Aaron Fried: Goals-Assessment Report: Section 3 – Professional Growth

He attacked everything in life with a mix of extraordinary genius and naive incompetence, and it was often difficult to tell which was which. – Douglas Adams

Note: Almost every picture can be made larger by clicking on it and all links will open in a new window.

In demonstrating my professional growth, I want to highlight two areas that reflect on my commitment to scholarly activities that benefit the campus and my own scholarly attainment. The first area of demonstrated growth is coursework that demonstrates content learning in areas needed for individual growth. The second area is my growth as an anatomist, which I think demonstrates attainment of expertise at a high level .

Professional Growth: Coursework

The following are credentialed courses or certificates that represent significant professional growth over my career at MVCC.

NYSUT Leadership Institute Training – 2014 & 2015

The NYSUT Leadership Institute is a statewide program designed to strengthen leadership skills at the local level, and teach leaders how to effectively and strategically tackle the tough challenges facing NYSUT locals in today’s environment.

Certificate for completion of the NYSUT Leadership Institute in 2014 and 2015.
Pictured at NYSUT Leadership Institute with AFT President Randi Weingarten and NEA President Lily Eskelsen-Garcia.
Certificate for the Completion of Medical Neuroscience from Duke University via Coursera.

Medical Neuroscience Course Certificate – Duke University via Coursera 11/30/2016

Medical Neuroscience explores the functional organization and neurophysiology of the human central nervous system, while providing a neurobiological framework for understanding human behavior. This online course is designed to include all of the core concepts in neurophysiology and clinical neuroanatomy that would be presented in most first-year neuroscience courses in schools of medicine. However, there are some topics (e.g., biological psychiatry) and several learning experiences (e.g., hands-on brain dissection) that we provide in the corresponding course offered in the Duke University School of Medicine on campus that we are not attempting to reproduce in Medical Neuroscience online. Nevertheless, our aim is to faithfully present in scope and rigor a medical school caliber course experience.

Introduction to Reproduction Course Certificate – Nothwestern University via Coursera – 11/22/2017

The objective of this course is to ensure you understand reproductive health and not confuse reproduction with sex (or having sex). This course was designed with you in mind, and is aimed at providing you with quality information that is meaningful to you and that may be hard to find otherwise. Reproductive health is an area of knowledge that needs to be demystified. We have designed this course for you to examine reproduction through a biological and scientific lens addressing these issues in a comfortable and interactive format that will lead to a better understanding of holistic health, long-term.

Certificate for Completion of Introduction to Reproduction by Northwestern University via Coursera.
Certificate for completion of Fundamentals of Neuroscience for Neuroimaging from Johns Hopkins University via Coursera.

Fundamentals of Neuroscience for Neuroimaging Course Certificate – Johns Hopkins University via Coursera 12/5/2016

Neuroimaging methods are used with increasing frequency in clinical practice and basic research. Designed for students and professionals, this course will introduce the basic principles of neuroimaging methods as applied to human subjects research and introduce the neuroscience concepts and terminology necessary for a basic understanding of neuroimaging applications. Topics include the history of neuroimaging, an introduction to neuroimaging physics and image formation, as well as an overview of different neuroimaging applications, including functional MRI, diffusion tensor imaging, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, perfusion imaging, and positron emission tomography imaging. Each will be reviewed in the context of their specific methods, source of signal, goals, and limitations. The course will also introduce basic neuroscience concepts necessary to understand the implementation of neuroimaging methods, including structural and functional human neuroanatomy, cognitive domains, and experimental design.

Introduction to Clinical Neurology Course Certificate – University of California, San Francisco via Coursera – 12/21/2017

An overview of the relevant aspects of the epidemiology, clinical presentation, basic disease mechanisms, diagnostic approaches and treatment options of the most common neurological diseases.

Certificate for completion of Introduction to Clinical Neurology from the University of California, San Francisco via Coursera.

Higher Education Teaching Certificate – HarvardX,  8/24/20

During the summer of 2020, I wanted to take a formal program to learn contemporary concepts that have demonstrated effectiveness in college teaching. Harvard’s BOK Center for Teaching and Learning offers a 2 month certification with the following description: 

Engage with effective postsecondary education teaching methods in this online short course, inspired by the in-person seminar program currently offered by Harvard’s Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning. The Harvard Bok Higher Education Teaching Certificate gives you the opportunity to reflect on your practices, portfolio, and teaching journey in this field. You’ll be exposed to the most relevant research on how students learn, and discover how to apply this insight in your own teaching context.

