American Association for Anatomy

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{{Short description|Professional organization advancing anatomical science, education, and research}}

{{Infobox organization

| name = American Association for Anatomy

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| alt = Logo for the American Association for Anatomy

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| abbreviation = AAA

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| pronounce = /əˈmɛrɪkən əˌsoʊsiˈeɪʃən fɔːr əˈnætəmi/

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| predecessor = Association of American Anatomists

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| founded = {{start date and age|1888|09|17}}

| founder = Joseph Mellick Leidy

| founding_location = Washington D.C.

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| type = Nonprofit Scientific Organization

| tax_id = 23-6239047

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| status = 501(c)(3) organization

| purpose = Advancement of anatomical science, research, and education

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| headquarters = Rockville, Maryland, United States

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| region_served = Worldwide

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| membership = 2,552

| membership_year = 2024

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| leader_title = President

| leader_name = Anne Burrows, PhD

| leader_title2 = President-Elect

| leader_name2 = Ralph Marcucio, PhD

| leader_title3 = Past President

| leader_name3 = Martine Dunnwald, PharmD, PhD, FAAA

| leader_title4 = Secretary/Treasurer

| leader_name4 = Raj Ettarh, PhD

| board_of_directors = {{Indented plainlist|

Four (4) Officers
Ten (10) Non-Officers
One (1) Non-Voting Ex-Officio Director

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| main_organ = Board of Directors

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| affiliations = {{Indented plainlist|

Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB)
International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA)
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) Council of Faculty and Academic Societies (CFAS)
Society for Craniofacial Genetics Developmental Biology (SCGDB)

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| budget =

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| revenue = 3,00,435 USD

| revenue_year = 2024

| disbursements =

| expenses = 2,649,428 USD

| expenses_year = 2024

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| staff = 9

| staff_year = 2023

| volunteers = 110

| volunteers_year = 2023

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| awards = {{Indented plainlist|

Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award
Henry Gray Scientific Achievement Award
Basmajian Award
A.J. Ladman Exemplary Service Award
Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy (FAAA)

}}

| website = [https://www.anatomy.org anatomy.org]

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The American Association for Anatomy (AAA), is an international scientific society of biomedical researchers and educators committed to advancing anatomical science through research, education, and professional development.{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=https://anatomy.org/ANATOMY/ANATOMY/About-Us/About-Us.aspx?hkey=8fb9873f-b415-4d1f-94f1-7c9924b81679 |access-date=April 7, 2025 |website=American Association for Anatomy}} Headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, the association was established in 1888 in Washington, D.C., as the Association of American Anatomists to promote the "advancement of anatomical science."{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://anatomy.org/ANATOMY/About-Us/Governance/History.aspx |access-date=April 7, 2025 |website=American Association for Anatomy}} It was renamed in 1908{{Cite journal |last=Huber |first=G. Carl |date=January 1909 |title=Proceedings of the association of American anatomists |journal=The Anatomical Record |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=62–74 |doi=10.1002/ar.1090030109 |pmid=17232390 |issn=0003-276X|pmc=1328000 }} as the American Association of Anatomists, before adopting its current name in 2019 to reflect the evolving scope of anatomical science and its interdisciplinary reach.{{Cite web |last=Athitakis |first=Mark |date=October 15, 2019 |title=Built to Last: How Associations Have Made it Past the Century Mark |url=https://associationsnow.com/2019/10/built-last-associations-made-past-century-mark/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=Associations Now}}

In addition to teaching, AAA members conduct research in a broad range of fields, including imaging, cell biology, genetics, molecular development, endocrinology, histology, neuroscience, forensics, microscopy, and physical anthropology.

History

The Association of American Anatomists was founded in 1888 with the primary objective of advancing the study and teaching of anatomy in the United States. The AAA was organized during a meeting at Georgetown University in the evening of September 17, 1888.{{Cite news |date=1888-09-18 |title=Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, September 18, 1888, Image 5 |url=https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1888-09-18/ed-1/seq-5/#date1=1756&sort=date&date2=1963&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&index=0&words=American+Anatomists+Association&proxdistance=5&rows=20&ortext=&proxtext=&phrasetext=Association+of+American+Anatomists&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 |access-date=2025-04-07 |pages=5 |issn=2331-9968}}{{Cite book |last=Pauly |first=John Edward |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HtZqAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Association%20of%20American%20Anatomists%22 |title=The American Association of Anatomists, 1888-1987: Essays on the History of Anatomy in America and a Report on the Membership--past and Present |date=1987 |publisher=Williams & Wilkins |isbn=978-0-683-06800-9 |language=en}}{{Cite journal |date=August 1955 |title=American Association of Anatomists. Sixty-eighth meeting, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Pa., April 6, 7, 8, Proceedings, Film Reviews, A Tribute and Brief History, Officers and List of Members |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ar.1091220411 |journal=The Anatomical Record |language=en |volume=122 |issue=4 |pages=633–769 |doi=10.1002/ar.1091220411 |issn=0003-276X |url-access=subscription}} These founding officers were elected:

