News and Awards

• Michael Ariel and graduate student Shivika Ahuja published their paper “Responses of the in vitro turtle brain to visual and auditory stimuli during severe hypoxia” in the Journal of Experimental Biology.   doi: 10.1242/jeb.244687
• Graduate students Joe Cherullo, Lokesh Coomar and Carley Olson presented their research or served on an American Association for Anatomy committee at the annual Anatomy Connected meeting March 25-27, 2023 in Washington, DC.
• Dan Daly and Yun Tan and several medical students published their paper “A Rare Presentation of Atypical Fissures Associated with an Unusual Accessory Liver Lobe in Translational Research in Anatomy Volume 30, March, 2023.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tria.2022.100231
• Dan Daly and Yun Tan and graduate student Carley Olson published their paper “A Unique Presentation of an Upper Subscapular Nerve Variation Accompanied by an Accessory Subscapular Artery in Cureus March 2023.  DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35862
• Graduate student Carley Olson successfully defended her Master’s thesis entitled “A Rare Case of External Hernias and Penoscrotal Webbing:  An Anatomical and Genetic Study” on June 20, 2023.
• Graduate student Lokesh Coomar was featured in the American Association for Anatomy Artists of Anatomy series in June 2023.
• Graduate student Hilda Mata successfully defended her Master’s thesis entitled “An Image Question Band of the Upper and Lower Limbs” on June 30, 2023.
• Dan Daly was promoted to associate professor effective July 1, 2023.
• Jay Bauman and Dan Daly received a SPARK Microgrant, SLU Research Institute. "3D reconstruction and printing of skulls for medical education." $1000 in July 2023.
• Meadow Campbell presented “Social Media and Your Professional Self: Serving Others through Connection and Communication” at the SLU, Spotlight on Women in Medicine and Science (SWIMS) Symposium, September 13, 2023.
• Meadow Campbell, John Martin, Andrey Frolov and graduate student Carley Olson published their paper “A Rare Case of Penoscrotal Webbing and Extensive Hernias: An Anatomical Report with Genetic Insights” in Cureus doi: 10.7759/cureus.47375.
• Meadow Campbell was featured in the American Association for Anatomy Faces of Anatomy monthly series in November 2023.

• CASE is now on Twitter using the handle @SLU_Anatomy. The site shares updates; new research by CASE students, faculty, and staff; fun quizzes and anatomy memes; and SLU news related to anatomy. Follow @SLU_Anatomy on Twitter 
• CASE welcomed Meadow Campbell as an assistant professor and faculty member in the Department of Surgery at the School of Medicine. Campbell teaches gross anatomy and histology. She is an award-winning teacher with a background in biological anthropology.

Faculty, staff, and graduate students published many papers this year, with many more in process. 

• Andrey Frolov, graduate student Lokesh Coomar, Miguel A. Guzman and  John R. Martin III published their paper titled “Mixed Cerebrovascular and Alzheimer’s Type Pathology Mimicking Lewy Body Disease and Its Possible Contribution to Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Patients with Bipolar Disorder/Schizophrenia” in the Open Journal of Pathology, volume 12, pages 88-99. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/ojpathology.2022.123011
• Graduate student Lokesh Coomar, along with Daniel T. Daly and Jay Bauman published their paper titled “A Unique Variation of Quadratus Plantae in Relation to the Tendons of the Midfoot” in volume 7 of the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk7020049
• Recent graduates Shivika Ahuja and Dane Meyer were authors of a study, along with co-authors Ahmad Odeh, Sania Karir, Felicia Lee, Young Lee, Zoe Henkes, Larry Yang, and Daniel T. Daly, and Yun Tan, titled “Rare Branching Pattern from the First Part of the Axillary Artery.” This work is under review in Case Reports in Vascular Medicine.
• Aidan Ruth presented "Successful Interviewing (in the Zoom Era)” at the American Association for Anatomy annual meeting in Philadelphia.
• Graduate student Feras Kaid successfully defended his thesis titled “The Use of Dissection Instructions for Gross Anatomy Education.”
• Graduate student Nigel Maglasang defended his thesis titled “Cerebral Vascular Density And Its Possible Correlation With Alzheimer Disease Progression In Elderly Individuals with Rheumatoid Arthritis.”
• Aidan Ruth is also a member of the professional development committee for the American Association for Anatomy.
• On May 19, 2022, John Martin was interviewed on KTRS 550am, the Jennifer & Wendy Show, regarding the SLU Gift Body Program. The episode can be heard at: https://soundcloud.com/550ktrs/jennife-and-wendy-5-19-22
• On April 20, 2022, Martin was interviewed on the SLU Mission Matters Podcast regarding SLU Gift Body Program. The episode is available at: https://www.slu.edu/mission-identity/programming/mission-matters-podcast.php
• Aidan Ruth gave a talk titled “Anatomical Terminology: Understanding Self and Others” to the Saint Louis University Learning Community “Ed Talks” series. 

