Keely Cassidy, PhD

Associate Professor

   

Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy
986395 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha, NE 68198-6395

402-559-9540
Email


Education:
PhD, Anatomy and Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine
MS, Anatomy, Des Moines University College of Medicine

Academic Appointments:
Director, Physician Assistant Gross Anatomy Course
Director, Physical Therapy Gross Anatomy Course
Director, Advanced Dissection Course
Block Director, COM Genitourinary, Reproductive and Developmental Block

Honors & Awards:
College of Medicine Class of 1962 Basic Science Outstanding Teacher Award, UNMC, 2019
Interprofessional Academy of Educators, UNMC, 2018
Outstanding Associate Instructor Award, Indiana University Medical Sciences Program, 2016
Influential Instructor Award, Indiana University Adam W. Herbert Presidential Scholars Program, 2016

Teaching: 
Dr. Cassidy’s primary focus in the department is teaching. She serves as the Course Director of the Structure and Development of the Human Body course for allied health (PA, PT) students and the Advanced Gross Anatomy and Dissection course for graduate students; serves as the Assistant Course Director for the Gross Anatomy courses for graduate students; participates in the College of Medicine’s Training Physicians of Tomorrow curriculum in nearly every foundational and organ-systems block as well as serving as the embryology component leader; serves as the Block Director for the COM Genitourinary, Reproductive and Developmental block; and collaborates with the Masters of Genetic Counseling program and various residency and fellowship programs to provide embryological content in courses and workshops.

Research:
Dr. Cassidy’s research focus is in the scholarship of teaching and learning in medical education. Her current projects involve faculty and student experiences and perceptions of embryology content in the basic science curriculum; analyses of advanced dissection and demonstration experiences and their impact on student learning outcomes and confidence; and the use of metaphor and analogy in anatomical education. She serves as an embryology textbook reviewer and is an active participant in several international anatomical organizations.   

