Committee for Early-Career Anatomists (CECA)

In alignment with the Strategic Plan and its priorities, the committee serves to support AAA’s early-career anatomists by acting as the primary evaluator and award granters of undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral research, and early-career awards at the Annual Meeting; chairing and selecting participants for CECA-sponsored sessions; and fostering a network of early-career anatomists.

The committee must fulfill all responsibilities and committee activities while complying with the association’s Codes of Conduct and Ethics, and all other policies in place at the time of service.

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Responsibilities

  • Judging (pre-judging and onsite judging) and managing the Student/Postdoc and Early-Career awards program the Annual Meeting.
  • Members are required to attend the Annual Meeting; they receive complimentary registration, reimbursement for a portion of travel expenses, and a complimentary ticket to the Closing Awards Ceremony.
  • Contribute articles to the AAA Newsletter, Anatomy Now, periodically throughout the year.

Qualifications

  • Be a member in good standing.
  • Ability to attend the Annual Meeting.

Roster

Chair

NameCompanyThru Date
Danielle BentleyUniversity of Guelph3/31/2027

Members

NameCompanyThru Date
Colleen CheverkoRush University3/31/2028
Rebecca CookUniversity of North Texas Health Science Center3/31/2029
Marli CrabtreeDuquesne University3/31/2029
Angelique DueñasNorthwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine3/31/2027
Lawrence FaticaUniversity of Florida3/31/2028
Jeremy GrachanRutgers University3/31/2027
Amy GyorkosWestern Michigan University3/31/2027
Natascha HeiseEastern Virginia Medical School3/31/2029
Michael HerrUniversity of Alabama - Birmingham3/31/2029
Ethan HillUniversity of New Mexico School of Medicine3/31/2027
Erin LeslieMidwestern University3/31/2029
Terry LiUniversity of Manitoba3/31/2027
David RasicciWest Virginia University3/31/2028
Molly SelbaUniversity of Maryland - Eastern Shore3/31/2028
Melissa TaylorUniversity of Tennessee - Memphis3/31/2028

Reporting

  • The Committee Chair makes a report to the Board at least once a year.

Schedule

  • The Committee shall hold video conferences as needed and meet during the Annual Meeting.
  • The Committee is responsible for reviewing and scoring 125-150 abstracts 2-3 weeks after the Annual Meeting abstract deadline (end of December and beginning of January) during a 2-3 week time period.

Composition

  • 14-16 postdoctoral fellows or junior faculty, including the chair.
  • The chair serves on the Program Committee.
  • In recruiting and appointing members, consideration will be given to diversity in scientific and educational research areas and geographic location.
  • Committee members are not eligible to compete in or receive a Student/Postdoc or Early-Career Travel Award.
  • Members serve for 3 years; the chair serves for 2 years in this capacity.

Application Process

  • Applications are solicited annually through a Call for Volunteers.
  • Applications are reviewed and scored by the committee chairs and outgoing committee members; scores, demographics, needs of the committee, and comments from the reviews are taken into consideration when choosing new members.
  • New committee members are chosen, and are approved by the full Board of Directors.
  • After Board approval, notifications are sent out.
  • Feedback is given if requested by the applicant.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Get involved today!