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Office of Undergraduate Medical Education (OUME) Staff Listed Alphabetically

		Nicole Albion Education Program Specialist Nicole.Albion@umassmed.edu S1-130D Nicole received her Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in English with a minor in French from Worcester State University. Nicole continued her education to receive her Master of Education specializing in teaching students with moderate disabilities. Nicole served as a 3^rd Generation Educator in Worcester Public Schools for 15 years. Nicole led the AVID program in the city’s largest middle school with the mission to close the opportunity gap for underrepresented and first-generation college students. It is with great pride that Nicole continues to serve Worcester and its learners. Nicole is passionate for art, architecture, nature, and music. Museums, botanical gardens and arboretums are essential places for her. Nicole is an appreciator of culture and creativity as it connects everyone in the world. Travel, photography and tennis are just some activities enjoyed by Nicole with her husband and daughters.
		Emily Brunelli Education Program Specialist emily.brunelli@umassmed.edu S1-130J Emily joined the OUME team in 2022. She received a bachelor’s degree in 2020 from UMass Amherst where she double majored in Economics and English and minored in Spanish. She worked several administrative and customer service focused roles throughout college. She also has a background in education and working with students; she has experience as a Summer Camp Director and as a building substitute for Newton Public Schools, where she became very passionate about education. In her free time, Emily enjoys writing, cooking, traveling, exploring new restaurants, exercising, and spending time with friends and family.
		Colleen J Burnham MBA Educational Specialist \| FCE, CSD Instructor, Department of Medicine Colleen.Burnham@umassmed.edu 508–856–5137 Colleen joined UMass Chan Medical School in 2009 after 15 years in higher education as a professional teaching associate in psychology and an information specialist in the library, computer, and audiovisual "sciences." A nontraditional student, Colleen earned her MBA from Thomas College in 2009, specializing in adult online learning and conflict management. Colleen’s scholarly interests include information literacy, the ethical use of subjects (human and animal), and scholarly writing. She is a proud 13th generation Mainer, has three amazing grown children (and 2 grandsons!), and is a past cornet player in Civil War Era Serenade bands. Personal websites include: Academic ePortfolio \| Professional ePortfolio \| Personal Blog
		Pawel Stefan Chojnowski Education Program Specialist Pawel.Chojnowski@umassmed.edu S1-130S Pawel joined the OUME team in 2021. He received his bachelor's degree from Suffolk University in 2015 having double majored in international affairs and history. He is also a graduate of the Macquarie University Global Leadership Program. In his free time, Pawel enjoys spending time with his friends and family, cooking, and watching movies. He loves to travel where he likes to pack light, only bringing a few changes of clothes and his trusty Sony camera. He tries to see as much as he can and to meet as many interesting people as possible to learn their stories. "The wide world is all about you: You can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out." —J.R.R. Tolkien
		Victoria Cohen, MPP Education Program Specialist Victoria.Cohen@umassmed.edu S1-130M Victoria joined the OUME team in 2021. She received her bachelor's degree in American Literature & Culture from UC Los Angeles in 2016. Between 2016 and 2019 Victoria worked in K-12 education and became an alumnus of Teach For America and the Urban Leaders Fellowship. She received her Master's in Education Policy from Vanderbilt University in 2021. While in Nashville she worked for Vanderbilt's OUME and as an education policy research partner. In her free time, Victoria loves to socialize with people and animals and has a dog, two cats, and a pet hedgehog - all of whom she loves to take on outings. She also enjoys cooking, reading, painting, hiking, and attending poetry and art exhibits.
		Manas Das, MD, MS Assistant Dean for Foundational Curriculum Associate Professor Division of Translational Anatomy, Department of Radiology Manas.Das@umassmed.edu S1-131 Dr. Das joined UMass Chan from the University of South Dakota in 2018 and has held instructional and educational leadership positions all over the world. He received his medical degree from Calcutta National Medical College, though he stopped practicing medicine to focus on his love of teaching. He is co-leader for the development, structure, and function (DSF) course for the MS1s and the organ system diseases (OSD) course for the MS2s, and in his Assistant Dean role will oversee and spearhead innovation throughout the biomedical pillar of our curriculum. Interacting with students is his true passion – he loves to teach! When not teaching, he travels, sings, listens to music, watches sports/TV/movies (several of his teaching sessions have references from 'Friends' or a Brad Pitt movie!), and cook. Finally, he is a believer of 'to err is human, forgive divine' and 'to live and let live.'
