Scientific Advisory Board

Athanasios Raikos is a physician and former Assistant Professor of Anatomy at Bond University, Australia. He has a strong background in surgical anatomy and medical education research, and has published numerous papers in academic journals. He is passionate about the implementation of immersive technologies in medical education and training.

Panagiota Kordali is a physician, clinical and digital anatomist, specialized in anatomical sciences education. As the COO and Managing Director at 3D Organon, she has played a pivotal role in transforming medical education. She is dedicated to innovation and fostering an ecosystem of immersive technologies that elevate education across the globe.

Aaron McDonald has over 20 years of experience teaching Anatomy, and has designed and coordinated courses across multiple year levels and degrees. His research is focused on teaching strategies, assessment, blended learning, team-teaching, and integrating digital technologies into anatomy curricula. He is a FHEA, recognized for excellence in teaching.

Ameed Raoof is a renowned Anatomist who has previously taught at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and Emeritus of Medical Education at the University of Michigan Medical School. He’s held leadership roles at UMMS, including Director of the Division of Anatomical Sciences, the Anatomical Donation Program, and the Plastination Lab.

Boyne Bellew is an esteemed Anaesthetist with experience in South Africa, Australia, and the UK. He directs the ESRA-accredited regional anesthesia program, teaches senior anesthetists advanced techniques, and uses research and immersive technology to enhance learning outcomes.

Christos Vonapartis Kosmidis is an educator and STEAM Coordinator with 15 years of experience in Science and Technology education. He integrates 3D printing, robotics, AI, and XR into primary and secondary curricula. He mentors student teams in technology competitions. Additionally, he’s pursuing doctoral research in cognitive science.

Diogo Pais is a distinguished Professor at NOVA Medical School, leading the Department of Anatomy and chairs the Ethics Research Committee. He serves as Secretary-General of the IFAA and ICSMS and has held leadership roles in anatomical societies. With extensive experience in medical education, he has published widely and received multiple awards.

Elizabeth Oviawe is a leader in instructional and immersive technology, specializing in bio/medical and public health informatics. As Director of Institutional Technology at Nova Southeastern University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, she oversees campus-wide technology initiatives and conducts research on AI clinical cases and XR simulations.

George Jobby is a Professor who completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Lund University and was invited by Karolinska Institute. His research focuses on neurotheology, consciousness, and technology, including studies on learning anatomy through Virtual Reality. He teaches anatomy and neuroscience and has published extensively.

Gillian D Ellern has served as Systems Librarian for over 30 years and has coordinated the VR lab at Hunter Library. She has written and presented widely on advanced technologies, including 3D Organon, and co-authored “Black, White, and Grey: the Wicked Problem of Virtual Reality in Libraries,” exploring VR challenges in higher education.

Heath McGowan is an academic, delivering anatomy education to first- through third-year students across health disciplines. His work includes implementing immersive technologies, team-teaching, and enhancing online learning. His project was a runner-up in the 2020 ITnews Benchmark Awards, and he is a member of the Australia-wide Digital Anatomy Network.

Jawaad Saleem Malik is a Consultant in Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine professional. He is a Fellow of the FRCA and the FFPMRCA, with expertise in ultrasound-guided pain interventions and perioperative pain management. He integrates clinically oriented anatomy into training and has a strong interest in VR anatomy education.

Jo Bishop is Associate Dean of Students and Curriculum Lead, with nearly a decade of experience as a curriculum director, anatomist, and former stem cell biologist. She contributes to international discussions on medical education, combining her expertise as an educator with strong leadership.

Lars Peder Bovim is a physiotherapist and head of the Vitality Center for Children and Youth at Bergen University Hospital, as well as an Assistant Professor at SimArena, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences. He is part of the team leading Norway’s largest university VR implementation.

Lotti Tajouri is an Associate Professor and an Adjunct Associate Professor at Murdoch University, recognized as one of Australia’s leading researchers in molecular genetics. He is a member of both the Dubai Police Scientific Council and the Dubai Future Council on Community Securit. Passionate about teaching immunology and microbiology.

María Teresa Vázquez Osorio’s expertise includes laryngeal reinnervation and clinically relevant anatomical variations. She is President of the Spanish Anatomical Society, Assistant Editor of the European Journal of Anatomy, member of the Mexican Society of Anatomy, and the British Association of Clinical Anatomy.

Martin Hill is a learning technologist specializing in immersive, collaborative, hybrid and active learning technologies. With over 30 years of experience managing campus-wide lecture and clinical capture systems, he now leads the VR and Mixed Reality–rich Digital Immersive Lab at Murdoch University.

Olga Avilova is a medical educator, Course Director for Neuroanatomy for Dental students and teaching Anatomy and Histology across multiple programs. With over 12 years of experience in clinical anatomy and medical education across Ukraine, France, the UK, and the US, she has led major initiatives integrating immersive technologies into anatomy education.

Rob Theriault is an expert in immersive learning technologies, helping faculty integrate XR and AI into curricula. He serves as President of the Canadian Chapter of the Immersive Learning Research Network (iLRN) and Co-chair of Champions for Higher Education in XR (CHEX). He is a published author, researcher and international speaker on immersive education.

Rodolfo Paredes Esparza is an Academic Director and President of the Bioethical Committee. He has held multiple academic leadership roles, including Undergraduate Director and Academic Secretary of the Veterinary Medicine School. His research spans immune responses, medical device innovation, and medical education.

She is a General Surgeon in Training and a global leader in Extended Reality (XR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, recognized among the TOP 100 Women in XR worldwide. She applies immersive technologies to enhance patient care and medical education and has founded Munfarid and VRXOne to advance XR-based healthcare solutions.

Shahed Nalla is an Associate Professor of Human Anatomy at the University of Johannesburg, with a career in higher education since 1994. He has extensive teaching experience across undergraduate and postgraduate anatomy programs and integrates VR, AR, and XR technologies to enhance anatomy education.

Shazia Iqbal is a Senior Lecturer and Chair at the University of Buckingham, dedicated to transforming medical education through advanced technologies, including Generative AI She leads curriculum development and teaching initiatives that reflect the latest trends in medical education, collaborating with the Royal Society of Medicine to enhance academic standards and student outcomes.

Yuriy Vasil’ev is a Professor of Operative Surgery and Topographic Anatomy and a Doctor of Medical Sciences in human anatomy and dentistry. He teaches and conducts dissection workshops for students. He specializes in improving local anesthesia techniques in the maxillofacial region and advancing anatomy education using immersive technologies.