NWHSU Hosts HAPS Central Regional Meeting

Over the weekend, NWHSU hosted the Central Regional Meeting of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). The organization consists of health science educators dedicated to “promoting excellence in the teaching of human anatomy and physiology.” NWHSU was proud to host this community on campus, and offer some programming in our newly renovated anatomy lab. 

The meeting, which took place October 21 and 22, included keynote sessions and workshops highlighting anatomy and physiology concepts and education, led by educators and health care professionals in several fields. HAPS members are educators in high schools, two- and four-year colleges, universities, scientists representing businesses worldwide.  

Joseph Muldoon, DC, MS, DABCI, DACBN, CCWP, NWHSU faculty member and HAPS conference committee chair gave some insight on the goals of the society: “Ultimately, HAPS wants to enhance the quality of human anatomy instruction across all levels of education while promoting professional development, research, communication and collaboration between educators.”  

Dr. Muldoon and David Farrar, DC offered breakout sessions from the anatomy lab highlighting the integrative ways they teach hands-on anatomy to undergraduate and graduate students at NWHSU.  

Mary Tuscherer, DC, PhD, MS and faculty at NWSHU was a keynote presenter at the conference. Dr. T spoke on how to teach clinical application of basic science principles, as well as topics like how nerve irritation leads to conditions like ear pain and IBS.

Dr. T shared: “Teaching has been my life-long passion. This is my 41st year of teaching at the college level and I feel humbled to have a chance to discuss and share the things I’ve learned over that span of time. Technology has created an efficiency I could not really have imagined when I was in college. I still had to go to the library to look up and study the literature, in a way that could cause missed or under-represented searches. The sheer number of facts cannot be memorized by most, but to acquire the facts is now much easier, so the students’ ability to use and critically assess these facts must be taught, mentored and practiced in a way that may or may not be tailored to each student’s ability to learn. I certainly have grown in this process as well.” 

Story by Kit Harlow, Chiropractic Student