Study pedagogical approaches through the lens of the higher education environment, including student engagement and classroom management. Use this opportunity to investigate reflective teaching methods and update your skills by adopting a more conscious, collaborative, and refined approach to your third-level education teaching practice.

I completed the certificate over the summer. My portfolio is presented at this link: HETC Portfolio. (link opens in new window).

During the summer of 2021, I completed the Assessment of Learning Outcomes Certificate through the SUNY Center for Professional Development. 

The certificate program has the following description: 

The Assessment of Learning Outcomes Certificate is designed for faculty, administration and staff members at a college or university who are or will be either engaged in the assessment of learning outcomes at the course or program level or be responsible for designing, reviewing or coordinating curricular mapping or other academic assessment activities at their campus. The certificate courses focus on the importance of assessment activities in improving teaching and learning. Participants will learn how to develop learning outcomes, to use rubrics and other assessment tools and to identify strategies for using results to improve the academic experience for students and faculty. The courses will also provide participants with the ability to develop skills to actively contribute to program review, curricular mapping and accreditation projects at their campus.

Assessment to Improve Teaching and Learning, 2/24/2021

Planning and Implementing an Assessment of Student Learning, 4/6/2021

Closing the Loop: Using Assessment for Improvement, 5/18/2021

Completion of the Assessment of Learning Outcomes Certificate required completion of the courses displayed on the left. 

Professional Growth: the Anatomist

The major arc for my Professional growth follows a story of becoming a member of the Human Anatomy and Physiology teaching community to to being a respected and nationally recognized expert in the History of Nazi Anatomists and Eduard Pernkopf.

In 2010, I joined the MVCC Anatomy and Physiology Team. I had no idea then, but the A&P team was very close and was very collegial, motivated, and engaged in both MVCC campus governance and in the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). In my first year at MVCC, William Perrotti (MVCC Professor Emeritis, MVCC Hall of Famer, and HAPS Past President) and Don Kelly (MVCC Professor Emeritis, MVCC Hall of Famer, and HAPS President-Elect) urged me to attend the HAPS Annual Conference in Victoria, British Colombia. 

HAPS is an exciting professional society because the mission is teaching first. Many of the experts in the field are readily available and willing to create strong personal and professional bonds, including many of the textbook authors. 

Traveling to my first HAPS Conference opened the door to my professional development as an anatomist. Following are summaries of all of the HAPS Conferences I have attended including location and seminars I attended. 

HAPS 2011 - Victoria, BC

2011 HAPS Conference in Victoria, BC

  • Brain Insulin: A Sweet Deal for Normal Baroreflex Function. Virginia Wells
  • Toward Personalized Immunotherapy of Cancer. Brad Nelson
  • Balancing the Brain: Neurobiology in Health and Disease. Brian Schecter
  • Life in the Lung: How Bacteria can Maintain an Infection In a Compromised Host. Carrie Harwood
  • Keep your students learning in and out of the lab with LabTutor 4 suite. Wes Colgan
  • Techniques to help your students get histology. Robert Leopard
  • Biological evolution within the anatomy and physiology classroom: A calm, rational and educational discussion. Murray Jensen
  • Create or customize any LabTutor experiment with LabAuthor 4. Wes Colgan

2012 HAPS Conference in Tulsa, OK

  • You’re Only as Old as Your Arteries: The Translational Physiology of Vascular Aging, Douglas R. Seals.
  • The New Face of Anatomy: Changing Curricula and Innovative Technologies Provide New Opportunities, Jeffrey T. Laitman.
  • Valuing the Cadaver and Its Dissection from a Patient-Centered Perspective: A New Emphasis in the 21st Century Education of Medical Students, Todd R. Olson.
  • Laureate Institute for Brain Research Mapping the Neural Systems Underlying Conceptual Representations of Food, W. Kyle Simmons.
  • E. coli and Friends: Dynamics of the Intestinal Microbial Community, Tyrrell Conway.
  • Using online technology to improve lab time, preparedness, and student understanding, Karen Dougherty
  • Engaged technology and experiential learning: iPads, digital microscopy, and Internet freeware in the creation of lab atlas Projects, Todd C. Shoepe.
  • Understanding cranial nerves – a comparative and developmental approach, Mark Nielsen.
HAPS 2012 - Tulsa, Oklahoma
HAPS 2013 - Las Vegas

