Personnel
Giulia Bonaminio, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education
913-588-8220
Dr. Giulia Bonaminio received her B.S. in Biology from Bowling Green State University, her M.S. and Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from The Ohio State University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Genetics at Stanford University. Dr. Bonaminio is a Research Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine. She has responsibility for oversight of the curriculum, the standardized patient program, the evaluation of courses and the curriculum, and medical education research. Dr. Bonaminio has conducted faculty development workshops locally and nationally on topics including curriculum design, small-group teaching, and evaluation.
Teresa Beacham, MBA
Administrative Officer
913-588-8220
Teresa Beacham received a B.G.S. in Sociology with a minor in African American Studies from the University of Kansas and completed her MBA with a concentration in Healthcare Administration at Baker University. She is currently a doctoral student in Health Policy and Management at KUMC. Before joining KUMC, she worked in the field of Graduate Medical Education as a Fellowship Program Coordinator. In her role as Administrative Officer, Teresa assists the Senior Associate Dean and the Associate Dean for Medical Education in the day-to-day operation of the Office of Medical Education.
David Becker, M.D.
Medical Director, Neis Clinical Skills Laboratory
Dr. David W. Becker is an Internist by training and a lifelong Jayhawk. Dr. Becker graduated with a B.A. in Biology in 2001 from the Lawrence campus, earned his M.D. from KUMC in 2005, and completed an Internal Medicine residency in 2008. Since the training, he has stayed within the KU system as a hospitalist working beside students and residents in patient care duties. In 2017, he was named Assistant Medical Director of the Neis Clinical Skills Lab and in 2019 he became Medical Director of the Neis Clinical Skills Lab. Dr. Becker helps coordinate faculty for student assessments, writes standardized patient cases and teaching outlines, and gives feedback to learners on performance. Dr. Becker serves on multiple School of Medicine committees.
Emma Carter, B.F.A.
Senior Coordinator, Neis Clinical Skills Lab
Emma Carter earned her BFA in Theater Arts with a minor in Music at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She started working with KUMC as a standardized patient in 2016, moving to the role of Senior Coordinator of the Neis Clinical Skills Lab in 2021. As Senior Coordinator, Emma utilizes her theatrical experience to help hire, schedule, build, and run simulated patient encounters for first, second, and third-year medical students. In her free time, she still works as a local playwright.
Ralph Corse, A.A.
Senior Coordinator, Standardized Patient Program
913-588-3426
Ralph Corse is a Senior Coordinator and helps prepare training events for medical students at all levels. He coordinates the Basic Life Support Training program and is also involved with assisting the PETA (Physical Examination Teaching Assistant) schedules. He is skilled in technical aspects and helps troubleshoot video, camera, and computer-related issues that may occur. Ralph graduated from Vatterott College with an Associate's Degree in Electronic Theory and has 15 years of experience in Electronic and IT quality control. He became an SP in 2010 and has worked with facilitating events, student orientation, as well as daily lab preparation.
Shawnalee Criss Petty, M.A.
Assessment and Evaluation Analyst
913-588-9715
Shawnalee Criss Petty received her B.A. in Psychology from Avila University and her M.A. in Counseling from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She joined the Office of Medical Education in the Fall of 2014. She is responsible for developing and collecting curriculum evaluations and the creation of block exams for the Phase curriculum. She is responsible for developing and collecting curriculum evaluations and the creation of module exams for the Phase I curriculum. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching Jazzercise, traveling, and visiting local art museums.
Joseph D. Fontes, Ph.D.
Assistant Dean for Foundational Sciences
913-588-9848
Dr. Joseph D. Fontes received his B.S. degree from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of California, Davis. Subsequently, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship studying biochemistry and molecular biology of gene transcription at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Fontes is a professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and researches gene transcription in the immune system. Dr. Fontes oversees foundational science content and operations of Phase I blocks in the ACE curriculum and is the Director of the Molecular and Cellular Medicine block.
