Say hello to our featured member
Brandi McCleskey!

Our association is a robust and diverse set of educators, students, researchers, medical professionals, volunteers and academics that come from all walks of life and from around the globe. Each month we choose a member to highlight their academic and professional career and see how they are making the best of their membership in IAMSE. This month’s Featured Member is Brandi McCleskey.

Brandi McCleskey, MD
Associate Professor
University of Alabama at Birmingham (USA)

How long have you been a member of IAMSE?
I became a member in 2022 prior to presenting a workshop at GRIPE at IAMSE during the 2022 Annual Conference. 

Looking at your time with the Association, what have you most enjoyed doing? What are you looking forward to? How does IAMSE benefit pathology educators? 
Last year’s conference was my first introduction to IAMSE and I’m looking forward to learning more about the Association as well as engaging with the presentations this year during the Annual Conference. I’ve enjoyed the (#IAMSECafe) sessions offered leading up to the Annual Conference as well. IAMSE focuses on a wide variety of pedagogical topics that are widely applicable to all disciplines including Pathology education. IAMSE can also offer Pathology educators a platform to connect with other educators and highlight the importance of a quality Pathology curriculum.  

I am looking forward to meeting some of our colleagues whom I have only met online. During the pandemic, we started to collaborate by leveraging technology, but now that the travel conditions have allowed it, I am looking forward to being able to see them in real life.

Tell us about the GRIPE at IAMSE program during the IAMSE 2023 Annual Conference. Why should people – including non-pathologists – attend? What part of your program are you most excited about?
This year’s program will focus on the Practice of Pathology Education. The featured plenary speaker is one of the founding members of GRIPE and will help us understand the history of Pathology education and the trajectory that brought us where we are today. I’m most excited about the panel with “learners” – both students and trainees – who can give feedback to us as educators regarding their experiences with Pathology education. It will be a valuable program for all (specifically non-pathologists) as we’ll close the day with a focus on teaching Pathology as a non-pathologist. 

What event are you most looking forward to in Cancun?
I’m excited to hear the Plenary session by Professor Anique de Bruin who I hope will remind us that “we can do hard things” and how to help our learners understand that some degree of “desirable difficulty” is necessary for success. 

What interesting things are you working on outside the Association right now?
I am a Forensic Pathologist and am currently working with the National Association of Medical Examiner’s to help remediate our workforce shortage which includes building a passion for Pathology as a career in medical students, undergraduates, and beyond. I am also a Pathology Residency Program Director and work endlessly to ensure our trainees are not just successful doctors and Pathologists, but also focus on their well-being as individuals and part of a team (whether that be at work, at home, or in the community). 

Anything else that you would like to add?
I would love to see everyone at the GRIPE at IAMSE Program this year during the Annual Conference. I’d also love to connect with you in Cancun or on social media (@bcmmd12 on Twitter and you can find me on LinkedIn). 

Want to learn more about the GRIPE at IAMSE program during the IAMSE 2023 Annual Conference? Click here for more information on that program and the hundreds of other presentations happening live in June in Cancun, Mexico!