2013 HAPS Conference in Las Vegas, NV

  • “Extreme Makeover – Anatomy Edition: How a paradigm shift in pedagogy re-built and re-tooled anatomy into an essential clinical science at a medical school and undergraduate institution”: Jonathan J. Wisco
  • “Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning (POGIL): A Student-Centered Approach to Science Instruction”: Richard Moog
  • “Unraveling Mysteries of Hibernation:  From Basic Science to Biomedical Applications”: Hannah Carey
  • “Feeding our beneficial microbes: pre- and pro-biotics and gut health”: Maria Marco
  • “Molecular Targeted therapy in hematological malignancies”: Alyew Tafferi
  • “Translational Anatomy Research, Quo Vadis”: Marios Loukas
  • Creating unique active learning pre-class assignments to help students (and instructors) get the most out of their limited class time together. Jon Runyeon and Hilary Senesac
  • Anatomia Italiana: The Medieval and Renaissance History of Anatomy Along the Italian Peninsula. Kevin Petti
  • Flipping the anatomy and physiology classroom for community college students. Jill Feinstein
  • The startling history and the present reality of cadaver dissection and body donation. Bill Perrotti

May 2014 – HAPS Jacksonville, FL

  • Visualization potential meets cognitive load in anatomical education — Tim Wilson
  • Education at the crossroads – teaching as if learning mattered — Theresa Balser
  • Policies that Affect Our Future and the Biomedical Workforce — Judith Bond
  • Is Anatomy a Dead Science? — R. Shane Tubbs
  • Cardio-respiratory integration by the caudal ventrolateral medulla: Insights from acute and chronic intermittent hypoxia — Ann Schreihner
  • How to Increase Student Engagement — N. Caballero & J. Long
  • More options, better tools to teach the way you want — W. Colgan & S. Donovan
  • Bodies for Dissection: Where do/did they come from? — B. Perrotti
  • Anatomia Italiana: Art and Anatomy in the Italian Renaissance — K. Petti
  • Diagnosing how students organize their knowledge — E. Bush
HAPS 2014 - Jacksonville
HAPS 2015 - San Antonio

May 2015 – HAPS San Antonio, TX 

  • Visualizations and the College Anatomy and Physiology Student: How Instructional Practice Can Support Learning — Peggy Van Meter
  • Qualitative Research Methods and Anatomy Education – Getting to the Meaning Within Data — Peter Ward
  • The Challenges of Educational Research, or Navigating Your Way through Grant Proposals, Reviewers, and IRBs on Your Way to a Published Project — Dee Silverthorn
  • How About Them APPLES? Anatomists & Physiologists Learning Educational Scholarship — Mark Terrell
  • Preclinical and Translational Studies Dissecting Chronic Alcohol Modulation of HIV Disease — Patricia Molina
  • Teaching Naked: How Moving Technology out of your College Classroom will Improve Student Learning — Jose Bolina
  • Collaborative Learning/Testing of Human Muscles — J Jennings-Pineda
  • Mysteries at the Microscope: Histopathology Case Studies as a Tool for Teaching Undergraduate Histology — N Zanetti
  • Hypothesis Driven Learning: Student Led Short-Term Research Studies in Physiology using Human Subjects — R Hopp
  • Moving Students from “What?” to “Why?”– D Furbish
  • You Can’t Teach Them If You Can’t Keep Them: Improving Retention in A&P I — K Hlinka
  • Connecting Art and Science: The Cultural History of Art and Anatomy in Italy — K Petti

May 2016 – HAPS Atlanta, GA 

  • Using Gaze Tracking to Document Learning — Ann Zumwalt
  • Human Skin as a Model Circulation for Examining Mechanisms of Microvascular Dysfunction — Lacy Alexander
  • Walk This Way: How Humans and Other Animals Use Their Legs to Get From Here to There — Y-H Chang
  • Wrapping Our Brains Around the Brain: Teaching Three-Dimensional Neuroanatomy –Sarah Green
  • Sometimes There are Zebras: Challenges in the Investigation of Emerging Zoonotic Diseases — Darin Carroll
  • Cancer Immunotherapy: From Bench to Bedside — Charlie Benson
  • Unlocking the Body’s Electrical Secrets: Exploring Complex Heart and Brain Physiology in the Culture Dish — James Ross
  • Reducing Cognitive Load in Multimedia Presentations — J Hollar
  • You say ba-NAN-ah, I say bah-NAH-na — K Saladin
  • Incorporating 21st Century Skills Into A Human Physiology Course — A Caplea
  • Building Community and Creating Authentic Learning Opportunities– J King
  • Understanding Tubes — M Neilson
HAPS 2016 - Atlanta
HAPS 2017 - Salt Lake City

