The American Association for Anatomy announces their Highest Distinctions of 2025
ROCKVILLE, MD—January 14, 2025—The American Association for Anatomy (AAA) is thrilled to announce the recipients of their 2025 Spring Awards. Each awardee will be formally recognized at the Anatomy Connected 2025 Closing Awards Ceremony on March 31, in Portland, Oregon.
The Spring Awards include the three highest distinctions awarded by AAA: the Henry Gray Scientific Award, the A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award, and the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award. The winners of these awards, along with the others on this list, are gathered through a nomination process conducted by their peers and are scored and selected by committees and volunteers.
The AAA Awards Program provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in awards, research grants, and scholarships annually. One in 10 members receives an award, scholarship, or grant every year.
“The Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award is a tremendous honor, especially coming from the American Association for Anatomy, which I have been so closely associated with for over 15 years. The award is also a reflection and recognition of the incredible mentors, past and present lab members, and collaborators that I have been so privileged and lucky to work with throughout my career.” - Paul Trainor, Ph.D., FAAA, Member since 2008 and Editor-in-Chief of Developmental Dynamics, one of AAA’s leading scientific journals
This year’s awards and individual recipients include:
A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award
Richard Drake, Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award
Claudia Krebs, M.D., Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor of teaching and the academic director and founder of HIVE (Hackspace for Innovation and Visualization in Education) at The University of British Columbia. Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award
Paul Trainor, Ph.D., FAAA, is an investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and an adjunct professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Fellows
The rank of Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy (FAAA) honors distinguished members who have demonstrated excellence in their overall contributions to the anatomical sciences.
Licia Selleri, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of craniofacial biology and anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the director of the UCSF Program in Craniofacial Biology. Adam Hartstone-Rose, Ph.D., is a professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University. Jennifer McBride, Ph.D., is the professor of surgery and director of advanced anatomy at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Casey Holliday, Ph.D., is an associate professor of anatomy in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, and adjunct professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri. Julia Boughner, Ph.D., is a professor of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan. Fellows Grant Award Program
This award supports applicants whose research proposals were submitted to national or international funding agencies but did not receive funding.
Lisa Taneyhill, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. Basmajian Award
Jessica Byram, Ph.D., is an associate professor of anatomy, cell biology, and physiology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Kimberly Topp, PT, Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor and chair emeritus in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of California San Francisco. Outstanding Mentor Award
Anne Agur, Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor in the Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Early-Career Investigator Awards
These awards are broken up into three categories based on area of research. Each recognizes investigators in the early stages of their careers who have made important contributions to biomedical science through their research.
C.J. Herrick Award in Neuroanatomy
Shan Meltzer, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Her independent laboratory aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of somatosensory circuit assembly, which will provide insights for treating touch and pain dysfunctions. H.W. Mossman Award in Developmental Biology
Michael Piacentino, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of cell biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where his lab studies the mechanisms regulating cell migration. R.R. Bensley Award in Cell Biology
Katheryn Rothenberg, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Iowa. She studies collective cell migration – the movement of cells as a group – using Drosophila embryonic wound healing as a model. Early-Career Anatomist Publication Awards
Recognizes the best publication by an early-career anatomist in each of the society's three journals: The Anatomical Record, Anatomical Sciences Education, and Developmental Dynamics.
The Anatomical Record
Emma Schachner, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she teaches anatomy to veterinary students. Her research focuses on the evolution of structural and functional diversity in the vertebrate respiratory system. Anatomical Sciences Education
Meng-Lin Liao, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of the Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology in the College of Medicine at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Her research interest focuses on medical education. Developmental Dynamics
Margaret Hines, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Irene Zohn's lab at Children's National Hospital, specializing in developmental biology. Science Communication and Public Engagement Award
Adam Taylor, Ph.D., is a professor of anatomy at Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, UK. Additional biographical information on each award recipient can be found on the AAA website.
ABOUT AAA The American Association for Anatomy is an international membership organization of biomedical researchers and educators specializing in the structural foundation of health and disease. AAA connects gross anatomists, neuroscientists, developmental biologists, physical anthropologists, cell biologists, physical therapists, and others to advance the anatomical sciences through research, education, and professional development. To join, visit anatomy.org.
