[Fields of Study]

Structural Anatomy

Rustin Reeves, Ph.D.
Research and Education Building 202
817-735-2050
E-mail: rustin.reeves@unthsc.edu

Graduate Faculty: John Aschenbrenner, Patrick Cammarata, Geoffrey Guttmann, Claire Kirchhoff, Rehana Lovely, Peter Raven, Rustin Reeves, Armando Rosales, Robert Wordinger

Clinical Faculty: Robert Bunata, David Lichtman, Travis Motley, Arvid Nana, Robert Reddix, Brian Tobias, Russell Wagner

The Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy has a primary mission to provide instruction in cell biology and the anatomical sciences; to develop and maintain research programs; and to participate in the service endeavors of the institution and profession. One of the major reasons for developing this program was due to a recognized shortage nationally in the training of qualified instructors in the anatomical sciences.  Several factors have contributed to this which include: 1) an increase in student enrollment at many medical schools, 2) an increase in the number of medical schools in the U.S., 3) an aging population of trained anatomists, and 4) a small number of programs designed to train future anatomy faculty.

The Structural Anatomy Ph.D. Program, through coursework, teaching, and research opportunities will develop and train students who will be qualified to teach the anatomical sciences at medical schools, health science centers, and universities across the U.S.  The program focuses on anatomy-based research projects using advanced experimental computational, and clinical tools to study clinical structural anatomy, orthopedics, biomechanics, surgery, tissue engineering, and/or educational research areas of the anatomical sciences.  The major impetus of the research in the discipline will consist of but not be limited to: 1) the analysis, design, and/or development of orthopedic surgical techniques, instruments, and devices used in orthopedic surgery or practice, 2) biomechanics, including the study of the structure, function, evolution/adaptive significance, and mechanical behavior of soft and hard tissues, 3) clinical anatomy studies in cardiology or neuroscience, 4) studies in skeletal biology, and 5) studies in anatomy pedagogy through the development of unique education tools, techniques, and assessment strategies.

Structural Anatomy students may enter the program with a variety of backgrounds, providing they have met the application criteria for the GSBS at UNT Health Science Center.  There are several ways in which students can join the Structural Anatomy program.  First, they can apply to the program as they are applying for graduate school and be accepted as a candidate to that program upon entering graduate school.  Secondly, they can enter graduate school as a non-declared graduate student, and choose the program after their laboratory rotations during that first year.  A third method of entry, would be to enter the dual degree program (DO/PhD), and do two years of research for the Ph.D. degree, in addition to the four years of medical school.  All of these students currently take all of the graduate core curriculum with the exception of the dual degree students, who get a waiver from taking the graduate core curriculum since they have taken the TCOM Cell Science course.

Facilities
The human anatomy facility at UNT Health Science Center is a state-of-the-art facility that uses advanced educational techniques and computer technology to teach and train medical and graduate students in the anatomical sciences.  The facility has a recently renovated embalming and storage facility to serve the numerous anatomy programs.  In addition, to support a variety of research programs, the department maintains a microscopy core facility for tissue culture and molecular biology.  The department faculty and staff occupy over 8,000 square feet of research space.  The department is home to the Biomedical Skills Research and Educational Laboratory (BSREL) that involves faculty from various basic science disciplines, as well as professionals in industry and private clinical practice.  Graduate students in the program have numerous opportunities and are highly encouraged to participate in training programs that occur in this facility.

Degree Plans
The following are typical degree plans for students in the Structural Anatomy Track for the Cell Biology and Anatomy discipline. It is advantageous to the student to begin graduate study in the fall semester. This degree plan may vary depending upon availability of course offerings in a given semester and each student's progress toward thesis and dissertation research. 

Ph.D. Degree Plan for Cell Biology and Anatomy - Structural Anatomy Track

Year 1: Fall

Advancement to Doctoral Candidacy

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination within the Structural Anatomy Track for the Cell Biology and Anatomy discipline must be successfully completed prior to concluding 72 semester credit hours (SCH). The main goal of the examination is to ensure that each doctoral student has a broad knowledge base in biomedical sciences and has mastered the fundamental principles of anatomy and cell biology in order to be a successful doctoral candidate and an independent researcher. The qualifying examination consists of written and oral phases. The examination will be directed towards the didactic course work of the student with an emphasis on the anatomical sciences. Basic knowledge and understanding of general research techniques in anatomy, cell biology, and molecular biology will be included.

The initial phase of the qualifying examination consists of a set of written questions administered by a qualifying examination committee (QEC) composed of faculty members of the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy. Within four weeks of taking the written examination, the chair of the QEC will schedule the oral examination. The oral examination will consist of questions that further explore the student's answers in the written phase, as well as questions on additional topics in anatomy and cell biology as deemed appropriate by the QEC. The University Member must be in attendance for the oral phase of the examination.

The qualifying examination will be graded on a Pass/Fail basis. Successful completion of the qualifying exam must be accomplished before the student can register for Grant Writing (BMSC 6310). Two attempts to pass the qualifying examination will be allowed. Failure to pass the qualifying examination after two attempts will result in dismissal from the doctoral program. In this case, a student may be allowed to complete the requirements for a Master of Science degree.

Grant Writing (6310)

After passing the qualifying examination, but prior to the completion of 84 SCH, the student must register for Grant Writing (BMSC 6310). This stage of the advancement to doctoral candidacy evaluates a student's aptitude for independent thought and scientific writing. The student is required to (a) prepare an NIH-style research proposal; (b) present the proposal in a public seminar; and (c) orally defend the proposal before his/her doctoral advisory committee. The proposal should be based on an original hypothesis and should describe specific experimental approaches to address the hypothesis. The graduate advisor will appoint a member of the student's advisory committee to coordinate the process. The student will meet with the advisory committee at least twice during the semester to review drafts of the proposal. The final written proposal must be typed in NIH format and presented to the advisory committee at least two weeks prior to the public seminar and oral defense. The grant proposal and the student's oral presentation and defense will be evaluated on the basis of originality and ability to synthesize and communicate the proposal content. The student's University Member must be present for the public seminar and oral defense of the proposal. Upon successful completion of Grant Writing (BMSC 6310), the student is advanced to doctoral candidacy. Two attempts to successfully complete Grant Writing (BMSC 6310) will be allowed. Failure to pass Grant Writing (BMSC 6310) will result in dismissal from the doctoral program. In this case, a student may be allowed to complete the requirements for a Master of Science degree.