May 2017 – HAPS Salt Lake City, UT 

  • Built to Run: How Endurance Running Has Shaped Human Form, Function, and Evolution — Dennis Bramble
  • A View into the Uniqueness of Human Development and Evolution: The Story of Our Larynx — Jeffery Laitman
  • Evolution and Development of Facial Muscles and Expressions: Constraints, Atavisms, Birth Defects, Anatomical Networks, Links with the Heart, and Hard-Soft Tissue Relationships — Rui Diogo
  • Epigenetics of Evolving Neonatal Chronic Lung Disease — Kurt Albertine
  • The Anatomical Basis of Aggression in Hominins: Did Human Nature Always Have a Dark Side? — David Carrier
  • Gene Targeting into the 21st Century: Mouse Models of Human Disease from Cancer to Neuropsychiatric Disorders — Mario Capecchi
  • How Does Physical Activity Exert Beneficial Effects on Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery — Harold Laughlin
  • The Anatomy of Speech – Using Functional Topics to Enhance Student Understanding – L Earnshaw
  • Finding Balance – Life Without Vestibular Function — S Macauley
  • Cadaver Lab Session – Proximal Upper Limb Anatomy
  • Understanding Anatomy – Pedagogy with Patterns — M Neilson
  • The Smart Skeleton: Turn Any Skeleton into an Interactive Tool for Teaching Joint Movements and Muscle Actions — J Pattillo
  • The History and Promise of Neuroscience — JR Munoz
  • Cadaver Lab Session – Cranial Nerves
  • A History of Women in Anatomy, Part II: Models, Pawns, and Doctors — DC Hansen
  • Item Analysis: Making Sense of Assessment Results — MM Quinn

May 2018 – HAPS Columbus, OH 

  • Built to Run: How endurance running has shaped human form and function. Dennis Bramble
  • A view into the uniqueness of human development and evolution: the story of the larynx. Jeff Laitman
  • Evolution and development of facial muscles and expressions. Rui Diogo
  • Epigenetic of chronic lung disease. Kurt Alertine
  • The anatomical basis of agression in homonons: did nature always have a dark side? David Carrier
  • Gene targeting into the 21st century: mouse models of human disease from cancer to neuropsychiatric disorders. Mario Capecchi
  • How does physical activity exert beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease? Harold Laughlin
  • Giving ridiculously good presentations. Robin Hopkins
  • Technology for the anatomy lab and class. Leslie Day
  • Incorporating human evolution into anatomy education. Nicole Squyres
  • Finding balance – life without vestibular function. Shawn Macauley
  • What do you teach, how do you teach it, and why? Bob Tallitsch
  • Dead men do tell tales. Valerie O’Loughlin, Elizabeth Pennefather-O’Brien
HAPS 2019 - Columbus

Unfortunately, I had to miss the 2019 HAPS and the 2020 HAPS was cancelled. 

From the beginning, Bill Perrotti worked to get me involved in presenting at HAPS and over my visits at HAPS I have made a variety of presentations:

  • Perrotti, W., Fried, A.P., Waters, J. (2011) Using electromyography to demonstrate skeletal muscle physiology. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Victoria, BC, 31 May, 2011).
  • Bush, E., Fried, A.P., Perrotti, W. (2012). Using electromyography to demonstrate skeletal muscle physiology. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Tulsa, OK, May, 2012).
  • Fried, A.P., Colgan, W. (2012). Developing an electromyography experiment into a more inquiry-based activity. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Tulsa, OK, May, 2012).
  • Bush, E., Fried, A.P., Perrotti, W. (2013). Vending machine nutrition. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Las Vegas, NV, May, 2013).
  • Fried, A.P., Colgan, W. (2013). Developing the vending machine nutrition experiment to develop an inquiry-based activity. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Las Vegas, NV, May, 2013).
  • Fried, A.P., Colgan, W. (2014). ECG: Using LabTutor to develop and implement an inquiry-based ECG experiment. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Jacksonville, FL, May, 2014).
  • Fried, A.P., Kelly, D. (2013). Using electromyography to demonstrate skeletal muscle physiology. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in San Antonio, TX, May, 2015).
  • Fried, A.P., Colgan, W. (2015). Developing an electromyography experiment into more inquiry-based activity. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in San Antonio, TX, May, 2015).
  • Fried, A.P., Colgan, W. (2016). ECG: Using LabTutor to develop and implement an inquiry-based ECG experiment. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Atlanta, May, 2016).
  • Fried, A.P., Crocker, S., Kelly, D. (2017). Guided active learning and the muscular system. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Salt Lake City, UT, May, 2017).
  • Bush, E, Crocker, S., Fried, A.P., Kelly, D. (2018). That’s a big pig, an alternative to human dissection. (Presented at the HAPS Convention in Columbus, OH, May, 2018).
Eileen presenting our shared poster in Columbus.
HAPS in Tulsa, learning concept mapping exercises.
HAPS in Atlanta