		Mitchell Gitkind, MD Assistant Dean of Health Systems Science Professor of Medicine and Surgery mitchell.gitkind@umassmemorial.org 774-443-3894 S1-483 Dr. Gitkind received his medical degree from the University of Massachusetts and completed his internship and residency at Worcester Memorial Hospital. He completed a fellowship in gastroenterology through Tufts University School of Medicine. His current clinical focus is obesity medicine and bariatric surgery. An experienced educator and Lean black belt, Dr, Gitkind has mentored over 100 quality improvement projects for faculty and trainees and has developed and delivered a curriculum on patient safety, conflict negotiation, and clinical topics. He holds the title of Assistant Dean of Health Systems Science and the academic rank of professor in the departments of medicine and surgery. He is responsible for the development and support of related curriculum students enrolled in our school of medicine as well as residents and fellows in our ACGME-approved GME programs.
		Paula Halligan MEd Educational Program Specialist Paula.Halligan@umassmed.edu Paula joined the OUME team in 2022. She received her undergraduate bachelor’s degree in science from the University of Vermont and a Master’s of Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz. She has taught secondary science for urban school districts in California, Colorado and most recently Worcester, Massachusetts. She worked with GBH Education and PBS Learning Media as an educator ambassador and curriculum advisor. Paula is passionate about environmental and animal conservation and spends most of her free time outdoors with her family and their dogs
		Christopher Ives Educational Program Specialist Christopher.Ives@umassmed.edu Chris is a U.S Army Veteran having served as an Airborne Combat Medic and Physical Therapy Technician before ending his service and moving to Massachusetts. After leaving the Army, Chris went to work at the U.S. Army Solider Systems Center, Natick, as a Data Integrity Specialist for the U.S. Army Procurement Division. He left that position to take full advantage of his G.I. Bill and received a B.A. (’15) and M.A. (’17), with a primary focus on Early American History and Public History, from Worcester State University. He comes to us after teaching at various private institutions throughout Massachusetts. In his free time, Chris is a world traveler and Phish follower who enjoys spending time with family and friends. “It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.” - Aesop
		Sharon Luff Education Program Specialist Sharon.Luff@umassmed.edu Sharon, a native of Worcester, started her career by working with some of the area's top law firms, including Bowditch & Dewey. During her time in the legal field, she had the opportunity to work with high-profile clients and political figures, as well as working with corporate start-ups and political fundraising committees. This experience led her to take a position within Partners Healthcare, Inc., - MGH corporate division and ultimately moving to Boston shortly thereafter. After the birth of her daughter, Sharon decided to leave the corporate life to focus on medicine, becoming a lab technician working for MGH and Mass Eye and Ear and eventually helping to open and supervise 3 private labs in the Plymouth area. After moving back to the Worcester area in 2009, she took a position within the Umass Chan laboratory services department, working in both customer service and ancillary services throughout the Central Mass area. Sharon has decided to combine her love of medicine and her passion for education and is currently working on her degree in Public Health Education. Sharon enjoys spending time with her family, and you’ll often find her at her daughter’s archery or track and field events or watching the UFC with her husband and friends. Sharon and her husband are known for fostering and rehoming animals and have 4 rescue cats of their own.
		Adam Marowski Education Program Specialist adam.marowski@umassmed.edu S1-130R Adam joined the OUME team in 2022. He received a bachelor’s degree with a double major in Political Science and History from Suffolk University. In 2015 he worked at the Massachusetts State House for Senator Forry. Afterwards he has worked in various sales positions building up his interpersonal and communication skills. Adam is a New England Native from the Springfield area of Massachusetts. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, studying history, working out, and playing video games. He aims to impact the world in a positive manner and bring joy to the ones around him. “I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes” -Attitude by Charles Swindoll
		Isaias Monroy Education Program Specialist Isaias.Monroy@umassmed.edu S1-130L Isaias received a bachelor's degree in 2017 from Umass Amherst where he majored in Psychology (Neuroscience track). His previous role was a Mental Health Counselor at Worcester Recovery Center and Hospital on the adolescent continuing care unit underneath Umass Memorial. He hopes to pursue a career in medicine later in life. In his free time, Isaias enjoys playing soccer, playing video games, reading, cooking, and playing the guitar.
		Therence Ntihinduka Education Program Specialist Therence.Ntihinduka@umassmed.edu Therence joined OUME team in 2022. Prior to joining UMass Chan OUME, he was working as the Program Facilitator at African Community Education. During his tenure at African Community Education, he oversaw creating math worksheets with practice problems and formulas to support the students with improving their math grades. He also did an internship at EMD Sereno worked with Patient Data Collection Services team. Between 2019 and 2022 he worked at Binienda Center for Civic as an Office Assistant. Therence is a graduate of Worcester State University, where he majored in Finance. In his free time, Therence like to check up on the stock market because investment is one of the things that he does. Also, he enjoys playing soccer as a way of excising and getting together with family and friends.
