Directory

Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Palo Alto, CA

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences: Creighton University, School of Medicine, Omaha, NE

M.A., Education: Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

B.S., Biological Sciences: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO

Peer-nominated Clinical Teaching Award, Simulation, AU/UGA Medical Partnership (2024)

Educator of the Year, Class of 2026, AU/UGA Medical Partnership (2023)

Excellence in Scholarship Award, AU/UGA Medical Partnership (2022)

Seminars and Invited Talks

The Molecular Landscape of Hearing: Insights into Cochlear Hair Cell and Supporting Cell Specialization. Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, University of Georgia, January 2025.

· Implementing ultrasound education in an integrated undergraduate medical curriculum. Department of Medical Education, Creighton University School of Medicine, April 2023.

· Identification of a novel gene in syndromic hearing loss. Mechanisms of Disease Seminar Series. AU/UGA Medical Partnership, September 2021.

Content expertise: Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience, & Physiology

Teaching activities:

• Anatomy Lab
• IPE
• Large Group Instructor
• Simulation
• Small Group Facilitator
• Ultrasound

Research Interests:

Biomedical Science

• Genetics of hearing loss
• Inner ear regeneration
• Therapeutics to prevent drug-induced ototoxicity

Medical Education

• Metacognition and learning
• Pedagogy in medical education

Biomedical research

· Giffen, K. P., Liu, H., Kramer, K. L., & He, D. Z. Expression of protein-coding gene orthologs in zebrafish and mouse inner ear non-sensory supporting cells. Frontiers in neuroscience, 13, 1117. 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01117

· Giffen, K. P.*, Liu, H.*, Grati, M. H., Morrill, S. W., Li, Y., Liu, X., … & He, D. Z. Transcription co-factor LBH is necessary for the survival of cochlear hair cells. Journal of cell science, 134(7), jcs254458. 2021. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.254458

· Liu, H., Giffen, K. P., Chen, L., Henderson, H., Cao, T., Kozeny, G., Beisel, K., Li, Y., He, D.Z. Molecular and cytological profiling of biological aging of mouse cochlear inner and outer hair cells. Cell Reports, 39, 2, 110665. 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110665

· Giffen, K. P., Li, Y., Liu, H., Zhao, X. C., Zhang, C. J., Shen, R. J., … & He, D. Z. Mutation of SLC7A14 Causes Auditory Neuropathy and Retinitis Pigmentosa Mediated by Lysosomal Dysfunction. Scientific Advances, 8(14), abk0942. 2022. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0942

· Giffen, K.P., Liu, H., Yamane, K., Li, Y., Chen, L., Kramer, K., Zallocchi, M., & He, D.Z. Molecular Specializations Underlying Phenotypic Differences in Inner Ear Hair Cells of Zebrafish and Mice. Frontiers in Neurology, 15. 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1437558

* Co-first author

Medical Education research

· Martin, A.T. and Giffen, K.P. Twelve tips for orienting preclinical medical students to healthcare simulation education. Medical Teacher, 46(10), 1291-1295. 2024. DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2024.2323176

· Giffen, K.P., Barany, D.A., VanLeuven, A.J., Szymik, B.G., and Hesse, D.W. Station-based neuroanatomy laboratory instruction with donor specimens exploits limited pre-clinical curricular time to increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes. Poster presentation at the American Association for Anatomy meeting, Toronto, Canada. April 2024.

· Martin, A., Giffen, K., Deramus, L., Travis, M.* Impact of Whiteboard Scribing on Pre-Clinical Medical Student Performance in Manikin-Based Simulation. Podium presentation at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, Orlando, FL. January 2025.

· Giffen, K.P., Szymik, B.G., Hudson, C.*, O’Meara, J.*, Forton, A.*, Brooks, J.*, Lopez, J.*, Frank, A.*, VanLeuven, A.J., and Hesse, D.W. Interdisciplinary collaboration between medical education and engineering: Creating a pipeline for 3D printing custom anatomical models. Poster presentation at the American Association for Anatomy meeting, Portland, Oregon. March 2025.

· Giffen, K.P., Szymik, B.G., VanLeuven, A.J., and Hesse, D.W. Enhancing student engagement in neuroanatomy: Utilizing guided instruction with donor imaging and 3D printed models. Poster presentation at the International Association of Medical Science Educators annual meeting, Calgary, Canada. June 2025.