Sam Drogo Award

Unfortunately, the one person I did not get to work with at MVCC was the late, great, Sam Drogo. 

I did carry on his tradition of working on the digital physiology labs with our ADInstruments data capture systems. 

In 2014, I was awarded the ADInstruments Sam Drogo Award for the use of technology in the classroom. 

Sam Drogo Award Press Release.

I was able to be one of the first two people to win the award in 2014. 

It was a great honor to be selected as a representative of such a great man. 

HAPS Jacsksonville with Sam Drogo's former colleague and friend, Bill Perrotti, and ADInstruments representative and Sam Drogo's friend, Wes Colgan.
The Sam Drogo Award for use of technology in the classroom. 2014

The original offering of the award was written for HAPS by Don Kelly:

In September 2010, HAPS lost a great friend. Our colleague Sam Drogo died shortly after doing one of the things he loved the most-teaching a lab full of Anatomy and Physiology students.

Sam’s death has left an empty space at Mohawk Valley Community College, his home institution for over three decades. It has also left an empty space in HAPS. Sam was a long-time, devoted HAPS member, an active participant in the development of the HAPS Comprehensive A&P Exam, and a consistent proponent of the use of technology in the classroom and laboratory.

In Sam’s honor, ADInstruments established the Sam Drogo Technology in the Classroom Award. This is an annual award for a HAPS member who demonstrates the innovative use of technology to engage undergraduates in Human Anatomy and Physiology. The award is intended to encourage recipients to present a workshop at the HAPS Annual Conference on this innovative technology or on the use of technology in the classroom or laboratory. ADInstruments has committed to funding this award.
 
Sam was a wonderful man. This award is a fitting tribute to him and we look forward to implementing it. Our thanks to ADInstruments for their generosity and our lasting thanks to Sam as colleague, mentor and teacher.
Sam Drogo Announcement from ADInstruments.

As part of my growth in HAPS, I was invited to participate in a number of textbook publisher opportunities with Pearson and others. In particular, I worked with Pearson to integrate an adaptive software into their Mastering platform. Those opportunities are listed here:

  • March, 2011 – Exploring New Technologies: Teaching and Learning – Boston, MA. Included seminars on using technology with teaching including the following sessions by Pearson:
    1. What are students learning and from what activity? Dr. David Pritchard
    2. Thinking outside the box: a visual format for A&P instruction. Judi Nash
    3. Transforming paper assignments into mastering activities: how to build custom content. Dr. William Hanna
  • March, 2011 – Learning and Teaching Expo, Syracuse NY. This Pearson seminar was about creating motivational learning environments presented by Linda Malcak.
  • November, 2011 – Strategies for Success, Dutchess Community College.  I attended a one-day Pearson conference that focused on technology integration featuring the following sessions:
    1. Can Professors be more interesting than the internet? Randy Phillis
    2. Best Practices for Using Mastering A&P. Panel
    3. Facilitating interactive classroom activities using Powerpoint activities. Klaus Woelk
    4. Underprepared and overwhelmed. Lori Garrett
  • November, 2011 – Experiencing Science. Syracuse, NY. I participated in a Pearson workshop focused on integrating technology into teaching that included the following sessions:
    1. Integrating technology into teaching. Panel
    2. Mapping Mastering A&P onto a course syllabus. Panel
  • October 2013. Improving Outcomes with Technology. Pearson, Syracuse, NY.
  • March 2014, I was an external reviewer for the Pearson Digital Interactive Tool.
  • April 2014, I was an external reviewer for Pearson Digital Histology Labs.
  • May 2015, I was part of a focus group for Pearson Interactive Physiology.
  • July 2015, I was part of a pilot test for Pearson Interactive Physiology.
  • May 2016, I was an external reviewer for Pearson Interactive Physiology.
  • May 2016, I was a participant in a Wiley focus group.
  • May 2017, I was a participant in a Wiley focus group.
  • May 2017, I was a participant in an OpenStax focus group.
Eventually, I moved away from doing work for the publishers to focus on creating good and open access resources for our students. 
In October 2013, I gave a presentation for Pearson about their Mastering platform.
In 2013 and 2014, I worked with Pearson to test their adaptive learning software in MasteringA&P.
Judi Nath, HAPS President-Elect, reached out discuss nominating me for Eastern Regional Director.