Faculty and graduate students achieved many publications in 2021. 

• Recent master’s graduate Shivika Ahuja, along with Daniel T. Daly and Yun Tan, were part of a study titled “Rare Left Colic Artery Variation of the Gut Arterial System.” This work was published in Folia Morphologica in November. doi: https://doi.org/10.5603/FM.a2021.0130
• Master’s student Lokesh Coomar, along with co-authors Nicholas R. Fanselow, Nolan Wallace, Daniel Sehi, and John Martin, Yun Tan, and Daniel T. Daly published "A Case of Multiple Posterior Intercostal Artery Common Trunks in Conjunction with Additional Arterial Variations." This work appears in Case Reports in Surgery, Article ID 7430752. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/7430752
• Recent graduate Shivika Ahuja, with Hannah Sullivan, Mark Noller, and Yun Tan and Daniel Daly, published "A Unique Case of Incomplete Bifid Ureter and Associated Arterial Variations." This work appears in Case Reports in Urology, Article ID 6655813. https://doi.org/10.1155/2021/6655813
• Recent graduate Yehi Elgammal and Andrey Frolov, Yun Tan, and John Martin, published "The Branching Pattern and Intraneural Distribution of the Musculocutaneous Nerve.” This work appears in the Journal of Anatomical Science and Research, volume 4, issue 4. https://tinyurl.com/bdtms22r
• Daniel T. Daly and Yun Tan, along with several student co-authors, published “A Unique Ipsilateral Axillary Artery Variation” in the International Journal of Anatomical Variations, volume 14, number 1. 
• An additional collaboration between Daly and Tan, along with several graduate students, is being prepared for submission. The work is titled “The Relationship Between Accessory Fissures of Human Lungs and Bronchopulmonary Segment Location: A Cadaveric Study.” Another work in progress is titled “Unique Case of Vascularization: Accessory Brachial Artery and Radial Persistent Median Artery.”
• Finally, Daly, Tan, and graduate student Nigel Maglasang are working with collaborators on their paper titled “Atypical Fissures Associated with an Unusual Accessory Liver Lobe.”
• Aidan Ruth and co-author Mikaela Stiver presented a workshop at the Society for Craniofacial Genetics and Developmental Biology titled "7 Habits of Highly Effective Graduate Students: Planning for Success.” 
• Graduate student Alex Taylor defended his doctoral dissertation titled “Using Quantitative Ultrasound to Evaluate Postmortem Adult Bone Quality.” 
• On April 12, 2021, John Martin was interviewed for a news article in Live Science titled “Baby Born with Three Penises” available at: https://www.livescience.com/baby-born-three-penises.html

• In 2020 CASE welcomed Jay Bauman as Assistant Professor. Bauman teaches human anatomy and is active on several graduate student committees and publications.
• Several student and faculty publications came out in 2020, despite the COVID-19 pandemic impacting face-to-face instruction. Daly and Tan collaborated with student researchers to publish “A Case of Left Retroexternal Iliac Artery Megaureter Associated with Additional Renal and Vascular Congenital Anomalies” in Case Reports in Urology, volume 2020, Article ID 8946435. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8946435. Frolov, Lawson, Tan, and Martin collaborated with Master’s student Lauren Polcaro to publish results of her thesis work in the journal Advances in Sexual Medicine. The article was titled "A Rare Case of 83-Year-Old Transgender Female: Can Thyroid Hormone Deficiency Be Involved in Transgenderism and Gender Dysphoria?” Volume 10. https://doi.org/10.4236/asm.2020.102002

• MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant, Ph.D., D-ABFA was elected as the President of the Board of Directors for the American Board of Forensic Anthropology (ABFA) on February 19, 2019. The ABFA is the only professional certification body for Forensic Anthropologists. Certification with the ABFA is the highest level of professional certification in Forensic Anthropology. As president of the Board of directors, Tersigni-Tarrant will be responsible for overseeing the board of directors, the yearly certification testing and ensuring that the ABFA is evolving as necessary with the ever-changing medicolegal environment. Tersigni-Tarrant's term will begin in July 2019 and runs until June 2020.
• MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant, Ph.D., D-ABFA participated with other forensic anthropologists from around the country in the forensic analysis of human remains following the decimation of Puerto Rico by Hurricane Maria. Working with the Bureau of Forensic Science in Puerto Rico, MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant and colleagues completed 43 cases in 5 days in January, 2019.

