Curriculum
I cannot recommend this program highly enough. Not only was I prepared to teach anatomy but also for PA school and my profession as a PA. This program advanced my career in immeasurable ways.
Jessica Elkin, MHA Class of 2015
Physician Assistant and Instructor | Pediatrics & Pediatric Urgent Care
Overview
Designed to integrate traditional anatomy with modern medical and scientific technologies, our 43-credit curriculum offers a unique blend of classical anatomical sciences education with an introduction to medical imaging modalities, 3D modeling and printing, and digital animation.
Our program builds on the strengths of an established anatomy and developmental biology curriculum, the technological foundations exemplified by the Visible Human Project, and the modern amenities of a state-of-the-art medical campus. Thus, the curriculum offers a unique perspective into the modern anatomical and educational research and the clinical world that will prepare the student for the technical demands of human anatomy in the 21st Century.
Learning Outcomes
Coursework
The Capstone
A primary focus in the MSMHA's second year curriculum is the 8-credit Capstone Project. The Capstone is a multi-semester experience that provides students with an opportunity to complete independent work resulting in a deliverable. Students may complete projects with clinicans and scientists within the School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, at University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and more. MSMHA faculty help connect students with capstone project mentors who can guide the student's work.
The Capstone Project provides a venue to take the anatomical sciences, imaging and modeling, and experimental design and research methods foundation of the 1st year curriculum to create a deliverable that can aid in a professional portfolio.
Visit our Capstone page for more information!
Professional Development and Outreach Opportunities
The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus offers numerous opportunities for MHA students, and the 2nd year provides a flexible curriculum and time for students to take advantage of the amazing medical campus.
The university is comprised of the six schools and colleges (School of Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, School of Public Health, Graduate School, College of Nursing, and the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences), the University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital Colorado, and the new Veterans Affairs Hospital.
MHA students have the opportunity to participate in cutting-edge basic science research, clinical research, and have a multitude of shadowing opportunities.
Many 2nd year students take advantage of work opportunities on campus. We currently have students working in the Department of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Colorado AHEC (Area Health Education Centers), and our students even tutor medical and dental students. These work opportunities not only provide experience, but can enhance professional school applications and resumes/CVs.
Conference Presentations and Attendance
A big benefit of the 2-year curriculum is the time to work on projects that result in attending and presenting at national and international conferences. Each year, nearly half of all 2nd year students represent our program at the Experimental
Biology/American Association for Anatomy annual meeting. Not only is conference attendance a great way to showcase scientific work, it is an amazing networking and learning opportunity.
Our students have presented at a variety of conferences and symposia, such as:
- Experimental Biology / American Association of Anatomists
- American Association of Clinical Anatomists
- Society for Neuroscience
- Association for Chemoreception Sciences
- International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders
- International Frailty and Sarcopenia Research Conference
- International American Thoracic Society Conference
- Cognitive Neuroscience Society Meeting
- Contemporary Management of Aerodigestive Disease in Children Conference
- Front Range Neuroscience Group
- Annual Rocky Mountain Regional Neuroscience Group Meeting
- CU's Academy of Medical Educator's Education Scholarship & Innovation Symposium
- University of Colorado Denver's Research and Creative Activities Symposium
Research and Publications
The second year of the MSMHA curriculum affords many project opportunities, and with the mentoring of faculty and clinicians, students have the time and resources to contribute to original scientific work. Students are encouraged to publish their work,
and are provided guidance in experimental design, research methods, scientific writing, and the manuscript submission process.
Examples of students' contributions on publications include:
- Yang R, Dzowo YK, Wilson CE, Russell RL, Kidd GJ, Salcedo E, Lasher RS, Kinnamon JC, Finger TE. (2019) Three-Dimensional Reconstructions of Mouse Circumvallate Taste Buds Using Serial Blockface Scanning Electron Microscopy: I. Cell Types and the Apical Region of the Taste Bud. J Comp Neurol. 2019 Oct 6. doi: 10.1002/cne.24779. PMC7041425
- Greany TJ, Yassin A, Lewis KC. Developing an All-Digital Workflow for Dental Skills Assessment: Part I, Visual Inspection Exhibits Low Precision and Accuracy. J Dent Educ. 2019;83(11):1304-1313. doi:10.21815/JDE.019.132
- Jake Smith, John L. Kendall, and Danielle F. Royer, "Improved medical student perception of ultrasound using a paired anatomy teaching assistant and clinician teaching model."
- Rebecca Hlavac, Rachel Klaus, Kourney Betts, Shilo Smith, and Maureen Stabio, "Novel dissection of the central nervous system to bridge gross anatomy and neuroscience for an integrated medical curriculum."
- Koury H, Corral J, Bastow BD, Sheeder J, Muffly TM. "A 3-Dimensional Anatomical Education Model in Postpartum Perineal Laceration Care: A Pre-Post Intervention Study."
- Koury, HF, Leonard CJ, Carry PM, Lee LMJ, "An Expert Derived Feedforward Histology Module Improves Pattern Recognition Efficiency in Novice Students."
- Mastej EJ, DeBoer EM, Humphries SM, Cook MC, Hunter KS, Liptzin DR, Weinman JP, Deterding RR. "Lung and airway shape in neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy."
- Weinkle LJ, Stratford JM, Lee LMJ. "Voice in Digital Education: The Impact of Instructor's Perceived Age and Gender on Student Learning and Evaluation."
- Rachel Klaus, Danielle Royer, and Maureen Stabio, "Use and perceptions of plastination among medical anatomy educators in the United States."
- Hannah Benjamin and Danielle Royer, "@AACAnatomy twitter account goes live: A sustainable social media model for professional societies."
- Yumi Ueki, Grisela Ramirez, Ernesto Salcedo, Maureen E. Stabio and Frances Lefcort, "Loss of Ikbkap causes slow, progressive retinal degeneration in a mouse model of Familial Dysautonomia."
- Rae Russell and Lisa Lee, "Gross Anatomy of the Spinal Cord: An Online Learning Module."
Networking with Faculty, Clinicians, and Colleagues
The second year of the MHA program gives students the time to cultivate strong relationships with faculty, clinicians, their MHA classmates, and students from other programs.
MHA students serve as Teaching Assistants in medical school, dental school, physical therapy, and physician assistant gross anatomy courses, creating relationships with 1st year students and faculty in those professional programs.
The Capstone Project and independent study projects provide intensive collaborative opportunities between students and faculty. These relationships have often resulted in recommendations and even employment opportunities.
Second year students participate in a number of cross-disciplinary volunteer opportunities, such as the student-run DAWN clinic, the CU Anschutz Chapter of SACNAS, the Student Senate, oSTEM, CDB Research Day, and science outreach to elementary, middle, and high school students.
The MHA program and the time afforded in the 2nd year curriculum provides the environment for students to forge relationships that not only aid them in our program, but will enrich their professional careers into the future.