Publications:
  1. McCumber, T., Vogt, C., Urban, J.,  Cassidy, K., Latacha, K., Vilburn, M., Urban, N. & Simet, S. (2019). Accuracy of ultrasound-guided localization of the peripatellar plexus for knee pain management.  Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. (in publication)
  2. Cassidy, K., Clapper, L., & Lederer, A. Professional and personal learning communities:  The lasting impact of an interdisciplinary network of graduate students. In  Voices from the Classroom:  Graduate Students’ Reflections of Evidence-based Teaching. J. Meta Robinson, V. O’Loughlin, K. Kearns, and L. Plummer (Eds.). (in press)
  3. Cassidy, K. Synapse HAPS: A rapid, new form of knowledge transmission.  HAPS-EDucator, 19(3):  13-14.
  4. Johnson, C.C., Middendorf, J., Rehrey, G., Dalkilic, M.M., Zhu, C., &  Cassidy, K.(2014). Geological time, biological events and the learning transfer problem.  Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 14(4):  115-129. doi: 10.14434/josotl.v14i4.4667 .
  5. Foo, J., Martinez-Escobar, M., Juhnke, B.,  Cassidy, K., Hisley, K., Lobe, T., & Winer, E. (2013). Evaluating mental workload of two-dimensional and three-dimensional visualization for anatomical structure localization.  Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques, 23(1): 65-70. doi:10.1089/lap.2012.0150.
Presentations:
  1. Cassidy K. (2019). Anatomical dissection and demonstration:  Effects on student learning outcomes and confidence. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. Orlando, Florida, 2019.
  2. Cassidy, K. (2019). A self-directed advanced dissection course. Invited presentation at the Department of Cell, Developmental, and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama Birmingham. Birmingham, Alabama, 2019.
  3. Cassidy K. (2018). Anatomical dissection and demonstration:  Effects on student learning outcomes and confidence. Poster presentation at the Spotlight on Scholarship Educational Showcase, Interprofessional Academy of Educators, University of Nebraska Medical Center. Omaha, Nebraska, 2018.
  4. Cassidy K. & Pratt R. (2018). Co-Chair of Symposium. Fascia, what is it good for?  Absolutely everything:  research, educational, and clinical perspectives. Sponsored by AAA Educational Affairs Committee. American Association of Anatomists Annual Meeting. San Diego, California, 2018.
  5. Cassidy K. (2017). Phenomenology:  Participants’ first person perspectives in research. Invited workshop at the Anatomy Education Research Institute, American Association of Anatomists. Bloomington, Indiana, 2017.
  6. Cassidy K. (2017). Faculty perspectives of embryology in North American medical education. Poster presentation at the Anatomical Society Annual Meeting. Galway, Ireland, 2017.
  7. Cassidy K. (2017). Throwing a wrench in the works:  A perspective on teaching birth defects in the context of normal development. Poster presentation at the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society Annual Meeting. Salt Lake City, Utah, 2017.
  8. Cassidy K. & Barger, J.B. (2017). Co-Chair of Hybrid Symposium. Building the bridge:  Connecting prior knowledge to new knowledge. Sponsored by the AAA Educational Affairs Committee. American Association of Anatomists Annual Meeting; 2017. Chicago, IL.
  9. Cassidy, K. (2016). ”Death, Donation, and Dissection”:  The development of an undergraduate course about human body donors in education. HAPS-Educator 20(3). Poster presentation at the 30th Annual Meeting of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. Atlanta, Georgia, 2016.
  10. Cassidy, K. (2016). The embryology educator experience:  A comprehensive survey of faculty and the generation of a phenomenology of embryology education. FASEB J 30. Oral presentation in the Anatomy Education Platform 2:  Evidence-Based Approaches to Anatomy Education at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. San Diego, California, 2016.
  11. Cassidy, K. & Klein, B. (2016) Evaluation of an interactive histology review session for medical student statewide exam preparation. Poster presentation at the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis Edward C. Moore Excellence in Teaching Symposium. Indianapolis, Indiana, 2016.
  12. Cassidy, K. (2016). Active learning in A&P:  Play to your students’ strengths. Invited oral presentation at the 6 th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Physiological Society. Greencastle, Indiana, 2016.
  13. Cassidy, K. (2015). Tubes and twists:  A hands-on activity to teach development of the digestive system. HAPS-EDucator 19(3):  106. Workshop presentation at the 29th Annual Meeting of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. San Antonio, Texas, 2015.
  14. Cassidy, K. (2015). Embryology in the medical curriculum:  The perceptions and opinions of current anatomy faculty. FASEB J 29:  695.1. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. Boston, Massachusetts, 2015. Finalist for the American Association of Anatomists/ Anatomical Sciences Education Student/ Postdoctoral Education Research Poster Award.
  15. Cassidy, K. (2015). Development of a pre-medical embryology course using backward course design and student career goals. Oral presentation at the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis Edward C. Moore Excellence in Teaching Symposium. Indianapolis, Indiana, 2015.
  16. Cassidy, K. (2014). Let their goals be your guide:  How to develop a writing exercise using student career plans in healthcare. HAPS-EDucator 18(3):  49. Workshop presentation at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. Jacksonville, Florida, 2014.
  17. Cassidy, K. (2014). Development of a pre-medical embryology course using backward course design. FASEB J 28:  534.1. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. San Diego, California, 2014.
  18. Cassidy, K. (2013). Embryology in the medical curriculum:  student study approaches, attitudes, and beliefs. HAPS-EDucator, 17(3):  56. Poster presentation at the 27th Annual Meeting of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society. Las Vegas, Nevada, 2013.
  19. Cassidy, K. (2013). The pyramidal lobe:  Connecting a case study with lymphatic system topics in gross anatomical education. FASEB J 27:  958.3. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. Boston, Massachusetts, 2013.
  20. Carpenter, L., Cassidy, K., Lederer, A., Sturts, J., Kearns, K., & O’Loughlin, V. (2013). Learning communities for graduate students: Supporting scholarly teaching. Oral presentation at the Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis Edward C. Moore Excellence in Teaching Symposium. Indianapolis, Indiana, 2013.
  21. Canby, C.A. & Cassidy, K. (2012). The unhappy triad:  Quest for a conclusive definition. FASEB J 26:  lb24. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. San Diego, California, 2012.
  22. Cassidy, K. & Khan, M.A. (2011). Anatomic variations of the dorsalis pedis artery:  A cadaveric study. FASEB J 25:  lb2. Poster presentation at the Annual Meeting of the American Association of Anatomists. Washington DC, 2011.