Lela Giannaris, PhD Appointed to Educational Policy Committee

A message from Anne Larkin, MD, Vice Provost for Educational Affairs on behalf of Terence R. Flotte, MD, Executive Vice Chancellor, Provost, and Dean of the T.H. Chan School of Medicine

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Lela Giannaris, PhD as the co-chair of the Educational Policy Committee as Dr. Seymour transitions to her new role.

Lela Giannaris, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Division of Translational Anatomy, Department of Radiology. She received a PhD in anatomy and neurobiology from Boston University School of Medicine and is a graduate of the Leadership in Education and Development (LEAD) Program. Since joining the UMass Chan faculty in 2010, Dr. Giannaris has been a core anatomy faculty member in the preclinical curriculum and held multiple educational leadership roles. Dr. Giannaris currently serves as Chair of the first-year Foundations of Medicine (FOM1) Curriculum Committee, and Director of Anatomy and Co-Director of the Development Structure and Function course for MS1 students. She has also been leading the longitudinal integration of anatomy as part of the new Vista curriculum revolution efforts. Dr. Giannaris has been recognized for her teaching and curricular innovations with multiple Outstanding Medical Educator and Educational (Star) Achievement awards.

Throughout her tenure at UMass, Dr. Giannaris has embraced innovation and continuous quality improvement, and has been a strong advocate for our learners. In her new role as co-chair of the EPC, she will work closely with Dr. Erin McMaster, as they continue to lead this pivotal committee and manage the overall medical school curriculum.  She will also continue to chair the FOM1 curriculum committee for the remainder of this academic year in anticipation of the Vista rollout in the summer.

Please join me in congratulating Dr. Giannaris and thanking Dr. McMaster for continuing to lead the efforts of the EPC.