• The CASE sponsored Annual Gift Body Interfaith Memorial Service was held at St. Francis Xavier College Church November 9, 2018.

• The CASE sponsored Annual Gift Body Interfaith Memorial Service was held at St. Francis Xavier College Church November 3, 2017. 
• Paul A. Young, Ph.D., D.Sc (hon) contributions to the School of Medicine community were recognized in Spring 2017 issue of Grand Rounds Saint Louis University School of Medicine Alumni Magazine.
• Joshua W. Little D.C., Ph.D. was selected as a mentor for a SLU undergraduate student, Vruta Kansara, receiving a 2017 SLU Center for Neuroscience Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

•  The CASE sponsored Annual Gift Body Interfaith Memorial Service was held at St. Francis Xavier College Church November 4, 2016.
• Mohammed Waheed-Uz-Zaman Rana, Ph.D: 1934-2016.
  Mohammed Waheed-Uz-Zaman Rana, Ph.D., professor emeritus of anatomy, and leader in the Islamic and interfaith community in St. Louis, died Sunday, Oct. 16. He was 82 years old.
• John R. Martin, Ph.D. and Yun Tan, M.D., Ph.D. represented CASE at the 26th Annual Minority Scientist Showcase at the Saint Louis Science Center on January 16, 2016.

• Graduate student Carley Olson took third place in the Master’s Category of the SLU Graduate Education Three-Minute Thesis Competition on February 22, 2023.  Participants had three minutes to present their research and show the audience what it means and why it matters.
• Patty Anderson was the recipient of the July Staff Pillar of Professionalism Award through the Office of Professional Oversight.  The Pillar of Professionalism award recognizes staff that exceptionally model the core principles of professionalism and rise above their peers.
• Dan Daly was the recipient of the School of Medicine 2023 Passion for Education Award at the annual School of Medicine Faculty Awards Banquet on Friday, August 11.  The Passion for Education Award acknowledges an educator who students feel has the biggest overall impact on them, who exemplifies the qualities of a professional medical educator. This is the highest award presented at SLU.
• John Martin was the recipient of the School of Medicine 2023 Pillar of Professionalism Award on Friday, August 11.  This award acknowledges an educator who displays exemplary conduct and promotes honesty, accountability and integrity. 
• Meadow Campbell was the recipient of the Faculty Mentorship Award through the SLU Graduate Student Association in June 2023.  This award is intended for a professor who has inspired students and enhanced students' graduate education.
• Graduate student Lokesh Coomar was the recipient of the SLU Graduate Student Leadership Award in June 2023.  This award is intended for a graduate student who has demonstrated a high level of leadership to their department and/or the university community.

• John Martin was awarded the Golden Apple Pre-Clinical Teaching Award.
• Master’s student and teaching assistant Lokesh Coomar received the Graduate Student Association Teaching Award, having received twenty-three nominations.

• Daniel T. Daly was awarded the Passion for Education Award in the SLU School of Medicine.
• John Martin was awarded the Golden Apple Pre-Clinical Teaching Award and the Outstanding Lecturer in a First Year Course.

• John R. Martin, Ph.D. was the recipient of the American Medical Student Association, Saint Louis University School of Medicine Golden Apple Pre-clinical Teaching Award by the Class of 2019.
• Tersigni-Tarrant, Ph.D., D-ABFA and John R. Martin, Ph.D. were the recipients of awards at the second annual School of Medicine's Faculty Awards Banquet on Friday, February 1, 2019. Tersigini-Tarrant was the recipient of the Student Professionalism Award and was the top of three finalists for the award. Finalists were selected by nominations from the student body and supplemented by objective evaluation data from OASIS. Winners were determined by a student body vote.
  • Martin was the recipient of the Spirit of SLUSOM Award, the highest overall award for Passion for Education. Martin also received the award for Outstanding Lecturer in a First Year Course.
  • The award for Outstanding First Year Course was presented to Martin and Sean Goretzke as the Co-Course Directors of the Basic Clinical Neuroscience Course.
  • Other finalists included the Introduction to Clinical Anatomy course directed by Tersigni-Tarrant.

