OUWB professor chosen as newest member of the American Association for Anatomy

The newest member of the American Association for Anatomy (AAA) was announced Wednesday, Feb. 19. That new member is Dr. Douglas Gould, professor of anatomy and neuroscience at the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine (OUWB). He has become the second member of the OUWB faculty to earn this spot.

“I was surprised and super-honored to receive that, I wasn’t expecting it,” Gould said. “I’ve worked for quite a long time. It was nice to be recognized that some of the stuff I created at least somewhere along the way folks were appreciative of it.”

The AAA’s main focus is research on anatomy. The organization holds annual and regional meetings to communicate with colleagues from different areas around the world. The organization has programming for new members and offers curricula on anatomy that provide tips on how to teach courses more effectively and use resources.

To be named a member of the AAA looks for people that have made an impact on the field using research and publications.

Gould has been involved with anatomy medical school education for around 25 years. He has published more than 30 peer-reviewed manuscripts, given 70 presentations and published 10 books. Gould has also been a chair of several of the AAA committees and been a frequently occurring presenter.

“They recognize a few people every year that have made an impact on the field,” Gould said, “and I was very honored to receive that this year.”

Gould transferred to the Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in 2012, after working at The Ohio State University College of Medicine as a professor for six years. He was excited to be part of founding a new medical school for the first time in his career. He started out as a full-time professor then moved up to become the chair of the OUWB Department of Foundational Medical Studies in 2017. 

With the hopes of transiting the department into more of a traditional medical school by adding more traditional research, Gould wants to move toward more genetic or anatomy type research. 

“It really is a unique and sort of a special medical school. It’s really founded on culture rather than on dollars,” Gould said. “We really try to create a physician that is very in touch with people. We look for a really specific type of student and I think that permeates everything here.”

In the upcoming years, Gould hopes to make more accomplishments in his career. Starting with continuing as chair of the OUWB Department of Foundational Medical Studies and expanding the department, he hopes to be able to help his colleagues further their careers.

He also is becoming more involved with Rochester. Since he is raising his family here, he has become part of the Older Persons’ Commission Governing Board (OPC). Gould has become involved with more community-based organizations such as Meals on Wheels. 

“I’m just trying to get more involved and more of a leadership-type role in giving back to the community at this point,” Gould said.