President, Dr. Joseph Leidy, of Philadelphia
Vice Presidents, Dr. Frank Baker, of Washington & Dr. F. D. Weisse of New York
Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. A. H. P. Leuf, of Philadelphia
Executive Committee Member, Dr. Harrison Allen, of Philadelphia
Executive Committee Member, Dr. Burt G. Wilder, of Ithaca
Executive Committee Member, Dr. A. C. Bernays, of St. Louis

File:Evening Star September 18 1888 Page 5 Association of American Anatomists.jpg

File:Joseph Leidy 2.jpg

Initially, the organization served as a professional forum for anatomists to exchange research findings and foster scientific collaboration in an era when anatomical science was rapidly evolving alongside advances in medicine and biology.

File:Florence R. Sabin LCCN2004672786.jpg

In 1901, the first issue of the Proceedings of the American Association of Anatomists was published in the American Journal of Anatomy.{{Cite web |title=American Association of Anatomists records |url=https://library.umbc.edu/speccoll/findingaids/coll021.php |access-date=2025-04-08 |website=library.umbc.edu}}

In 1908, Florence R. Sabin became the first woman officer. She was subsequently elected as the first female President in 1924.{{Cite book |last=Zach |first=Kim K. |url=https://archive.org/details/hiddenfromhistor0000zach |title=Hidden from history : the lives of eight American women scientists |date=2002 |publisher=Greensboro, NC : Avisson Press |others=Internet Archive |isbn=978-1-888105-54-4}}

In 1917, membership reached over 300 members.

In 1937, the AAA hosted its first meeting outside of the United States, in Toronto, Canada.

In 1986, membership reacher over 5,000 members.

In 1996, the AAA annual meeting was held as part of the larger Experimental Biology conference for the first time.

In 2019, the association officially changed its name from the American Association of Anatomists to the American Association for Anatomy. This change was made to better represent the diversity of scientific fields within its membership and to reflect the broader scope of anatomical sciences promoted by the association in the 21st century.

The association publishes a number of peer-reviewed journals such as The Anatomical Record, Anatomical Sciences Education, and Developmental Dynamics. Additionally, the association organizes scientific meetings and educational symposia, funding research and travel grants, and promoting equity and inclusion within the anatomical sciences. The AAA has supported the development of subspecialty organizations such as the American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA).

class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"

|+List of presidents of the American Association of Anatomists, including their terms of service and notable contributions

!No.

!Name

!Term Start

!Term End

!Notable Contributions

1

|Joseph Leidy

|1888

|1889

|Founding president; established initial organizational goals.

2

|Harrison Allen

|1891

|1894

|

3

|Thomas Dwight

|1894

|1895

|

4

|Frank Baker

|1895

|1897

|

5

|Burt Green Wilder

|1898

|1899

|

6

|George S. Huntington

|1899

|1903

|Editorial board of the American Journal of Anatomy, and the Anatomical Record

7

|Charles S. Minot

|1903

|1905

|Editorial board of the American Journal of Anatomy, and the Anatomical Record

8

|Franklin P. Mall

|1905

|1908

|Establishment of the American Journal of Anatomy, and the Anatomical Record.

