116 - “neuroanatomy Educators, Meet Your Global Community”: Inception and Implementation of the Global Neuroanatomy Network

Poster Board Number: 116
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Co-authors:

Dara Cannon - Clinical Neuroimaging Laboratory, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences - University of Galway; Amanda Meyer - Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Human Biology, School of Human Sciences - The University of Western Australia; Claudia Krebs - Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine AND Hackspace for Innovation and Visualization in Education, Faculty of Arts - University of British Columbia; Doris George Yohannan - Department of Anatomy - Government Medical College; José Paulo Andrade - Department of Biomedicine - Unit of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine - University of Porto; Kirsten Brown - Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology - George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences; Laura Whitburn - Department of Microbiology, Anatomy, Physiology, and Pharmacology, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment - La Trobe University; Eustathia Lela Giannaris - Division of Translational Anatomy, Department of Radiology - UMass Chan Medical School; Mark Pickering - Anatomy, School of Medicine - University College Dublin; Matthew Vilburn - Department of Genetics, Cell Biology, and Anatomy - University of Nebraska Medical Center; Mónica López Hildago - National School of Higher Studies - National Autonomous University of Mexico; Peter Vollbrecht - Department of Biomedical Sciences - Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine; Ronnie Baticulon - Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine - University of the Philippines Manila; Roxanne Larsen - Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Department, College of Veterinary Medicine - University of Minnesota; Scott Border - Anatomy, School of Medicine Dentistry and Nursing - University of Glasgow; Siobhan McMahon - Anatomy, College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences - University of Galway; Tom Flanagan - Anatomy, School of Medicine - University College Dublin; Valeria Forlizzi - Gross Anatomy Department, School of Medical Sciences - Buenos Aires University; Yolanda Salinas-Alvarez - Department of Human Anatomy, School of Medicine - Universidad Autonóma de Nuevo León; Melissa Carroll - Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology - George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Abstract Body : Teaching neuroanatomy presents numerous challenges for educators worldwide, including limited access to teaching resources. While many educators have shared curricula, teaching approaches, and clinical cases informally for decades, the impetus of the Global Neuroanatomy Network (GNN) is to diversify and formalize these efforts in an online community of practice (CoP) and resource repository.



The GNN draws inspiration from the Virtual Microscopy Database, Virtual Dissection Database, and other resource-sharing endeavors to provide neuroanatomy educators with the context, expertise, and support necessary to implement new content in their unique teaching contexts. The GNN Innovation Team comprises 23 academics from 22 institutions in 11 countries, including anatomists, educators, researchers, and clinicians. After nearly two years of development, the GNN publicly launched on November 20th, 2023. In the first two weeks, our online CoP grew to over 160 members from 35 countries across six continents and featured an initial collection of 30 peer-reviewed clinical cases and teaching resources created by Innovation Team members. The peer-review process includes a pedagogical, neuroanatomical, and clinical review to ensure accuracy and value of all published content to the CoP.



Innovative resources range from simplifying thalamic disinhibition with dodgeballs to 3D-printed models of spinal cord structure to Pokémon-inspired cards describing the functional anatomy of cranial nerves. At this launch stage, and with membership growth, the resources should rapidly expand. Key impact of the GNN CoP and repository includes (1) the global dissemination of innovative peer-reviewed teaching content for the benefit of neuroanatomy education worldwide; (2) the academic growth of scholars and educators through inspiration and mentorship; and (3) the opportunity to share experiences, successes, and failures in exchange for feedback and encouragement.



Teaching can be a solitary experience, especially in somewhat niche areas such as neuroanatomy. The GNN invites you to join our community of both established and emerging educators and contribute to building our network and repository.