Lisa Gilmer, M.D.
Assistant Dean for Clinical Sciences
913-588-2252
Dr. Lisa Gilmer is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Kansas as well as completed pediatric residency training at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She joined the faculty in 2000. Dr. Gilmer's educational leadership spans the spectrum of learners including medical students, residents, and faculty. Currently, she serves as the Vice-Chair for Education in Pediatrics, Co-Director of the Careers and Specialty Advising Program (CASA) for medical students, Chair of the KU Academy of Medical Educators, SOM LCME Continuous Quality Improvement Committee as the immediate past president of the Kansas Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Previous roles include 15 years as the Pediatric Residency Program Director and 3 years as the first Delp Society Director in ACE as an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. A general pediatrician, Dr. Gilmer is an active teacher. Her interests include competency-based medical education, feedback and assessment, accreditation, and mentorship.
Julie Mack, M.S.
Director, Standardized Patient Program and Neis Clinical Skills Laboratory
913-588-2259
Julie Mack is the Director of the Standardized Patient Program and the Neis Clinical Skills Lab at the University of Kansas, School of Medicine. She holds a B.S. in Music Business from Quincy University and an M.S. in Recreation and Parks Administration/Arts Administration from Western Illinois University. Ms. Mack became Director in 2008 and is responsible for supervising the Neis Clinical Skills Lab Staff in providing nearly 9,000 student/standardized patient encounters for medical and nursing students annually.
Munashe Mangwendeza, M.S.
Education Support Technologist
913-588-8978
Munashe Mangwendeza received his B.S. in Accounting and M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology from Emporia State University. He joined the Office of Medical Education in the Spring of 2022 and is part of the Curriculum Resources & Technology team. Munashe is responsible for the implementation, development, and maintenance of educational technology products used in undergraduate medical education. In his spare time, he enjoys playing golf, watching/attending soccer games, and traveling.
Aziah McNamara, M.A.
Director, Curriculum Resources and Technology
913-588-7206
Aziah McNamara received her B.Ed. in Secondary Teaching and TESL from Plymouth Marjon University in the UK and an M.A. in Linguistics from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, IL. She has been working in higher education since 2003, previously working for the following institutions: Truman College in Chicago, Kansas State University, and Fort Hays State University. Aziah is responsible for the implementation, support, and effective use of educational technologies in all aspects of the educational process in the Office of Medical Education. Whenever she unplugs from technology, she enjoys trying out new recipes, eating different types of cuisine, reading books in languages she's learning, and playing individual sports.
David Naylor, M.D.
Assistant to Medical Director, Neis Clinical Skills Laboratory
Dr. David G. Naylor is a General Internist that has spent his career teaching on Inpatient Internal Medicine rounds. Dr. Naylor enjoys educating others on the basics, including EKGs and clinical skills. Dr. Naylor's interest and accomplishments have led him to his current position with the Neis Clinical Skills Lab as Assistant to the Director of Medicine. Dr. Naylor loves the collaboration that occurs when working in a lab environment.
Emma Nguyen, Ed.D.
Director of Assessment and Evaluation
913-588-7303
Emma Nguyen received her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, her M.S. from Avila University, and her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas. Dr. Nguyen is responsible for the oversight of assessment and evaluation in undergraduate medical education, including course-based evaluations, longitudinal feedback, and institutional evaluations. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, running, and doing Krav Maga.
Dorothea Paiva, M.A.
Program Coordinator for Medical Education
913-945-6671
As a Phase I Coordinator, Dorothea Paiva supports a variety of curriculum activities. She organizes the Problem-Based-Learning (PBL) cases and schedules PBL facilitators; organizes the CBCL cases and session faculty, and coordinates ICM 900. Ms. Paiva received a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a Master's degree in German Literature from the University of Kansas. She taught German at William Jewell College and the University of Kansas and taught a high-school class for the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Her biggest accomplishment has been raising three outstanding children.