9

|James P. McMurrich

|1908

|1909

|Editorial board of the American Journal of Anatomy

10

|George A. Piersol

|1909

|1911

|Editorial board of the American Journal of Anatomy

11

|Ross G. Harrison

|1911

|1913

|

12

|Gotthelf C. Huber

|1913

|1915

|Editorial board of the American Journal of Anatomy, and the Anatomical Record

13

|Henry H. Donaldson

|1915

|1917

|Editorial board of the American Journal of Anatomy

14

|Robert R. Bensley

|1917

|1920

|

15

|C. F. W. McLure

|1920

|1921

|

16

|Clarence M. Jackson

|1921

|1924

|

17

|Florence R. Sabin

|1924

|1926

|

18

|George L. Streeter

|1926

|1928

|

19

|Charles R. Stockard

|1928

|1930

|

20

|Herbert M. Evans

|1930

|1932

|

21

|George E. Coghill

|1932

|1934

|

22

|Warren Harmon Lewis

|1934

|1936

|

23

|Frederic T. Lewis

|1936

|1938

|

24

|S. Walter Ranson

|1938

|1940

|

25

|Philip E. Smith

|1940

|1942

|

26

|Edgar Allen

|1942

|1943

|

27

|J. Parsons Schaeffer*

|1943

|1946

|

28

|George W. Corner

|1946

|1948

|

29

|George W. Bartelmez

|1948

|1950

|

30

|Sam L. Clark

|1950

|1952

|

31

|Leslie B. Arey

|1952

|1954

|

32

|Samuel R. Detwiler

|1954

|1956

|

33

|Edward A. Boyden

|1956

|1957

|

34

|Barry J. Anson

|1957

|1958

|

35

|Davenport Hooker

|1958

|1959

|

36

|Normand Louis Hoerr**

|1959

|1960

|

37

|H. Stanley Bennett**

|1959

|1960

|

38

|Edward W. Dempsey

|1960

|1961

|

39

|Harold Cummins

|1961

|1962

|

40

|Charles P. Leblond

|1962

|1963

|

41

|Horace W. Magoun

|1963

|1964

|

42

|Charles Mayo Goss

|1964

|1965

|

43

|Don Wayne Fawcett

|1965

|1966

|

44

|Donald Duncan

|1966

|1967

|

45

|Karl E. Mason

|1967

|1968

|

46

|Richard J. Blandau

|1968

|1969

|

47

|Roland H. Alden

|1969

|1970

|

48

|Raymond Carl Truex

|1970

|1971

|

49

|David Bodian

|1971

|1972

|

50

|William U. Gardner

|1972

|1973

|

51

|John W. Everett

|1973

|1974

|

52

|Russel T. Woodburne

|1974

|1975

|

53

|John C. Finerty

|1975

|1976

|

54

|Carmine D. Clemente

|1976

|1977

|

55

|Newton B. Everett

|1977

|1978

|

56

|Berta V. Scharrer

|1978

|1979

|

57

|Daniel C. Pease

|1979

|1980

|

58

|Sanford L. Palay

|1980

|1981

|

59

|Elizabeth D. Hay

|1981

|1982

|

60

|John E. Pauly

|1982

|1983

|Edited book on history and membership of AAA{{Cite book |title=The American Association of Anatomists, 1888-1987: essays on the history of anatomy in America and a report on the membership--past and present |date=1987 |publisher=Williams & Wilkins |isbn=978-0-683-06800-9 |editor-last=Pauly |editor-first=John E. |edition=1st |location=Baltimore}}

61

|Allen C. Enders

|1983

|1984

|

62

|A. Kent Christensen

|1984

|1985

|

63

|John V. Basmajian

|1985

|1986

|

64

|Douglas E. Kelly

|1986

|1987

|

65

|Henry J. Ralston, III

|1987

|1988

|

66

|Roger R. Markwald

|1988

|1989

|

67

|Jerome Sutin

|1989

|1990

|

68

|Karen R. Hitchcock

|1990

|1991

|

69

|Wiliam P. Jollie

|1991

|1992

|

70

|Alan Peters

|1992

|1993

|

71

|Donald A. Fischman

|1993

|1994

|

72

|Charles E. Slonecker

|1994

|1995

|

73

|Michael D. Gershon

|1995

|1996

|

74

|Gary C. Schoenwolf

|1996

|1997

|

75

|Bruce M. Carlson

|1997

|1999

|

76

|Robert D. Yates

|1999

|2001

|

77

|John F. Fallon

|2001

|2003

|

78

|Robert S. McCuskey

|2003

|2005

|

79

|Kathy Svoboda

|2005

|2007

|

80

|David Burr

|2007

|2009

|

81

|Kathryn Jones

|2009

|2011

|

82

|Jeffrey T. Laitman

|2011

|2013

|

83

|Lynn Opperman

|2013

|2015

|

84

|Kimberly Topp

|2015

|2017

|

85

|Phil Brauer

|2017

|2019

|Lead name change to American Association for Anatomy

86

|Rick Sumner

|2019

|2021

|

87

|Valerie DeLeon

|2021

|2023

|

88

|Martine Dunnwald

|2023

|2025

|

89

|Anne Burrows

|2025

|2027

|

90

|Ralph Marcucio

|2027

|2029

|

Governance and structure

The American Association for Anatomy (AAA) operates as a non-profit organization incorporated in the United States, with its headquarters located in Rockville, Maryland. The association is governed in accordance with its official bylaws, which define its structure, operational procedures, and the responsibilities of its leadership bodies.{{Cite web |title=Bylaws |url=https://anatomy.org/ANATOMY/ANATOMY/About-Us/Governance/Bylaws.aspx?hkey=c185e51a-7bad-4f0a-a77c-5076cd9d0e3e |access-date=April 7, 2025}}

The principal governing body of the AAA is its Board of Directors, which is responsible for establishing strategic direction and overseeing the organization's overall operations and fiduciary responsibilities. The Board includes elected officers such as the President, President-Elect, and Past President, as well as other members-at-large who represent various sectors of the anatomical sciences community.{{Cite web |title=American of Anatomists Inc |url=https://www.guidestar.org/profile/23-6239047 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.guidestar.org}} Supporting the Board’s functions is the Executive Committee, which includes the key officers and provides leadership on administrative and policy matters between full Board meetings.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-07 |title=Melissa Carroll, PhD, Elected to Board of the American Association for Anatomy |url=https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/melissa-carroll-phd-elected-board-american-association-anatomy |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=School of Medicine and Health Sciences |language=en}}

Publications

The American Association for Anatomy (AAA) publishes three major peer-reviewed journals: Anatomical Sciences Education, The Anatomical Record, and Developmental Dynamics. These journals are published in partnership with Wiley.

