Research Guides: Scholarship @ SHSU-COM: Clinical Anatomy

Dr. Mario Loomis

Mario Loomis, MD

Chair, Clinical Anatomy

Dr. Loomis’s scholarly interest is in medical education, particularly optimizing the delivery of complex material by aligning it with natural learning mechanisms, and objectively assessing the success of such alignment. Along these lines, he is passionate about bringing his decades of clinical experience into the basic science classroom, moving beyond the clinical correlation box to the inspiration of wonder. He is also exploring optimal techniques of cadaver dissection for student learning.

Loomis_CV

Teaching Expertise/Interests

Anatomy
Neuroanatomy
Neuroscience
Surgery
Dissection

Research Expertise/Interests

Medical Education
Tumescent Dissection
Anatomical Variation
Cadaver-Based Learning

Loomis_Teaching Philosophy

Selected Scholarly Works and/or Activities

Publications Loomis M, Trevino B, Engel B, et al. (2025) A Functional Larynx Dissection Utilizing Mandibular Rotation: A Technical Report. Cureus 17(3):e80767. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.80767 Chiu J, Nikirk J, Loomis M, Hu S, Prada G. (2025) Severe Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna in a 91-Year-Old Female Cadaver: A Case Report. Cureus 17(2):e79234. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79234 Zhan L, Brown J, Gustowski S, Davis P, Loomis M. (2025) Carpal tunnel dimensions following osteopathic manipulation utilizing dorsal carpal arch muscle energy: a pilot study. J Osteopath Med 2025. doi: https://doi.org/10.1515/jom-2024-0167 Loomis, M, Nikirk J, Loomis T, Wooten D, Prada, G. (2024) Brain Removal With an Occipital Hinge Preserving Overlying Anatomy. Cureus 16(10):e72377. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.72377 Loomis, M, Quiñones-Rodriguez J, Wackerly R, Spears K, Loomis T. (2024) Integrating Clinical Reasoning Into Medical Students’ First Weeks of Education Improves Understanding of Cranial Nerve Anatomy. Cureus. Oct 5;16(10):e70889. PMCID: PMC11534083 Https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.70889 Buch, R, Tran, M., Hinojosa, J., Wooten, D, Gokaslan, S., Moeller, D., Loomis, M. (2023) Harnessing the Near-Peer Effect in Anatomy Education. MedSciEduc. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-023-01841-9 Loomis M, Kistner G, Prabahkar D, Hines J, Loomis T, Hinojosa J (2023) Correlation of In-situ Hand Anatomy with Point of Care Ultrasound. Cureus 15(6): e40228. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.40228 Pavlovsky E, Kistner G, Loomis M (2023) A Persistent Median Artery Piercing the Median Nerve: a Review and Clinical Implications. Bull Natl Res Cent Foskey J, Loomis M (2023) An Open-book Approach to Pelvic Dissection for the Male Genitourinary System. Cureus 15(5): e39257. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.39257 Wackerly R, Thomas K, Loomis T, Moeller D, Loomis M (2023) Anatomical Correlation for Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma. Cureus 15(4): e37714. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.37714 Loomis M, Staudaher S, Loomis T (2023) Improved Understanding of Clinical Correlates with In-situ Prosections. HAPS Educator 27:60-75. https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2023.008 Vinson C, Pavlovsky E, Loomis M (2023) Variant femoral nerve: the path beneath the iliacus muscle and into neuropathic symptoms. Bull Natl Res Cent 47:35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42269-023-01010-3 Ramos-Alicea D, Marcano-Anaya J, Loomis M, Ramirez N, Quiñones-Rodriguez J (2023) Unusual Vascular Distribution in the Third Segment of the Axillary Artery. Medicina 59(5): 913. https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina59050913 Buch, R., Tran, M., Hinojosa, J., Wooten, D, Gokaslan, S., Moeller, D., Loomis, M. Harnessing the Near-Peer Effect in Anatomy Education. Med.Sci.Educ. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-023-01841-9 Loomis M, Hines J, Reynolds A (2022) Tumescence in cadaveric dissection: a teaching perspective. HAPS Educator 26:33-37. https://doi.org/10.21692/haps.2022.005 Inspiring Wonder in a Neuroscience Curriculum, Poster, International Society of Medical Science Educators Annual Meeting, June 2020.
Invited Talks Invited by The Vatican to represent The United States at The World Meeting of Families in Mexico City, 2009. The Science of Stem Cells, Presentation at Good Counsel Homes Annual Meeting, New York, NY, 2010.
Service New York State Stem Cell Board, Finance Committee, New York, NY, 2010-2014. Student Promotions and Academic Progress Committee, Member, Sam Houston State University College of Medicine, 2020-present. IT/ Academic Advisory Committee, member, Sam Houston State University College of Medicine, 2020-present.

Selected Outreach Activities

Volunteerism Light of the World Charities, Volunteer Surgeon, Honduras and Nicaragua, 2008-2014. A Drop of Clear Water, Teen Support Group, Founder, 2005-2013.

Sefik Gokaslan, MD

Dr. Gokaslan’s recent research interests focused on cardiothoracic and transplant pathology when he became a member of the thoracic pathology subspecialty team. His most recent publications reflect his interest in developing better methods for further understanding and early diagnosis of humoral and cellular pathologic rejection in the heart and lung transplant samples. Dr. Gokaslan also recently collaborated with the radiology department and took part in the studies leading to better characterization of the radiologic and pathologic correlation of non-neoplastic interstitial lung diseases. As a cytopathologist, Dr. Gokaslan contributed to the cytology literature with publication of case reports and small clinical series of rare and newly defined entities with the aim of facilitating their diagnosis utilizing cytomorphology and ancillary studies. Dr. Gokaslan included many trainees in his scholarly work throughout his career and is very passionate about supporting medical student engagement in the future studies.

