University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Modern Human Anatomy Program

The Master of Science Program in Modern Human Anatomy (MHA) provides graduate level training and teaching experience in the physical and virtual anatomical sciences. The curriculum integrates 3D computer imaging and modeling with human cadaver dissection, neuroanatomy, histology, and embryology.

Modern Human Anatomy in the News

Tara Hobbs Prepares for a PhD Future

MHA student, Tara Hobbs, takes advantage of opportunities at CU-Anschutz to prepare for a career in Anthropology

Jul 24, 2024

Tara Hobbs screenwashing for microfossils

Modern Human Anatomy student, Tara Hobbs, exhibits one of the great strengths of the MHA program, preparing students for diverse career paths. Tara joined the MHA program with an undergraduate focus on ecology, evolution, anthropology, and chemistry, and with the goal of taking the deep dive into human anatomy and technology. With the mentorship of MHA faculty and biological anthropologists, Dr. Caley Orr and Dr. Paul Morse, Tara completed project work she presented at the 2024 American Association of Biological Anthropology (AABA) conference in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Additionally, Tara just completed field work this summer in Wyoming at the Bighorn River alongside Dr. Jon Bloch, Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Florida Museum of Natural History.

When asked about her experience in MHA program, Tara said, "I feel fortunate to have a program with mentors that are so active in the world of Anthropology to allow so many opportunities to network and gain experiences that will strengthen my application for future PhD opportunities in the field. MHA has allowed me to perfectly integrate my love for functional anatomy and my love for evolution."

Tara has accomplished so much already, and the MHA program is so appreciative of how much she continues to contribute to the MHA community. She has an exciting career path ahead!

Tara Hobbs Presents at AABA

Hear From MHA Alumni

MHA Alumni Spotlight

So, MHA allowed me to understand how to communicate with people. And, be the person that I needed to be in a professional and academic capacity.

There were elements of the program that I hadn’t really anticipated being drastically important to my future career. But in the end, it actually was very beneficial for me.

Once you have that foundation of anatomy, you can do so many things that other people just don’t see as feasible because they don’t have the same foundation as MHA students and graduates have.

If you are deciding what do to with your life and trying to explore programs, coming here was a really good decision and I am now in a career that I really love.

The MSMHA program was a great experience, with great faculty that serve as mentors and encourage you to explore things you are intellectually curious about. The program prepared me well for medical school and beyond. The flexibility of the second year curriculum allowed me to explore my interests and led me to the medical specialty of anatomic and clinical pathology. The strong foundation in the anatomic sciences that was built in this program is put into practice daily, from gross dissection of surgical specimens, to using microscopic anatomy when I look at glass slides to render a pathologic diagnosis for patient care. Not only do I use my anatomic training daily, I am using the training I received in various imaging modalities and technologies to understand current innovations in digital pathology and the utility of imaging combined with informatics to improve diagnostic accuracy. It's an exciting time to be an anatomist!

Wai Szeto, MD, MHA Class of 2015
Resident Physician | Pathology | UC San Diego Health

Master of Science in Modern Human Anatomy

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

N5200

Aurora, CO 80045

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