Tarimobo Otobo
Candidate Statement: The American Association for Anatomy (AAA) has given me numerous research, education, and mentorship opportunities. I am morally motivated and obligated to give back to the AAA; that is why I am volunteering to become the Ph.D. student/postdoc director on the AAA board.
I have a multicultural and diverse lived experience after residing and studying in Nigeria, Canada, the United States of America, and St. Kitts, and Nevis. I have successfully navigated complex academic systems and cultures, understanding the challenges and unique opportunities of Ph.D. students and postdocs that will enable me to provide pragmatic leadership for a global association such as the AAA.
My research experiences broadly encompass imaging, consensus formation, decision analysis, and measurement. For the past five years, I have hosted and led over thirty focus group meetings amongst forty-six global experts in imaging and rheumatology from nineteen countries and five continents to develop the Outcome Measure in Clinical Trial - Sacroiliac Joint Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scoring System, for the Assessment of Juvenil Idiopathic arthritis (OMERACT JAMRIS-SIJ).
The wealth of experience I have gained leading and facilitating a diverse international group will be readily valuable if allowed to serve as the student/postdoc director of the Board. I will exercise best practices in group facilitation and inclusiveness in decision-making to achieve the objectives of the association and its student/postdoc community.
My vision for the association is to champion progressive policies that will equip and motivate the future leaders by advocating for significant funding and participation of students/postdocs in the activities of the AAA. Also, I will prioritize expanding outreach activities to developing countries for increased participation and research opportunities for students and postdocs from racialized and underserved communities.
Current Position/Institution: Teaching Assistant, Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
Ph.D. Institution: PhD in Medical Science - Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Imaging and Measurement, University of Toronto, 2016-Present
Earlier Positions: Lecturer II (2010 – 2016), Department of Anatomy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Teaching: (Current) Teaching assistant for graduate gross anatomy dissection laboratory taught using regional approach; (Past) Gross Anatomy (Medical and undergraduate health Sciences student), Embryology, Histology and Neuroanatomy for Medical Students
Other Professional Activities: Segmentation and classification of pediatric sacroiliac joint MRI juvenile spondyloarthritis pathological lesion using natural language processing.
Awards: American Association for Anatomist Research Outreach Grant Award 2021; Department of Medical Imaging, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto - Mergelas Family Graduate Student Award (2021); Queen Elizabeth II/Edward Dunlop Foundation Scholarhip, School of Graduate Studies, University of Toronto (2020); Bone and Mineral Group Scholarship in the Collaborative Specialization in Musculoskeletal Science - Samuel Lunenfeld Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto (2019); Hospital for SickKids Restracomp Graduate Student Award (2017); Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto Entrance award (2016); American Association of Clinical Anatomist Sandy C. Mark’s Best Poster Award (2013); The Anatomical Society Symington Bequest Travel Award (2021, 2019, 2013); The British Pharmacological Society Bain Memorial Bursary Award (2015); American Association for Anatomy Travel Award (2019, 2015); The Cantharall Travel award, Massey College, University of Toronto (2018, 2019, 2021)
Research Interest: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of pediatric sacroiliac joint, with a focus on objective measurement of active and structural lesions for the assessment of interventions in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Mapping critical foundational Anatomy knowledge and its application to core competencies in clinical imaging.
Other Professional Memberships Currently Maintained: The Anatomical Society, American Association of Clinical Anatomist and the Radiological Society of North America