Melissa Quearry, M.P.A.
Program Director, Medical Education
913-588-7211
Melissa Quearry received a B.A. in History and a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Ms. Quearry has been at KU Medical Center since 2004. She managed a faculty development grant in the Department of Family Medicine Research Division before joining the Office of Medical Education in 2006. Before coming to KU Medical Center, she worked as a Marketing and Program Director in the Division of Continuing Education at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Education.
Pam Shaw, M.D.
Associate Dean for Medical Education
913-588-8220
Dr. Pam Shaw is a Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas Medical Center. Her undergraduate degree was in Human Biology at the University of Kansas. She attended medical school and did her pediatric residency at the University of Kansas in Kansas City, Kansas. After experiencing private practice, Dr. Shaw returned to the University of Kansas in 1990 where she has been involved in the teaching and practice of general pediatrics and clinical skills. She previously served as the Assistant Dean for clinical sciences and the Medical Director of the Neis Clinical Skills lab. Her duties include Vice-Chair for Education for the Department of Pediatrics. She is the past president of the Kansas Chapter of the AAP and is currently the District Chair for District VI of the AAP.
Tara Shirley, B.S.
Program Coordinator for Medical Education
913-945-6682
Tara Shirley received a bachelor of science in Psychology and Human Services from Friends University. She has been with the KU School of Medicine since 1999, with experience in graduate and undergraduate medical education. Tara was the pediatric residency coordinator on the Wichita campus before joining the Kansas City campus and the Office of Medical Education in March 2022. She enjoys traveling, watching KU sports, and spoiling her two boys and grandchildren.
Alexis Sisk, M.Ed.
Education Support Technologist
913-588-3410
Alexis earned her B.A. in Elementary Education and M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction: Teaching Technology from Northwest Missouri State University. She joined the office of medical education as an education support technologist in September of 2022 and is looking forward to all KUMC has to offer. Alexis' background is in education, having taught technology to grades 5-12. In her free time, Alexis enjoys playing with her kitties, taking in nature, and traveling.
Christian Steciuch, Ph.D.
Senior Research Analyst
Assistant Dean for Assessment and Evaluation
913-588-7224
Dr. Cayla Teal received her B.S. in Chemistry from William Jewell College. She received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Community/Clinical Psychology, with emphases in applied research methods and psychometrics, from Wichita State University. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Health Services Research at the Center of Innovation in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety at the Michael E. DeBakey Houston VA Medical Center. She is an Education Associate Professor of Population Health and Assistant Dean for Assessment and Evaluation in the Office of Medical Education. Dr. Teal is responsible for the assessment of student performance in and program evaluation of the School of Medicine's curriculum. She is a mixed-methods medical education researcher, an Associate Editor for Medical Education Online, and a Deputy Editor for Teaching and Learning in Medicine, and currently serves as the national chair for the Medical Education Scholarship, Research and Evaluation section at the AAMC. She enjoys hiking, working outside, hanging out with her dogs and cats, and reading.
Charles Waller, M.A.
Evaluation and Information Resource Specialist
913-588-7200
Charles Waller received his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and his Master of Arts in Quantitative Psychology from Middle Tennessee State University. He joined the University of Kansas Medical Center, Office of Medical Education in the Spring of 2020. He is responsible for Phase II assessment and evaluation consultation, data analysis, and reporting. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and pets, listening to podcasts, and learning new skills.
Samantha Wassenaar, L.M.S.W.
Program Coordinator for Assessment and Evaluation
913-588-7607
Samantha Wassenaar is the Program Coordinator for Assessment and Evaluation and works closely with the Assessment and Evaluation team and the SER week activities. She is a licensed social worker and obtained her degree from Baylor University. She is originally from Iowa and completed her undergraduate degree from the University of Northern Iowa in Family Services and Gerontology.
Laurel Witt, MD, MPhil
Assistant Dean for Foundational Sciences