Education: Dept. of Molecular Pathobiology
In 2005, NYU Dentistry became the first dental school in the US to replace the dissection of wet cadavers in an anatomy course with a plastinated anatomical teaching collection. Gunther von Hagens, a Visiting Professor in the Department, invented Plastination in 1977. The department’s collection, derived from the Body Donation Program of the Institute of Plastination in Heidelberg, Germany, was produced at the von Hagen Plastinarium in Guben, Germany. The plastination technology preserves biological tissues in curable polymers, and has transformed the study of anatomy.
Currently, the department houses 78 head and neck plastinates with varied prosections specified for the DDS anatomy course (Fig. 1), eight prosected full bodies (Fig. 2), upper and lower limb prosections, isolated brains and spinal cords, and thoracic and abdominal viscera. The collection also includes hundreds of body slices, between 1-5 millimeters in thickness, in three different planes (Fig. 3). A full-time curator, Joshua Johnson, manages and maintains the collection, and has developed methods for rehabilitating the collection when it is damaged through normal wear and tear (Johnson & Baker, 2017).
Fig. 1. Plastinated head and neck prosections, shelved in one of two dedicated plastinate storage rooms.
Teaching the NYU Dentistry Head and Neck Anatomy course to first year DDS students with plastinated materials alleviates concerns regarding exposure to embalming fumes, given that the plastinates are dry, odorless, and non-toxic. In addition, there is no longer a need to maintain a cadaver facility and acquire new cadavers each year, as the specimens do not degrade and can be used indefinitely. More importantly, teaching anatomy with plastinates, particularly the anatomy of the head and neck, allows students to see a high degree of anatomical specificity. The plastinated specimens exhibit great anatomical detail (Fig. 4), in many cases far beyond that which a student would see while dissecting in lab. The slices allow for comparison between 2D and 3D representations of the same structure, preparing students for interpretation of radiographs, CT scans and MRI images. In addition, the size and breadth of the collection allows for the appreciation of the normal biological, and in some cases pathological, variation that exists for any given anatomical structure.
The acquisition of the plastinated anatomical teaching collection has allowed faculty to completely redesign the anatomy course to emphasize small group learning. The success of this method is reflected in dental board scores and pass rates (Baker et al., 2013). Since the implementation of the new course with plastinates, a number of dental schools throughout the US have reached out to the department to visit the anatomy facilities with the goal of replicating elements of the course.
The Department of Molecular Pathobiology contributes foundational knowledge and elective course instruction in the DDS program. Department faculty also teach in other departments within the DDS curriculum and within the Dental Hygiene program. Additionally, many of the department faculty coordinate and/or teach in post-graduate and graduate courses within NYU Dentistry, at the NYU School of Medicine, and elsewhere within NYU.
DDS 1st year
- Basic Tissues
Course Coordinator: Elisabeth Lopez - Building Blocks of Life
Course Coordinator: Wenbo Yan - Cellular Organelles
Course Coordinator: Elisabeth Lopez - Craniofacial Biology
Course Coordinator: Andrew Spielman - Embryology
Course Coordinator: Eric Baker - Head & Neck Anatomy
Course Coordinator: Eric Baker
- Microbiology
Course Coordinator: Deepak Saxena/Jessica Manser - Neuroscience
Course Coordinator: Cristian Stefan - Principles of Pharmacology
Course Coordinator: Wenbo Yan
DDS 3rd year
- NBDE Part 1 Review
Course Coordinator: Elena Cunningham
DDS multi-year
- INBDE Preparation
Course Coordinator: Elena Cunningham
Johnson JH, Baker EW. (2017). Rehabilitation of Plastinated Anatomical Prosections Using Silicone Adhesive and Pre-Cured S10/S3-Impregnated Fascia and Muscle. The Journal of Plastination 29(2):30 -36.
Baker EW, Slott P, Terracio L, Cunningham EP. (2013). An innovative method for teaching anatomy. Journal of Dental Education 77:1498-1807.
The Department of Molecular Pathobiology is at the forefront of instructional innovation. Faculty in the Department work with instructional technologists at the NYU College of Dentistry as well as with NYU-wide instructional technology resources to ensure that new course development — and the modification of existing courses — takes advantage of technologies and analytics that will ultimately best serve the students and faculty of our community. Some examples of the department teaching developments are described below.
The NYU Academy of Distinguished Educators recognizes outstanding teaching among NYU Dentistry faculty, and supports the development of new curricula, research into teaching and learning, and fosters a dedicated community of like-minded educators. Acceptance into the Academy follows a rigorous application process, and vote for induction by the Academy members. Faculty of the Academy are committed to excellence in teaching, the further development of their skills, and serving the College as mentors and trailblazers for best practices in teaching. The following Department faculty are members or fellows of the Academy of Distinguished Educators.
- Eric Baker. Student Council Faculty of the Month, NYU College of Dentistry, January, 2019.
- Cristian Stefan. Faculty Council Teaching Award in Recognition of Outstanding Teaching and Dedication to Dental Students, NYU College of Dentistry, 2019.
- Wenbo Yan. Dean’s Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2019.
- Juhee Jeong. Faculty Council Teacher Recognition Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2018.
- Wenbo Yan. Student Council Faculty of the Month Award, NYU College of Dentistry, January 2018.
- Elisabeth Lopez. Faculty Council Teacher Recognition Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2017-2018
- Xin Li. Faculty Council Outstanding Teacher Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2017.
- Elena Cunningham. NYU Distinguished Teaching Award, New York University, 2016-2017.
- Cristian Stefan. Dean’s Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2016.
- Cristian Stefan. Faculty Choice Award for Teaching Excellency in the Pre-matriculation Student Educational Enrichment Program for Medical and Dental Students, Georgia Regents University, 2012.
- Cristian Stefan. Faculty Choice Award for Teaching Excellency in the Pre-matriculation Student Educational Enrichment Program for Medical and Dental Students, Georgia Regents University, 2011.
- Eric Baker. Faculty Council Teaching Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2010.
- Eric Baker. Dean’s Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2010.
- Andrew Spielman, ADEA Excellence in Teaching Award, American Dental Education Association, 2010.
- Johanna Warshaw. Faculty Council Teacher Recognition Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2010.
- Eric Baker. Student Council Teaching Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2009.
- Andrew Spielman. Distinguished Teaching Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2009.
- Cristian Stefan. Educational Achievement (Star) Award, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 2007.
- Andrew Spielman. ADEA Dental Education Award, American Dental Education Association, 2007.
- Eric Baker. Dean’s Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2005.
- Elena Cunningham. Dean’s Award, NYU College of Dentistry, 2005.