• MariaTeresa Tersigni-Tarrant, Ph.D., D-ABFA was the recipient of The Spirit of  SLUSOM Award, the highest award for Passion for Education, at the first annual School of Medicine's Faculty Awards Banquet on 02/23/18. Nominated by medical students and supplemented by objective evaluation data, Tersigni-Tarrant was the top of three finalists for the award. In addition to receiving this prestigious award, the Introduction to Clinical Anatomy course, under Tersigni-Tarrant's leadership, was one of three finalist in the Outstanding First Year Course category. 
• John R. Martin, Ph.D. was a finalist for the Outstanding Lecturer in a First Year Course category at the first annual School of Medicine's Faculty Awards Banquet on 02/23/18. Nominated by medical students and supplemented by objective evaluation data, Martin was one of three finalists for the award. Additionally, the Neurosciences course, in which he Co-directs with Sean Goretzke, MD, Department of Neurology, was one of three finalist in the Outstanding First Year Course category.

• John R. Martin, Ph.D. was honored with a School of Medicine's Distinguished Teacher's Award on 05/1/17. The Distinguished Teacher's Award recognizes faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching skills and dedication to teaching to ensure the best educational experience for Saint Louis University medical students. John R. Martin, Ph.D. was awarded for Presentation Skills which honors achievement in presenting didactic materials.
• Bryan T. Vahey, B.S., received a travel award and was named a finalist for the American Association of Anatomists Graduate Student Poster Presentation Award for the 2017 Experimental Biology Conference in Chicago, IL. His abstract was entitled, "Facet joint inferior articular process degeneration following lumbar spinal hypomobility." Bryan is a Master's student in Joshua W. Little's laboratory.
• Tanaya Pulisetty, a SLU undergraduate student performing research in Joshua W. Little's laboratory, received a travel award and was selected as a finalist for the American Association of Anatomists (AAA) Undergraduate Student Award for her abstract entitled, "The ligamentum flavum thickens during the advanced stages of hypomobility induced lumbar spinal osteoarthritis." The AAA Undergraduate Student Award recognizes the top undergraduate student abstract and presentation at the 2017 Experimental Biology Conference.
• Jeffrey Allison, B.S., received a travel award from the American Association of Anatomists to attend the 2017 Experimental Biology Conference in Chicago, IL. His abstract was entitled, "The lumbar facet joint synovial fold intimal surface length decreases during the onset of cartilage degeneration following spinal hypomobility." Jeffrey is a Master's student in Joshua W. Little's laboratory.

• Yun Tan, M.D, Ph.D. was honored with a SLU Student Government Association Faculty Excellence Award at a special ceremony on 04/28/16 at the Pere Marquette Gallery. The Faculty Excellence Awards were developed to recognize distinguished SLU faculty members. Nominations for the awards come from the SLU community with an emphasis on student nominations.
• Adam Benckendorf, a SLU undergraduate student performing research in Joshua W. Little's laboratory, received the American Association of Anatomists (AAA) Undergraduate Student Poster Presentation Award at the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference AAA Award Ceremony in San Diego, California, on April 5th, 2016. This award recognizes the top undergraduate student abstract and presentation.
• John A. Merlo, B.S., received a travel award and was named an American Association of Anatomists finalist for the Langman Award. The Langman Award recognizes the top graduate student abstract and presentation for the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference. John is a Master's student in Joshua W. Little's laboratory.
• John A. Merlo, B.S., graduate student, was selected to present his abstract entitled, "Onset and Progression of Facet Joint Articular Cartilage Degeneration Following Lumbar Spinal Hypomobility" as a platform presentation in the Morphological Sciences Award Hybrid Symposium for the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference. John is a Master's student in Joshua W. Little's laboratory.
• Adam Benckendorf, a SLU undergraduate student performing research in Joshua W. Little's laboratory, received a travel award and was selected as a finalist for the American Association of Anatomists (AAA) Undergraduate Student Award for his abstract entitled, "The Lumbar Facet Joint Capsule Thickens Following Spinal Segmental Hypomobility Induced Osteoarthritis." The AAA Undergraduate Student Award recognizes the top undergraduate student abstract and presentation at the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference.
• Jacob A. McDowell, a SLU undergraduate student performing research in Joshua W. Little's laboratory, received a travel award and was selected as a finalist for the American Association of Anatomists (AAA) Undergraduate Student Award for his abstract entitled, "Lumbar Spinal Segmental Hypomobility Induced Osteoarthritis is Associated with Early Regression of Facet Joint Synovial Folds." The AAA Undergraduate Student Award recognizes the top undergraduate student abstract and presentation at the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference.
• Adam Benckendorf, a SLU Honors Program undergraduate student performing research in Joshua W. Little's laboratory, was awarded the Presidential Scholarship Investigative Learning Experience (ILEX) to attend and present his research at the 2016 Experimental Biology Conference.