In this timely webinar, we asked our three speakers to share their stories of using digital resources for recording, researching, and teaching paleopathology. 

To register for free, please use the following link:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/125931881262525200

Andrew Nelson

University of Western Ontario

Microcomputed Tomography and Digital Paleopathology

Microcomputed tomography (µCT) is a radiological imaging modality that allows high resolution, non-destructive imaging of paleopathological specimens to aid in differential diagnosis.  It is useful to bridge µCT to histological analysis or to lower resolution clinical CT scans to compare the technique to more familiar modes of analysis.  This bridging falls in the area referred to as "correlative microscopy".  This presentation will include two correlative microscopy examples and will end with a non-paleopathological example of how these digital µCT scans can be visualized for knowledge mobilization to the public.

Susan Kuzminsky

Eastern New Mexico University

Teaching Paleopathology Online

In this talk, I discuss some of the ways in which digital imaging can aid in student learning methods, both online and through independent research. I will highlight my current collaborative research project that examines cranial vault modification practices in the ancient Andean world, and how the integration of high-resolution 3D models featuring unique styles of Andean head-shaping has the potential to advance this area of research in paleopathology, while providing unique opportunities for student learning in hybrid course structures.

Anne Titelbaum

University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix

The Importance of Being Empathetic: Experiences Teaching Virtual Clinical Anatomy

For many medical schools, the pandemic necessarily altered the manner in which dissection-based clinical anatomy was taught. At the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, this lab-based course was shifted to a virtual format, and it relied upon the use of accurate online interactive 3D anatomical models that depict “normal” human anatomy, supplemented with professional illustrations and dissection images. In addition to giving a brief demonstration of the models, this presentation will consider lessons learned from this experience. While there were positive outcomes from the use of the online platform, it was found that the greatest challenges included gaining an appreciation of anatomical variation and pathological processes, and instilling and maintaining a sense of empathy to the virtual donor.