Paulette Bernd
Dr. Paulette Bernd earned a BA in Biology from Colgate University and a PhD in Anatomy and Cell Biology from Columbia University. She has been a Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons since 2008. Previously at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, she received the SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor award for innovative gross anatomy teaching and curriculum design.
For much of her career, Dr. Bernd studied the role of neurotrophins in development, publishing 40+ peer‑reviewed papers and contributing to five book chapters. At Columbia, she has modernized the gross anatomy curriculum stressing teamwork, problem-based learning and radiologic imaging. Dr. Bernd created digital materials used at Columbia, as well as at other institutions, including a media rich interactive electronic dissection manual with self-assessment and learning objectives for each anatomy lab, and weekly clinical cases for student groups to solve on their computers.