Anatomical Sciences Education, founded in 2008, is an international journal dedicated to the promotion of excellence in teaching and learning in the anatomical sciences. It publishes original research, reviews, and commentaries on educational methods, curriculum development, assessment strategies, and professional development for educators.{{Cite web |title=Anatomical Sciences Education |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19359780 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=American Association for Anatomy |doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1935-9780 |language=en}} It operates under a hybrid open access model, offering authors the option to make their articles freely available. It had a Journal Impact Factor of 5.2 in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Anatomical Sciences Education Journal Metrics |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19359780/journal-metrics |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=American Association for Anatomy |doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1935-9780 |language=en}}

The Anatomical Record, founded in 1906, is one of the oldest continuously published journals in the field of anatomy. It focuses on experimental and comparative studies that explore structure-function relationships in cells, tissues, and organisms.{{Cite web |title=The Anatomical Record |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19328494 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=American Association for Anatomy |doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1932-8494 |language=en}} The journal encompasses a wide range of topics, including evolutionary biology, functional morphology, and imaging. It had a Journal Impact Factor of 1.8 in 2023.{{Cite web |title=The Anatomical Record Journal Metrics |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/19328494/journal-metrics |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=American Association for Anatomy |doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1932-8494 |language=en}}

File:The anatomical record (1906) (18166677592).jpg

Developmental Dynamics, originally launched as The Journal of Anatomy and Embryology in 1901, publishes research in developmental biology with a particular emphasis on molecular, cellular, and genetic mechanisms underlying embryonic and postnatal development.{{Cite web |title=Developmental Dynamics |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970177 |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=American Association for Anatomy |doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1097-0177 |language=en}} The journal also features work that intersects with regenerative medicine and stem cell biology. It provides authors the option for open access publishing. It had a Journal Impact Factor of 2 in 2023.{{Cite web |title=Developmental Dynamics Journal Metrics |url=https://anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10970177/journal-metrics |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=American Association for Anatomy |doi=10.1002/(ISSN)1097-0177 |language=en}}

Awards and recognition

The American Association for Anatomy (AAA) administers a wide-ranging awards and recognition program designed to honor excellence across all stages of anatomical science careers. The association recognizes contributions in research, education, mentoring, service, and efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion within the field.{{Cite web |title=Awards and Program |url=https://anatomy.org/ANATOMY/ANATOMY/Awards-Programs/Awards-and-Programs.aspx?hkey=9de5d43d-082c-4bb9-8893-3f052ba77296 |access-date=April 7, 2025 |website=American Association for Anatomy}}{{Cite press release |last=Anatomy |first=American Association for |title=Celebrating Excellence in Anatomy: AAA Awards Distinguished Members |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/celebrating-excellence-in-anatomy-aaa-awards-distinguished-members-302056356.html |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=www.prnewswire.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=pelham |date=2020-04-14 |title=Faculty anatomist wins award for journal article |url=https://www.ohio.edu/news/2020/04/faculty-anatomist-wins-award-journal-article |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=OHIO Today |language=en}}

One of the most prestigious honors conferred by AAA is the title of Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy (FAAA).{{Cite web |title=Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy |url=https://www.anatomy.org/AAA/Awards/Fellow-of-the-American-Association-for-Anatomy.aspx?AWARD=FELLOWS |access-date=2021-10-07 |website=www.anatomy.org |language=en}} This designation is awarded to members who have demonstrated distinguished contributions to the anatomical sciences and outstanding service to the association. Fellowship recognizes sustained excellence in areas such as scientific research, education, leadership, and professional service.{{Cite web |date=2021-05-11 |title=Dr. Rebecca Fisher Named Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy {{!}} The University of Arizona Health Sciences |url=https://healthsciences.arizona.edu/connect/honors/dr-rebecca-fisher-named-fellow-american-association-anatomy |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=healthsciences.arizona.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Chow |first=Stephanie |date=2021-01-27 |title=Two faculty members recognized by the American Association for Anatomy |url=https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/claudia-krebs-named-as-fellow-for-the-american-association-for-anatomy/ |access-date=2025-04-07 |website=UBC Faculty of Medicine |language=en-US}}