American Association of Veterinary anatomists
Shireen A. Hafez, President
I am a veterinarian with a PhD in Anatomy, complemented by a certificate and a diploma in education. After graduating from my alma mater, Virginia Tech, I have taught in five diverse AAVMC member veterinary schools and two medical schools. This extensive experience has broadened my outlook and allowed me to experience various curricular designs and teaching techniques in action, helping me think “outside my institution’s box.”
Initially, I published several articles in the field of angiogenesis before transitioning to educational research focused on enhancing students’ educational experiences. My research interests include emotional intelligence and its relationship to learning, as well as curriculum design and outcome assessment, particularly within the realm of veterinary education.
My goal in serving the association is fueled by my passion for anatomy education. Anatomy is a vital component of veterinary professional training that must be preserved and enhanced. My commitment to this discipline has only grown stronger over the years, prompting me to contribute more than just helping students; it is time to officially serve my beloved discipline and support my fellow veterinary anatomists. I aim to serve all anatomists at different levels, striving to enhance the mission and impact of the association, particularly within the Executive Committee.
I appreciate your trust. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to serving and supporting our community.
Shireen A. Hafez, DVM, PhD, PGCertVetEd, FHEA, PgDipVetEd, AAVAPresident-Elect, serves as an Associate Professor of Anatomy, contributing significantly to anatomy education for aspiring veterinary anatomists. She is also a member of the Executive Committee, dedicated to advancing veterinary education. For inquiries, contact her at shafez@vt.edu.
David Cross, Past- president
I was honored to serve as the President of the American Association of Veterinary Anatomists, where I worked closely with the Executive Committee. Our excellent group of committee members has made significant strides in enhancing anatomy education and improving overall resources for veterinary education within the AAVA.
David Cross is known for his contributions to veterinary education, particularly in the field of anatomy education. His work with the executive committee has helped bridge the gap between veterinary anatomists and aspiring veterinary students, enhancing the overall quality of veterinary education.
Karen Hershberger-Braker, Membership Secretary – Treasurer
Karen is a lecturer in the Departments of Comparative and Pathobiological Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison), School of Veterinary Medicine. She completed her PhD in Virology at Harvard University and then conducted post-doctoral research on influenza at UW-Madison. Karen earned her DVM at UW-Madison in 2010. Driven by her passion for veterinary education, she taught veterinary technology at a small school before joining the faculty at UW-Madison in 2017. One of her favorite aspects of teaching is demonstrating the practical application of anatomy education to clinical procedures. In addition to teaching both large and small animal anatomy, Karen is involved in research on ultrasound-guided regional anesthetic blocks and serves on the executive committee focused on supporting veterinary anatomists. Outside of her academic responsibilities, she frequently participates in local spay-neuter clinics, providing vital veterinary services to patients in underserved communities.
For inquiries related to anatomy education or matters concerning the Executive Committee of Veterinary Anatomists, you can reach out at khershberger@wisc.edu. This email is also a great resource for those interested in veterinary education.
Abby Brown, Corresponding Secretary
I am an Education Program Specialist at the University of Minnesota (UMN) College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), where I focus on enhancing anatomy education. I began my career in academia as a veterinary technician in a lab management and instructional support role for the gross veterinary anatomy lab in May 2005, and my passion for anatomy has only grown since then! I hold an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Veterinary Technology and have been a Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) since 2005. Additionally, I possess a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Animal Science with a production animal emphasis. Over the past three years, I have completed various courses in leadership, supervisory and instructor development and currently lead a team of technicians that provide lab and instructional support for the core courses within the UMN DVM curriculum. My role also involves collaborating with veterinary anatomists to advance our understanding of anatomy education. Throughout my career, I have created numerous educational resources for our gross anatomy courses, including pre-lab presentations, dissection videos, and eBook dissection guides. For over 18 years, I have been dedicated to educating veterinary students in the UMN program, gaining valuable insights into not only my specialty discipline (anatomy) but also best practices for teaching, working with students, educational programming, and how to be an effective team leader and educator. I believe that my unique perspective can contribute to our executive committee's mission of advancing veterinary anatomical science. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, camping during the summer months, baking, and reading mystery novels.
Tiana Magee, President-Elect
My interest in this role stems from my desire to support anatomy education and the development of the next generation of veterinary anatomists and anatomy educators. As an Associate Professor in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at Colorado State University (CSU), I serve in various capacities, including as the Assistant Department Head for DVM Teaching and Clinical Services and the Director of the Animal Anatomy Programming and Strategic Planning, all aimed at enhancing both animal anatomy and veterinary education. As the Program Lead for CSU’s Virtual Veterinary Educational Tools, I have spearheaded the ongoing development of Virtual Canine Anatomy into Virtual Animal Anatomy, pursuing translations into Spanish, Japanese, and Portuguese, while also expanding the virtual resources for learning equine, feline, and bovine anatomy. This initiative has created a platform for worldwide distribution, ensuring that over 12,000 anatomy learners at more than 140 schools globally had free access to the VAA during March-July 2020 when access to cadaveric learning was restricted due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
My passion for anatomy and anatomy education ignited under the guidance of Dr. M.S. Amarendhra Kumar at Tufts University, where I first edited his Equine Dissection manual as a veterinary student. At CSU, I am fortunate to collaborate with remarkable anatomists and benefit from the legacy of those who have shaped anatomy education. I recognize and appreciate the vast spectrum of veterinary anatomists and anatomy educators within this organization. Through my PhD research and veterinary specialty training, I have become a systems-thinker, problem-solver, and dedicated educator. Recently, my research has centered on evaluating instructional methods, including Virtual Reality, and developing strategies for supporting student learning, allowing us to apply evidence-based methods in our decision-making as anatomy educators. Over the past decade, I have also advised and graduated 15-20 Master of Science students per year, focusing on Animal Anatomy and Physiology, many of whom now contribute significantly to anatomy education. I understand the importance of providing our students, regardless of their academic journey, with a solid foundation in anatomy. I look forward to utilizing the same collaborative and collegial approaches I practice at CSU to equip this community with the necessary tools to ensure anatomy remains a cornerstone of biomedical and veterinary education.