excess of $2M from the Department of Defense, and Medic One Foundation.
Other Professional Memberships Currently Maintained: Society for Simulation in Healthcare; American College of Surgeons – Affiliate Member; AMSUS, The Society of Federal Health Professionals.
Link to Faculty Bio: https://crest.washington.edu/vr-bio