Biology faculty members Dr. Tanja Wittrock and Dr. Suzanne Bessette recently traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico, for the Anatomy Connected 2026 conference. Hosted by the American Association for Anatomy (AAA), the event focused on the latest innovations in anatomical research and education. Swoop joined them for the trip, capturing some great photo ops in the Land of Enchantment along the way. Below, Tanja and Suzanne share their highlights from the conference and how these new insights will benefit their students back on campus.

When and where did the event take place?

Anatomy Connected — April 17-21, 2026 — Albuquerque Convention Center, New Mexico

Please share details from a memorable keynote speaker, conference session, or something else notable from the event.

There were lots of interesting session from newest research in A&P, such as stem cell innovation etc, but what stood out for me the most were the sessions on AI integration in the A&P classroom. One presenter created a quite impressive app for learning and quizzing different cardiac rhythm. He did so while sitting on his couch, using AI, and finished building this app in less than 2h. Other presenters used AI for student engagement, case-based learning and to enhance conceptual understanding, while maintaining academic integrity and fostering critical thinking skills.

How likely are you to recommend this opportunity to a colleague? 

Very likely

Do you have any big takeaways that you’ll be applying to your pedagogy in the near future? 

Yes, the research presented strongly supported the value of group discussions, peer mentoring, and case-based learning—approaches we already emphasize. Building on this, I plan to integrate AI tools to further deepen students’ conceptual understanding and critical thinking while maintaining clear expectations for academic integrity.

Is there anything else you’d like CIE or your colleagues at NMC to know about this experience? 

CIE: Thank you for making this possible!