In 2018, I was nominated to run for Eastern Regional Director for HAPS. By that time, I had served time on the HAPS Curriculum & Instruction Committee and was currently active on the Cadaver (although I prefer Human Donor) Use Committee. 

HAPS President -Elect Judi Nath, who is a renowned textbook author and a great personal friend of mine, reached out to ask if I would be willing to serve the HAPS Board of Directors during her presidency. 

While I was not elected, it was a great experience. It also would have been difficult to manage the Regional Director responsibilities with the Guided Pathways work that started around that time. 

2018 HAPS Board of Directors election results.

Although I did not become Eastern Regional Director, I did lead the MVCC Anatomy and Physiology Team in hosting a HAPS Regional Conference. Originally schedule for Fall 2019, It was pushed back to October 2020. Even though that ended up being smack in the middle (or who knows, maybe it was still just the beginning) of the current global pandemic, along with the HAPS leadership, we decided to run on November 7th, 2020. 

Preparation spanned a few years, but was centered on completion of the following types of tasks:

  1. Set up a physical conference at the MVCC campus. Setup a virtual conference on the platform Gatherly. 
  2. Plan a series of speakers.
  3. Make a call for poster  and workshop presentations.
  4. Approve all presenters. 
  5. Train presenters on the virtual platform.
  6. Run a virtual conference. 

 

Despite all of the challenges, it was a successful conference that had much larger attendance than if it had been a face to face conference. 

Two speakers were invited: 

Friend of MVCC Dani Waters from Penn State gave a presentation on: Multiple Representations in Anatomy and Physiology Educational Materials

Author and Friend of MVCC Dee Silverthorn gave a presentation on: Teaching Tough Topics Using Core Concepts and Active Learning

Finally, I spent some time gathering a panel to discuss Talking About Science, Pseudoscience, and Changing Minds During a Pandemic.

The full conference guide can be found here –> 2020 Fall HAPS Eastern Regional Conference Guide. 

Welcome letter for the Fall 2020 HAPS Eastern Regional hosted by MVCC.

Much of my professional growth eventually became focused on developing into a nationally recognized expert on Nazi anatomy and the Eduard Pernkopf anatomical Atlases. 

Part of this journey was triggered by Bill Perrotti’s interest and presentations on the history of body use for anatomical dissection. But also I read an article by Emily Bazelon in 2013 on the Nazi anatomists.  

I became intrigued and had to learn more. I started with the simple question: “how could anatomists, just like me, do such unethical things?”

My first presentation was at the 2014 HAPS Annual Conference in Jacksonville, FL. 

Abstract from my first Nazi anatomy presentation in May 2014 at the HAPS Annual Conference in Jacksonville.
Richard Clark Lecture Series Announcement from September 2014.

The first talk was well received and based on that talk I was invited in the fall to be a guest speaker at York College in Pennsylvania. The talk was attended by an ethicist who helped to provide some important ethical framework advice. 

I gave an updated version of the talk in 2015 at the HAPS Annual Conference in San Antonio, Tx. 

Fried, A.P. (2015). Conscience in crisis: the Nazi academics. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in San Antonio, TX, May, 2015).

 

In 2015, I was encouraged to give a version of the talk as a DGV (Diversity and Global View) event on the MVCC Campus. 

Fried, A.P. (2015). Conscience in crisis: the Nazi academics. (DGV Workshops presented at Mohawk Valley Community College, NY, September 16 & 17, 2015).

By 2016, the talk was increasing in information and was given another time:

Fried, A.P. (2016). Conscience in crisis: the Nazi academics. (Workshop presented at the HAPS Convention in Atlanta, GA, May, 2016).

 

 

From Mark Neilsen's Instagram, this picture was taken after dinner with Mark and his dissector Shawn Miller. Both are very well respected dissectors and authors.