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The Spring Awards include the three highest distinctions awarded by AAA: the Henry Gray Scientific Award, the A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award, and the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award. The winners of these awards, along with the others on this list, are gathered through a nomination process conducted by their peers and are scored and selected by committees and volunteers.
The AAA Awards Program provides hundreds of thousands of dollars in awards, research grants, and scholarships annually. One in 10 members receives an award, scholarship, or grant every year.
“The Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award is a tremendous honor, especially coming from the American Association for Anatomy, which I have been so closely associated with for over 15 years. The award is also a reflection and recognition of the incredible mentors, past and present lab members, and collaborators that I have been so privileged and lucky to work with throughout my career.” - Paul Trainor, Ph.D., FAAA, Member since 2008 and Editor-in-Chief of Developmental Dynamics, one of AAA’s leading scientific journals
This year’s awards and individual recipients include:
A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award
Richard Drake, Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award
Claudia Krebs, M.D., Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor of teaching and the academic director and founder of HIVE (Hackspace for Innovation and Visualization in Education) at The University of British Columbia. Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award
Paul Trainor, Ph.D., FAAA, is an investigator at the Stowers Institute for Medical Research and an adjunct professor in the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Fellows
The rank of Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy (FAAA) honors distinguished members who have demonstrated excellence in their overall contributions to the anatomical sciences.
Licia Selleri, M.D., Ph.D., is a professor of craniofacial biology and anatomy at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and the director of the UCSF Program in Craniofacial Biology. Adam Hartstone-Rose, Ph.D., is a professor of biological sciences at North Carolina State University. Jennifer McBride, Ph.D., is the professor of surgery and director of advanced anatomy at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Casey Holliday, Ph.D., is an associate professor of anatomy in the Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences, School of Medicine, and adjunct professor in the Division of Biological Sciences at the University of Missouri. Julia Boughner, Ph.D., is a professor of anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology at the University of Saskatchewan. Fellows Grant Award Program
This award supports applicants whose research proposals were submitted to national or international funding agencies but did not receive funding.
Lisa Taneyhill, Ph.D., is a professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Maryland, College Park. Basmajian Award
Jessica Byram, Ph.D., is an associate professor of anatomy, cell biology, and physiology at Indiana University School of Medicine. Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
Kimberly Topp, PT, Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor and chair emeritus in the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science at the University of California San Francisco. Outstanding Mentor Award
Anne Agur, Ph.D., FAAA, is a professor in the Division of Anatomy, Department of Surgery at the University of Toronto. Early-Career Investigator Awards
These awards are broken up into three categories based on area of research. Each recognizes investigators in the early stages of their careers who have made important contributions to biomedical science through their research.
C.J. Herrick Award in Neuroanatomy
Shan Meltzer, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Her independent laboratory aims to understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms of somatosensory circuit assembly, which will provide insights for treating touch and pain dysfunctions. H.W. Mossman Award in Developmental Biology
Michael Piacentino, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of cell biology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where his lab studies the mechanisms regulating cell migration. R.R. Bensley Award in Cell Biology
Katheryn Rothenberg, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Biology at the University of Iowa. She studies collective cell migration – the movement of cells as a group – using Drosophila embryonic wound healing as a model. Early-Career Anatomist Publication Awards
Recognizes the best publication by an early-career anatomist in each of the society's three journals: The Anatomical Record, Anatomical Sciences Education, and Developmental Dynamics.
The Anatomical Record
Emma Schachner, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, where she teaches anatomy to veterinary students. Her research focuses on the evolution of structural and functional diversity in the vertebrate respiratory system. Anatomical Sciences Education
Meng-Lin Liao, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of the Graduate Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology in the College of Medicine at National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan. Her research interest focuses on medical education. Developmental Dynamics
Margaret Hines, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral fellow in Dr. Irene Zohn's lab at Children's National Hospital, specializing in developmental biology. Science Communication and Public Engagement Award
Adam Taylor, Ph.D., is a professor of anatomy at Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, UK. Additional biographical information on each award recipient can be found on the AAA website.
ABOUT AAA The American Association for Anatomy is an international membership organization of biomedical researchers and educators specializing in the structural foundation of health and disease. AAA connects gross anatomists, neuroscientists, developmental biologists, physical anthropologists, cell biologists, physical therapists, and others to advance the anatomical sciences through research, education, and professional development. To join, visit anatomy.org.
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