Dr. Jailenne Quiñones-Rodriquez

Jailenne I. Quiñones-Rodríguez, Ph.D., M.A.

ORCiD https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8375-0645

Dr. Quiñones' research focuses on the study of nondescribed human anatomical variations addressing the clinical and surgical implications these variations might have in developmental anatomy, diagnosis, and therapeutic procedures in which they may require more attention or specific arrangements. The significance of anatomical studies ranges from the discovery of novel neurovascular structures to additional organ structures, such as a unique accessory lobe in the liver showing a diverse perspective and awareness of morphological features from those classically described in anatomy textbooks. Most importantly, this emphasize the wealth of information that is still unknown about human anatomy. This investigative paradigm has resulted in over eighteen peer-reviewed publications and multiple awards in the past four years.

Webpage: https://jailennequinones.wixsite.com/jquinonesrodriguez

List of Publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/107hogaCs-aE7x/bibliography/public/

Teaching Expertise/Interests
Anatomy
Histology
Embryology
Dissection

Research Expertise
Human Anatomical Variations
Medical Education

Selected Scholarly Works and/or Activities
Peer Reviewed Publications Quiñones Rodriguez JI Mantilla Rosa C, Rodríguez F, Villamil CI, Fernández J,González Solá M, Rosario M. A Missing Flexor Digitorum Brevis Tendon and Its Relationship to Sex and Ancestry: Evaluation in Hispanic Population. Anatomia.2022 December; 1(2). doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/anatomia1020021 Quiñones Rodriguez JI Acevedo Arroyo AN, Santiago Negron CL, Garcés Torres LF, Fonseca Salgado C. A Bipartite Obturator Artery with Multiple Pelvic Branching A Gynecologic Approach. Diagnostics. 2022 October; 12(11). doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12112614. Quiñones Rodriguez JI Camacho Quiñones A, Cárdenas Suarez N, Ramirez N. Case Report: Dual Innervation to the Gluteus Maximus: A Case Report and Clinical Implications. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2022 May; 16(5):AD01 AD03. doi: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2022/52660.16319. Quiñones Rodriguez JI Lozada Miranda V, Del Mazo Arbona N, Rosario MG. Unilateral Double Subscapular Artery: A Case Report. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research. 2022 April; 16(4):AD01 AD03. doi: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2022/52633.16183 Quiñones Rodriguez JI Amador R, Silvestrini I. A Comprehensive View into a Novel, Accessory Liver Lobe. International Journal of Anatomical Variations. 2021; 14(7):111 113.
Editorial Quiñones Rodriguez JI "The Use of Three Dimensional Virtual Anatomy Software as an Innovative Approach for Medical Student's Education." Acta Scientific Anatomy 1.2 (2002): 01. https://www.actascientific.com/ASAT/pdf/ASAT 01 0007.pdf Quiñones Rodriguez JI “The Influence o f Mentorship on Physicians in Training”. Acta Scientific Anatomy 1.5 (2022): 12 02. https://www.actascientific.com/ASAT/pdf/ASAThttps://www.actascientific.com/ASAT/pdf/ASAT--0101--0026.pdf0026.pdf
Invited Talks Invited Speaker: World Dentistry Meeting in Budapest, Hungary (2022)
Service Reviewer: Yale Ciencia Academy (YCA) grant R25GM114000 from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (2023- Present) Posters Judge: American Association of Clinical Anatomists Meeting, Career Development Committee (2022- Present) Collaboration in the creation of virtual education modules for public schools in Puerto Rico in collaboration with CienciaPR: “The human body and its mysteries”

Dr. Robert Rice

Research Bio
MSSP

Robert W. Rice, PhD

Dr. Rice earned a Masters and PhD in Human Anatomy from New York Medical College and holds an interest in integrating haptics into development of highly realistic and interactive virtual patients and virtual cadavers to support medical education.

PROPOSED COM SUMMER RESEARCH PROGRAM 2025

The word “haptics” derives from the Greek word for touch with meaning, tactile communication, the first sense developed by the fetus, our most precise human sense, and the essence of osteopathic diagnosis and therapy.

Our past summer project developed virtual reality (VR) simulations of haptic patient assessment of clinical presentations for osteopathy, nursing and athletic training. The placement/orientation/duration of finger and hand movement and pressure during the procedures was indicated by the appearance of “ghost hands” in the VR headset (Meta Quest 3) determined by the 3D position of the VR controllers and representing the clinically appropriate assessment process.

These simulations were evaluated as effective learning resources but lacked the actual haptic tactile interaction with the virtual patients. This summer we will develop new simulations in Extended Reality (XR) and will build and incorporate a haptic device that will introduce a realistic tactile experience for the user as a teaching/training resource available 24/7 for mastery of osteopathic techniques.

Dr. Dennis Wooten

Research Bio

Dennis Wooten, MD, PhD

Dr. Wooten has a significant history of peer reviewed basic and applied laboratory research and clinical case presentations. His primary educational research interest at the College of Osteopathic Medicine involves improving the delivery of pathology education for first-year and second-year medical students. His plans are to encourage student participation in the research effort by presenting the students with pathology images with and without associated clinical cases and determine which method is more effective for retaining and understanding principles in pathology. This effort will be ongoing throughout the semesters, followed by data analysis intervals. Primary data will be quiz and exam score comparisons and short, standardized questionnaires. This effort may result in new strategies for pathology instruction.