In 2017, I was invited by my friend and colleague, Mark Neilsen, to give a talk at his yearly Anatomy Symposium for his anatomy students. He was trying to focus on history of anatomy. I tried to frame my Nazi Anatomy talk in terms of how we know what we know now. 

Fried, A.P. (2017). Conscience in crisis: the Nazi academics. (Presented at the University of Utah Anatomy Colloquium, November, 2017).

During the talk in Utah, I mentioned that some of the unethical images from the Pernkopf Anatomical Atlases (one of the Nazi Case studies) were in Atlases we used in our labs at MVCC. A student asked me what I did when I found that out.

Literal crickets could be heard in the room. 

 

I had never considered that. 

 

This started my Eduard Pernkopf quest, which I am still on today. 

I did much more research on Eduard Pernkopf. I went to Boston to meet the expert on Nazi Anatomy, Sabine Hildebrandt. Dr Hildebrandt helps anatomical departments in Germany reconcile their anatomical collections in light of the atrocities of the Nazi Era. 

Dr Hildebrandt had been working with ethicists and religious scholars on the Vienna Protocols for Nazi era human remains. We both decided that MVCC would be a great place to implement this new work. 

The first step was to find a way to honor the victims of the Pernkopf atlas and turn the experience into a learning process. 

I worked with the Fab Lab to create a plaque that we could display in the Anatomy Lab. 

 

Meeting Sabine Hildebrandt, expert on Nazi anatomy, in February 2018 at Harvard Medical School.
The Plaque made by the MVCC Fab Lab that is currently on display at the entrance to the Anatomy Lab on the Utica Campus.
Library display of Pernkopf plaque at the MVCC Library.
Library display of Pernkopf plaque at the MVCC Library.
Library display of Pernkopf plaque at the MVCC Library.
Library display of Pernkopf plaque at the MVCC Library.
Library display of Pernkopf plaque at the MVCC Library.
Library display of Pernkopf plaque at the MVCC Library.
Pernkopf presentation for the college in March 2018.
Pernkopf presentation for the college in March 2018.
Presentation of the Pernkopf plaque to the college in March 2018.
Presentation of the Pernkopf plaque to the college in March 2018.

After the plaque was ready, I scheduled a presentation to the MVCC community and planned a dedication of the plaque to the college.  

A display case was used to promote the presentation to the college. 

The presentation occurred in March 2018. 

Fried, A.P. (2018). Eduard Pernkopf, the Nazis, and MVCC. (Presented at the Mohawk Valley Community College, March, 2018).

After the presentation, the plaque was dedicated and placed in the anatomy lab. 

Also in 2018, I worked with the HAPS Cadaver (I still want them to use Human Donor) Use Committee to create a series of blogs and sponsored workshops at the annual conference. 

Each of the sponsored Blog posts is presented on your right. 

Fried, A.P. (2018). Eduard Pernkopf, the Nazis, and MVCC. (Presented at the HAPS Convention in Columbus, OH, May, 2018).

HAPS Cadaver (please call it Human Donor) Use Committee Sponsored Blog Posts:

Eduard Pernkopf – by Aaron Fried

A Female Body of Knowledge: Cadavers and Caricatures – by Danielle Hansen

Bodies for Science and Education: The Startling History – Bill Perrotti

Kevin Patton, The A&P Professor, invited me onto his podcast to discuss Nazi anatomy, human body donors, the importance of the Silent Teacher. The episodes were released in October 2018.

In researching Pernkopf, I reached out to libraries that had the atlas still in circulation. 

In April 2018, Slippery Rock University invited me to discuss the atlas held in their library. 

Expert in Nazi body use to discuss anatomical atlas housed at SRU’s Bailey Library.

Fried, A.P. (2019). Eduard Pernkopf and the Nazi Anatomists. (Presented at Slippery Rock University in Slippery Rock, PA, April, 2019).

I helped make a recommendation that they keep the book on reserve with educational materials. 

The talk was well received: Expert explains atlas with Nazi ties, Allied News.

Pictured with Thomas Thompson from the Dirty History Podcast.

After the presentations to MVCC and HAPS and the successful sponsored posts, I was asked to participate on Keven Patton’s podcast, The A&P Professor. Our discussion ended being so robust that it was split into two episodes:

October 2018. The A&P Professor, Episode 29: The Silent Teacher – A Conversation with Aaron Fried. 

