Varna Taranikanti, M.D.,M.S., PhD
Associate Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Department of Foundational Medical studies

I have joined Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine faculty in June 2018 as an Associate Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies. I am the systems director for integrating anatomy with clinical sciences. She is also involved in teaching all disciplines of anatomy to M1/M2 students.
I havetaught in various medical schools across the world initially at All India Institute of Medical Sciences then at Sultan Qaboos University Muscat. I have a deep passion for medical education and was involved in developing the integrated outcome based curriculum at Sultan Qaboos University Muscat , Oman. I am a trained clinical Anatomist with more than 16 years experience in teaching all branches of Anatomy (Gross, Embryo, Micro and Neuro) to undergraduate and post graduate medical students. I have imparted anatomical knowledge to residents during surgical ward rounds, supervised cadaveric dissections and conducted integrated workshops to bring clinical relevance to anatomy teaching.

I have received my M.B.B.S (M.D) from Andhra University India. I have a Masters degree in surgery (clinical Anatomy) and a PhD in cell biology from All India Institute of Medical sciences New Delhi where I pursued translational research in breast cancer. I have received the UICC fellowship in 2002 from JWCI, Santa Monica USA where I worked on the significance of biological markers in node negative breast cancer. I am also an an ICRETT fellow and worked on lymph angiogenesis in breast cancer at Cardiff University UK.
I am currently working on the role of GRP78 and endoplasmic stress response in breast cancer patients on adjuvant chemotherapy. My scholarly achievements include AAA best research poster award, Dr Mahdi Hassan Gold medal for Clinical anatomy, Certificate of Academic Excellence & Best teacher award at SQU and AACR-Avon Foundation International Grant for presentation at the AACR and other internal university grants. I have published in leading medical education journals and peer reviewed journals in medicine.


Specialities:
Gross Anatomy, Embryology, Histology
surgical anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Clinical skills, Medical education

Education:
Ph.D.
Breast cancer research
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi, India

M.S
Master of surgery (Anatomical sciences)
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
New Delhi, India

M.B.B.S (M.D)
Andhra University
India

Licensure:
Medical Council of India (MCI),
New Delhi, India

Research Interests:
Medical education: Curriculum design, assessments
Integration of anatomy through clinical skills and imaging
Translational research, Randomized trials

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