2026 Anatomy Connected Student/Postdoc Competition Award Finalists
Undergraduate Poster Award
Ciara Maith, The Pennsylvania State University, Developmental Progression of Ventricular Morphology in the Fgfr2+/P253R Mouse Model of Apert Syndrome
Christopher Smith, Missouri Southern State University, Neural Tissue Distribution in the Human Filum Terminale: Implications for Surgical Procedures
Emily Stotts, West Liberty University, Thyroxine Exposure Enhances Late-stage Osteoblast Maturation in Cranial Sutures from Embryonic Chickens Using an Avian Model of Induced Thyrotoxicosis
Elizabeth Martin, Missouri Southern State University, Ultrasound Investigation of the Superficial Accessory Median Ulnar Artery in the Carpal Region
Lauren Whitlock, Georgetown University, Clinical and Surgical Implications of the Azygos Lobe
Reece Brown, North Carolina State University, Anatomical Implications of the Fact That Fascicle Measurement Methods Result in Lengths That Are Significantly Different
Paige Vanderpool, Ohio State University, Long Bone Cross-Sectional Geometry in Modern Human Groups with Diverse Subsistence Strategies
Postdoc Scientific Platform Award
Darlington Onyejike, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Hepatotoxicity Assessment of D’General Bitters: Histological and Biochemical Evaluation in Wistar Rats
Smart Mbagwu, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Differential Structural and Neurochemical Vulnerability of the Hippocampal—Cerebellar Axis Following Tramadol Exposure
Cassaundra White, MUSC, Growing Animals Respond to Nutritional Excess by Growing Faster: Perspectives on Pre-obesity Growth Acceleration
Postdoc Scientific Poster Award
Paige Lynch, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Innominate Morphology Beyond the Pubis: Evaluating Alternative Traits for Sex Estimation
Subash Sapkota, University of North Texas Health Fort Worth, Effects of Hypoglycemia and GAD2/GAD65 Gene Knockdown on Ventromedial Hypothalamic Nucleus (VMN) Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Neuron Transcriptomics and Counterregulatory Hormone Profile in Female Rats
Lorena Maili, Stowers Institute for Medical Research, The Global Process of Ribosome Biogenesis Tissue Specifically Regulates Neural Crest Cell Fate and Craniofacial Development
Graduate Student Platform Award
Cheyenne Leatham, University of Florida, Ontogenetic and Morphologic Variation of the Infraorbital Canal and Maxillary Sinus
Lyndee Ward, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Predicting Nasal Air-conditioning: Revisiting Nasal Morphology and Climatic Adaptation in the Human Nose
Cristina Goes Schaurich, University of British Columbia, Dentato-rubro-thalamo-cortical Tract Mapping in Children from Birth to 2 Years Old: A Pilot Study
William MacDonald, Western University, Diffusion MRI to Characterize Hip Muscle Architecture and Strength After FAI Surgery
Graduate Student Poster Award
Rachel Granzow, University of New Mexico, Differential Aging: Gait Speed Disparities in Older Adults
Gwendolyn Moores, UNT Health Science Center, A Combination Treatment to Recover Longitudinal Craniofacial Development in a Mouse Model of Osteogenesis Imperfecta
Christopher Zobek, University of Missouri Columbia, Muscle Architecture and Biomechanics of Macrostomy in Watersnakes (Nerodia Fasciata Pictiventris)
Lauren Adams, Texas Tech University Health Science Center, Transversus Abdominis and Lumbar Multifidus Muscle Asymmetry in Sprinters versus Sprint Hurdlers: A Cross-sectional Study
Jessica Surd, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Anatomical Variation of the Suprascapular Notch: A Look at Inter-rater Reliability Amongst Anatomists in Clinical Anatomy Education
Nevaeh Piroski, The University of Western Ontario, Identification of the Accessory Canals of Canalis Sinuosus in Human Cadavers: A Comparative Study of CBCT Imaging and Anatomical Dissection
Lauren Hutchinson, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine, Evaluating Bi-acromial Width as a Predictor of Catheter Length for Tunneled Port-a-cath Placement
Veronica Gibbons, West Virginia University, The Diameter of Dorsal Nerve of the Clitoris and Dorsal Nerve of the Penis: Implications for Nerve Repair Surgery
Educational Research Platform Award
Nicole Pihlstrom, Colorado School of Medicine, Demographic Representation of Body Donors to the State Anatomical Board of Colorado
Hei Ching Kristy Cheung, University of Toronto, The Clinical Value of Learning Basic Sciences: Exploring Integrated Instruction vs Deliberate Practice in the Development of Diagnostic Reasoning Skills
Chilli Kellaway, University of Colorado Denver, Gut Busters and the Power of Play; An Educational Analysis of a Histology Card Game in Medical Curriculum
Adam Exley, University of Western Ontario, Anatomy of Sport Series: Preventing Injury in Amateur Sport Through Community Outreach
Educational Research Poster Award
Kayla Vieno-Corbett, Western University, Variation in Anatomy Is Not the Same as Anatomical Variation: Understanding the Distinction in Gross Anatomy Education and Why It Matters
Catherine Ferrucci, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Bolstering 10 Domains of Team Function Through Implementation of a Novel Teamwork Curriculum in the Medical Gross Anatomy Laboratory
Sharon Adekanbi, Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, First Cuts, Lasting Impressions: Exploring Sense of Belonging, Impostor Phenomenon, and Professional Identity Formation in the Anatomy Lab Among First-Year Osteopathic Medical Students
Victoria Gomez, Indiana University School of Medicine, Humanizing Anatomy Through History: Student Reflections on the Role of History in Anatomical Education
Alexander Hoadley, Indiana University School of Medicine, Towards a Consensus Definition of Respect for Anatomical Bodies: Educator Perspectives
Giuliano Romano, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Dynamic Checklists in the Anatomy Dissection Lab — Enhancing Formative Feedback Through Multi-Faceted Communication and Self-Monitoring
Ivy Price, University of Florida, The Anatomy of Remediation: Exploring How Occupational and Physical Therapy Anatomy Educators Provide Remediation and Define Student Success
Anna Shafer, Indiana University School of Medicine, Trauma-Informed Anatomy: Faculty Experiences and Approaches to Student Distress in the Gross Anatomy Lab