October 2018. The A&P Professor, Episode 30: The Nazi Anatomists – A Conversation with Aaron Fried. 

Presenting at Slippery Rock University in Western Pennsylvania in April, 2019.

Also in April 2018, I was invited to be on the Dirty History Podcast by host Thomas Thompson. 

April 2019. Dirty History, Episode 28: Episode 28: The Silent Teacher W/ Aaron Fried. 

Based on my expertise in the field of Nazi Anatomy and specifically Eduard Pernkopf, I have been asked to review academic articles on the topic of Eduard Pernkopf. 

Currently I have an article on Pernkopf submitted for review and I will be a featured speaker at the upcoming University of British Colombia Medical School Symposium on Anatomical Ethics on October 22nd, 2021. 

I will be presenting the MVCC project as a case study on the ethics of use on controversial materials. 

Finally, in 2021, I was invited by my friend, and now colleague, Sabine Hildebrandt invited me to contribute with  an international group of researchers studying Eduard Pernkopf and anatomical ethics.

In 12 years, my professional growth in the field of anatomy has been astronomical. I have experience as an expert in the field of anatomical ethics and Nazi anatomists and I am very excited for what the future holds.

Samples of some of this work can also be viewed on my personal website, especially the Pernkopf Project. 

Invitation to review academic work on Eduard Pernkopf based on my expertise.

In 2021, I was invited to be a Belfer National Holocaust Educator. 

The conference was virtual this year, but the experience was immersive and enjoyable. 

First year New Faculty Institute (NFI) experience, 2010-2011:

  1. Introduction to Blackboard, Jim Lynch
  2. Syllabus Construction, David Katz
  3. The First Day of Class, David Katz
  4. Classroom Management and Motivation, David Katz
  5. Emotional Intelligence, Student Efficacy and Student Success, David Katz
  6. Harassment and Sexual Harassment Training, Sara Coulthart
  7. Encouraging Deep Learning, Norayne Rosero
  8. Workplace Violence and Discrimination Training, Sara Coulthart
  9. Good Advise!, Jennifer Deweerth
  10. Counseling and BERT Training, Rose Button
  11. Strengths Quest Training, James Maio
  12. Beliefs and Learning, Bill Hysell
  13. Tutoring and Learning Center Training, Donna Sawyer-White
  14. Library Resources Training, Steve Frisbee
  15. Learning Communities, Jennifer Boulanger
  16. Learner-Center Strategies, Cheryl Plescia
  17. DVG Program Training, Sarah Coleman
  18. Athletic Retention Program Training, Jason Carpenter
  19. Bloom’s Taxonomy, Carm Leo-Smrtic

Other NFI Related training

  • August, 2011 – Degreeworks training, MVCC.
  • Fall, 2011 – Teaching Squares. I participated in a second year NFI experience where I shared classroom visits with Sarah Beck and Erin Severs.
  • January, 2012 – Blackboard training. MVCC, Utica, NY.
  • May, 2012, Curriculum Mapping Seminar, MVCC, Utica, NY.
  • May, 2012, Great Teaching Seminar, MVCC, Utica, NY.
  • May, 2012. Human Services Advisement Training. MVCC, Utica, NY.
  • Aug, 2012. Advising Seminar. MVCC, Utica, NY
  • Jan, 2013. Nursing Continuing Education Orthopedic Bioskills Workshop. SYNTHES, Oneida, NY.
  • Jan 29 & Feb 26, 2013. NFI – Faculty Excellence and Innovation Academy. MVCC, Utica, NY.

Professional Association Trainings and Conferences:

  • NYSUT Community College Conference – November 2011, Cooperstown.
  • NYSUT Community College Conference – November 2012, Saratoga.
  • NYSUT Leadership Training Conference – November 2012, Saratoga.
  • NYSUT Leadership Institute – August 2015 and January 2016
  • NYSUT Leadership Training Conference – October 2015, Alexandria Bay.
  • NYSUT Community College Conference – November 2015, Cooperstown.
  • NYSUT Community College Conference – November 2019, Cooperstown.

Core Workshops

  • 2013 – Student Success
  • 2014 – Campus Saftey
  • 2015 – Health and Wellness
  • 2016 – Title IX Training
  • 2017 – Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion Training
  • 2018 – Accreditation
  • 2019 – Active Shooter Training
  • 2020 – Implicit Bias
  • 2021 – Difficult Conversations, Facilitator
The End

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