		Patricia Seymour MS, MD Assistant Dean for Clinical Curriculum Associate Professor Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health patricia.seymour3@umassmemorial.org 774-364-0850 S1-134 Dr. Seymour is a UMASS Chan Medical School (UMCMS) graduate and graduated from the Worcester Family Medicine Residency Program, accepting a faculty position here after her graduation in 2010, so has been a part of the UMCMS family for some time. Trish practices hospital medicine and perioperative medicine and serve's as her department's physician quality officer. She previously led the Family Medicine acting internship and oversees the quality and patient safety interstitial content. She is passionate about quality improvement education and serves as faculty co-lead of our interprofessional trainee quality council which includes fellows, residents and students from the school of medicine, graduate school of nursing, and Mass College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Preparing future physicians is an ever-evolving process and Trish strives to address health equity and bias and to incorporate technology in UMCMS's educational planning. When not seeing patients or working on curriculum, Trish enjoys anything outdoors and anything involving her four children including travel and hiking.
		Sarah Sherwood Administrative Manager Sarah.Sherwood1@umassmed.edu 774-482-0023 S1-130T Sarah Sherwood joined the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education as an Administrative Manager in July of 2022. She holds a Master of Education in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and has worked in both healthcare and higher education settings. Her recent experience includes working as the Director of Health Services and Wellness Promotion at Assumption University and as a board-certified health and wellness coach at Massachusetts General Hospital. Sarah is a dynamic leader and enjoys supporting colleagues so that they can accomplish a high quality of work. She looks forward to working within the OUME, and connecting with other departments and students here at UMass Chan. In her free time Sarah enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors in the garden and exploring the Ecotarium with her son.
		Mirela Skaka Administrative Assistant Mirela.Skaka@umassmed.edu 774-455-6685 S1-130A Mirela joined the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education department in July of 2021 after 18 years of experience as an Administrative Assistant and Case Management Coordinator in the Workers Compensation Insurance. She received a degree in Business and Economics from the Tirana Agricultural University in Albania and has a certificate in client-server technology from WPI. She now supports Manas Das and Patricia Seymour. She also oversees our summer Research and Curriculum Exploration program, clinical-grade turn-around, Poster Sessions, and new upcoming projects as they develop. In her free time, Mirela enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
		Aiesha Sojourner Education Program Specialist Aiesha.Sojourner@umassmed.edu 508-856-3312 S1-130G Mental Health First Aid Certified Sustainability Certified Aiesha joined the OUME in January 2022. Her previous professional experience in education consists of mentoring and tutoring college students as well as other tutors, a Teacher’s Assistant to adult ESL learners, and a Behavior Technician Assistant for children on the autism spectrum. Most of her other experience is from veterinary medicine/animal welfare, along with her own animal care business, policy research for the Humane Society of United States (HSUS), and marketing for prominent human and animal welfare non-profits. Aiesha hails from the Performing Arts district in New York City. She has undergraduate degrees in Literature and Psychology, a Master of Science degree in Animals and Public Policy from Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and is pursuing a PhD in Cognitive Neuropsychology. She is a huge animal lover and volunteers with HSUS. She loves her cat, dancing, eating, interior design, fashion, watching sci-fi, fantasy, anime, action, and comedy, writing skits, reading classics, and DIY-ing.
		Lindsay N Turner, PhD Curriculum Director Lindsay.Turner@umassmed.edu S1-130P Lindsay joins us from Babson College where she was the Manager, Learning Outcomes Assessment for six years. Prior to Babson, she worked in program quality assurance at the University of Arkansas where she also received her Ph.D. in Public Policy with an emphasis on Higher Education and Educational Assessment. Lindsay approaches her work as an educational effectiveness administrator by ensuring that faculty, educational staff, and students understand a program's educational goals while developing pedagogy and skills across the curriculum. During her time at Babson, Lindsay engaged with faculty, students, and educational staff to review curricular delivery and develop an assessment system for all programs. She also assisted with the school's successful re-accreditation at both the regional and specialty levels. She looks forward to building meaningful relationships with colleagues and students alike and becoming a resource for curricular development within the Office of Undergraduate Medical Education.
		Jean M Welker, MA Education Program Specialist Jean.Welker@umassmed.edu 508–856–6107 S1-130F Jean joined the OUME in 2019 after many years in the UMass Memorial Health Care and UMass Chan Medical School systems. Most recently, she worked as a project coordinator in the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, managing the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programs. Before that, Jean worked at UMMHC in the Center for Health and Fitness, working with employee wellness, cardiac rehab, and pulmonary rehab. In her free time, Jean enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.