The Anatomy and Physiology Department at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) is a department that impacts all of RMUoHP’s residential programs: the Doctor of Physical Therapy program, Master of Physician Assistant Studies program, and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program. In addition to working with all of the residential programs, the Anatomy and Physiology Department also works with and supports the graduate nursing programs offered at RMUoHP.
The Anatomy and Physiology Department is headed by experienced professionals and co-chairs, Dr. Jessica Immonen and Dr. Lesley Gilmer. Dr. Immonen received a PhD in Anatomy from Pennsylvania State University’s School of Medicine. Dr. Immonen was attracted to the freedom, innovation, and use of technology in teaching, especially in cadaveric-based anatomy curriculum at RMUoHP. Dr. Immonen states, “Having the opportunity to be the founding director of the anatomy lab space allowed me to be innovative in customizing cadaver selection and laboratory organization.”
“I love the people I work with; this includes our cadaveric donors! Dissection is more than part of the job—it’s a hobby and a passion.” – Dr. Jessica Immonen
Dr. Lesley Gilmer received his PhD from the University of Kentucky. The biggest pull that Dr. Gilmer felt toward RMUoHP was the culture. When asked to describe the culture, Dr. Gilmer states, “Southern hospitality in Utah. The feel that faculty and administration want to help—to actually genuinely want to help.” Dr. Gilmer truly loves working with students: “Being able to get feedback from students from year to year and implement several specific changes requested by students is rewarding. We have been able to request and add resources that will help our students be more successful in their subsequent classes, well prepared for rotations, and being better clinicians. We have a very supportive and understanding administration to ensure that we serve our ever-changing student population effectively.”
“Dr. Immonen and I typically do not have to ‘sell’ anatomy to the students entering healthcare professions. When we get buy-in from the students, we can really push the limits on the amount of anatomy you can learn in a semester and be highly competitive at the next level. Your entire career is about anatomy—the time to commit to learning the intricacies is now.” – Dr. Lesley Gilmer
When asked what makes RMUoHP’s Anatomy and Physiology Department unique compared to what students would experience at another institutions, Dr. Gilmer says, “Dr. Immonen and myself have a great education ourselves; we are highly motivated, love what we do, and truly want our students to excel—those are our success stories. Nothing is more rewarding than hearing a student on a tough rotation say that their clinician was questioning them about some detail for an anatomic region and they get it right or when they say physiology or clinical work is so much easier with a solid anatomy background.”
Dr. Immonen adds, “Our youthful good looks surprise our students every year! It’s a joke, but it’s also true. RMU has employed freshly-trained faculty in anatomy who aren’t afraid to try new things. In my Applied Anatomy course, we implement case reports, active group learning, flipped-classroom, flash card exercises, and demonstrations regularly. Every ‘lecture’ is different and involves a lot of discussions and small group brainstorm. It is definitely not an hour and a half of me talking at the students. It’s interactive. On the other hand, our anatomy faculty have the experience too, and our previous cohorts of students will attest to our knowledge.”
The Anatomy and Physiology Department holds a huge responsibility to teach every student the basics of what they will refer back to for the rest of their careers. Many students feel anxious and nervous over the seemingly daunting courses that are offered within the department. Dr. Gilmer says, “Understand that the amount of time you put into undergrad might not be the same as it will be required in graduate school. Be okay with taking advice. Ask questions. Be kind, humble, and understanding through these challenging times in your life and it will come back to you. Trust me—I am a doctor—it comes back to you.” Dr. Immonen adds, “The nerves have always brought out the best in students in anatomy and physiology! When students worry, they work really hard. So my advice is to go ahead and be nervous. But I can also say that we have awesome faculty and staff that push over 100 students through the anatomy and physiology curriculum a year, so students are in good hands. We have solid remediation protocols that allow us to identify hiccups before they ramify into major problems.”
“Anatomy and physiology are such vast subjects. There is so much to know, and one person doesn’t have enough brain cells to master it all. I like to remind students during orientation that I’m still a student of anatomy and physiology—there is always something new to learn.” – Dr. Jessica Immonen
Even though the subjects taught within the Anatomy and Physiology Department can at times be challenging, the department has a long list of resources to help students succeed. Students are allowed to study in the cadaver lab long into the evening. The department invested in a Sony Action Cam that is used to record dissection tutorials, as well as iPad lab manuals for students to utilize. In addition, the department makes sure that they hold plenty of review sessions. Faculty are available in their offices or via email whenever they can be. All of the faculty within the department love what they do and are excited about anatomy.
There are also anatomy teaching assistants, the Learning Resource Center, and other faculty available to discuss clinical cases involving the anatomy topics that are taught.
“[Faculty] are here to push, pull, or carry you to a new level. It is not always easy, but we do want you to get there, we want to help you any way you can, but this is a personal journey that you get out what you put in. Graduate school is a time where you learn who you are when things may not go the way you sometimes want, how you deal with a large academic school load and life that continues with or without you. It will likely be the most challenging journey of your life, but the most rewarding as well – gives you jobs and opportunities that the vast majority of people will never get.” – Dr. Lesley Gilmer
Currently, the Anatomy and Physiology Department is working on getting lecture capture for the classrooms. They are also increasing the visibility in the lab for demonstrations on cadavers where more students can visualize important anatomical regions by adding several large TVs for each lab station. The department is also working on getting virtual anatomy and software available to demonstrate regions difficult to dissect or understand.
In addition, the implementation of a Dissection Club is underway so students can have a dissection experience even though their curriculum is taught through a pro-section approach. The department is also working to hire teaching assistants to help students needing a little extra review time or assistance.
Drs. Immonen and Gilmer hope that students understand that the information they are learning in their Anatomy and Physiology coursework is critical to the healthcare system. Dr. Immonen comments, “Healthcare is transitioning and it’s requiring more providers who are extra informed and knowledgeable. I push my students (and they will attest to this) because I want them to go be the best in their respective fields. You never know what speckle of information or application will allow them to make a clever diagnosis or design a unique treatment plan.”
Dr. Gilmer adds, “Anatomy is fun; it is intricate, it is amazing, and it is your career. Dive into this material—give it your utmost attention, and it will continue to serve you well throughout your career. You can also have a good time learning the difficult material if you are patient and receptive to new ideas and ways of doing things. Even though this is just an anatomy course, it is so much more. You will learn how to push yourself; how to handle a large amount of information; how to recall, implement, and synthesize thoughts; how to work in groups; and how to treat those around you throughout your career to get what you need and to give your colleagues what they need.”
“You are about to embark on the best decision of your life by furthering your education. You will accomplish this goal if you stick with it, be a genuine person, and work hard, and you might even enjoy it along the way with the right attitude. You are at the first steps of an amazing opportunity at RMU, congratulations, and let’s get started. We are ready and eager to make sure that happens.” Dr. Lesley Gilmer
