Lela Giannaris, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Translational Anatomy in the Department of Radiology at UMass Chan Medical School. She graduated from Cornell University earning a BA in Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology and Behavior. Then, she worked at the Belfer Gene Therapy Core Facility at Weill Medical College of Cornell University performing preclinical testing of viral vectors for the treatment of the childhood neurodegenerative disorder called Batten’s Disease. She went on to earn a PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Boston University School of Medicine and conducted neuroscience research focused on quantitative neuroanatomy in aging.
Since joining the UMass Chan faculty in 2010, Dr. Giannaris has dedicated her career to medical education as an anatomy educator and academic leader. Her passion lies in engaging learners in the educational process and empowering them with the knowledge and skills to develop into competent and compassionate physicians. To this end, she guides medical students through classroom and lab-based anatomy instruction as they learn about the intricacies of the human body, apply anatomical knowledge for clinical problem-solving, and develop key skills for their work as future physicians such as teamwork, communication, humanism, and reflection. As a testament to her effectiveness as an educator, she has been recognized by learners and colleagues with many teaching accolades, including awards for educational innovations.
Dr. Giannaris has spearheaded curricular innovations that have enhanced learning and engagement through novel resources and sessions. Over the past decade, she has mentored more than15 medical students in curriculum innovation projects through summer programs and longitudinal Capstone and Pathways educational projects. Select examples include organizing a Donor Rose Ceremony for students to gain closure and pay last respects; creating images of the day (IODs), workbooks, and virtual practice practicals as self-assessment and review resources; developing surgical case videos; and incorporating the electronic health record (EHR)-classroom into the anatomy lab donor experience.
As an educational leader, Dr. Giannaris holds multiple roles which span course, discipline, and institutional levels. She currently serves as Co-Director of the Skin and Musculoskeletal Systems (SMS) Block, a pre-clerkship course for first year medical students in the Discovery Phase Vista Curriculum. As the Longitudinal Biomedical Topic Director of Anatomy, Dr. Giannaris oversees all aspects of the anatomy curriculum across the entire medical program. In addition, she is Chair of the School of Medicine’s Educational Policy Committee which is charged with oversight and management of all elements of the undergraduate medical program. She is also a Distinguished Educator in the UMass Chan Health Education Academy for Leadership and Learning (HEALL).
In addition to numerous service contributions at UMass Chan, Dr. Giannaris is an active member in professional anatomy organizations and has held major leadership positions. She served as Chair of the Educational Affairs Committee for the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA) and Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the American Association for Anatomy (AAA). She has co-organized several workshops, symposia, and round-table discussions for national meetings, co-hosted a regional meeting, plus co-developed professional development resources.
Dr. Giannaris’ scholarly work spans anatomical sciences, curriculum development, and faculty development. She has given over 40 national and international presentations, and has several peer-reviewed published manuscripts. Most notably, she serves as Co-Principal Investigator of the DELTA Program: Developing and Elevating Leaders with Tools for Advancement, a program developed for AAA members to support leadership development and career advancement. Funded by an AAA Innovations Grant Award, this 9-month long program includes a 2.5 day in-person retreat and longitudinal mentored projects. She is also a founding member of the Global Neuroanatomy Network (GNN). This international innovation team of 23 educators from 11 countries spanning 5 continents, created an online repository of open educational resources for neuroanatomy educators worldwide.
Dr. Giannaris is committed to advancing medical education and mentoring the next generation of educators and leaders.