As many of you know, palaeopathology has been a tricky subject to teach over the last 18 months, however recent developments in digital palaeopathology have allowed lecturers around the world to use extant and develop new digital resources. In turn, these digital methods are opening up new areas of palaeopathological investigation.

Jo Buckberry is hosting the first in a series of webinars organised by the Paleopathology Association (www.paleopathology.org) on Friday 27th August at 16:00 (BST). Brief talks will be given by Andrew Nelson, Susan Kuzminsky and Anne Titlebaum. Please see the attached flyer for detail of the talks.

To register follow this link: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/125931881262525200

Andrew Nelson
University of Western Ontario
Microcomputed Tomography and Digital Paleopathology
Microcomputed tomography (μCT) is a radiological imaging modality that allows high resolution, non-destructive imaging of paleopathological specimens to aid in differential diagnosis. It is useful to bridge μCT to histological analysis or to lower resolution clinical CT scans to compare the technique to more familiar modes of analysis. This bridging falls in the area referred to as “correlative microscopy”. This presentation will include two correlative microscopy examples and will end with a non-paleopathological example of how these digital μCT scans can be visualized for knowledge mobilization to the public.

Susan Kuzminsky
Eastern New Mexico University
Teaching Paleopathology Online
In this talk, I discuss some of the ways in which digital imaging can aid in student learning methods, both online and through independent research. I will highlight my current collaborative research project that examines cranial vault modification practices in the ancient Andean world, and how the integration of high-resolution 3D models featuring unique styles of Andean head-shaping has the potential to advance this area of research in paleopathology, while providing unique opportunities for student learning in hybrid course structures.

Anne Titelbaum
University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
The Importance of Being Empathetic: Experiences Teaching Virtual Clinical Anatomy
For many medical schools, the pandemic necessarily altered the manner in which dissection-based clinical anatomy was taught. At the Phoenix Biomedical Campus, this lab-based course was shifted to a virtual format, and it relied upon the use of accurate online interactive 3D anatomical models that depict “normal” human anatomy, supplemented with professional illustrations and dissection images. In addition to giving a brief demonstration of the models, this presentation will consider lessons learned from this experience. While there were positive outcomes from the use of the online platform, it was found that the greatest challenges included gaining an appreciation of anatomical variation and pathological processes, and instilling and maintaining a sense of empathy to the virtual donor and to those affected by pathology. While the first issue can be addressed through the continued building of 3D databases of pathological cases, the second is not as easily overcome, and merits discussion in anatomical, osteological, and paleopathological courses, particularly those that use digital elements.