Biography
Christopher Ramnanan completed his PhD in 2006 at Carleton University where his research focused on biochemical adaptation. He then participated in the Scientist-Educator Fellowship Program at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine where he performed research in glucose metabolism and trained as a medical educator in gross anatomy. His previous Faculty positions include an Instructor appointment at Vanderbilt University (2010-2011) in the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics and an Assistant Professor appointment at the Medical College of Georgia (2011-2012). Since joining the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Medicine in 2012, Dr. Ramnanan has become an essential driver of basic science and anatomy education across the Faculty, particularly in Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) where he serves as Anatomy Content Expert, and the Director of Practical Examinations, leading all aspects of curricular and extracurricular anatomy teaching and assessment.
As of 2023, Dr. Ramnanan has also been appointed as the Director, Anatomical Sciences for the Faculty of Medicine. In addition to his leadership roles in UGME, his leadership portfolio also includes serving as Graduate Program Director for the Master of Anatomical Sciences Education Program. He has led the development, successful launch, and growth of this new graduate program which now includes both 12 month intensive and 20 month (with Research Project) offerings.
In 2015, Dr. Ramnanan was named to the Faculty of Medicine’s Distinguished Teacher Program, and has twice received the education scholarship-based American Association for Anatomy Young Faculty Award (2015, 2016). Dr. Ramnanan has also been recognized as the Faculty of Medicine’s Educator of the Year in Basic Sciences (2019) and Educator of the Year in Pre-clerkship education (2021).
His educational research focuses on optimizing cadaveric-based and clinically oriented anatomy education for both graduate and medical students, and enhancing scholarly teaching and research opportunities for trainees. His research in biochemistry, physiology, glucose metabolism, diabetes, and anatomy education has led to over 50 publications in journals such as Diabetes, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, Academic Medicine, Medical Education, and Anatomical Sciences Education. His work has been presented at conferences including the American Diabetes Association Scientific Sessions, the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Annual Meeting, Experimental Biology, the Canadian Conference on Medical Education, and the American Association for Anatomy Annual Meeting.