05 Aug FAMI Spotlight: Q&A with Dr. Joy Reidenberg
Dr. Joy Reidenberg is a Professor of Anatomy & Functional Morphology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai as well as a FAMI Workshop faculty member. She is known for her work as a comparative anatomist on Inside Nature’s Giants, a documentary series where she dissects large animals, as well as on Sex in the Wild, a new series which reveals the natural mating, birth and rearing behaviors of various animals. Here, she reflects on her experience teaching FAMI & shares some advice for future FAMI participants; check out what she has to say!
kinectED: What do you enjoy most about teaching FAMI?
Dr. Joy Reidenberg: Teaching FAMI is one of my favorite teaching activities I do all year, and this is largely because I really enjoy interacting with the FAMi students. They are only here for such a short time (compared to our medical and graduate students), and so are extremely enthusiastic about incorporating as much knowledge as possible in the shortest time span. This suits me just fine! I’m a fast-paced New Yorker, and am up to the task of feeding them the info just as fast as they can absorb it!
As anatomy students, what sets FAMI attendees apart from medical school students?
I especially enjoy the higher caliber of the FAMI students. They are already somewhat knowledgeable about the body’s musculoskeletal system due to their professional experiences, and are hungry for more detailed information about the anatomy. This makes them unique as students. Unlike our typical medical and graduate students, who are true novices, FAMi students are already partial experts! That means their questions are more challenging … and I LOVE a challenge!
Joy on Sex in the Wild
What do you think makes the FAMI experience unique?
The FAMI experience is unlike any other courses available in the movement and para-health world because it is taught at a medical school. This means the FAMI students have access to the professors and clinicians who are world-renown experts on the subjects. The medical school setting enables FAMI students to physically touch, hold, explore, and learn from real human cadaveric material as well as real bone specimens in the laboratory, and exposure to imaging studies (x-rays, CT, MR, etc.) of normal, injured, and diseased real patients. Class size is limited to ensure each student receives adequate personalized attention and has all of their questions fully answered.
What have your learned from the FAMI attendees?
Every time I teach FAMI students, I learn something new too! FAMI students come to this course with a very wide range of previous coursework, experiences, and backgrounds. The most rewarding interaction for me is when a student informs me of additional applications of the knowledge I just gave them. They have had interactions with a wide range of clients, and often bring insights regarding mobility abilities or disabilities, symptoms, or treatments that clearly demonstrate some of the principles of the anatomy we are teaching. I really enjoy learning about those overlaps!
Joy on Inside Nature’s Giants
What advice would you give the new FAMI attendee that wants to prepare for FAMI prior to attending?
1) Come to FAMI with a great attitude! 2) Don’t be sleepy – try to get a good night’s sleep each night so you will be ready to absorb new material when you arrive each day. 3) You don’t need to study the material before we present the material – that would be counter productive. It’s better to come prepared to abandon pre-conceived notions, and let us fill you up with new information. You’ll be so excited by the topics we present, and the unique ways we have of presenting them, that you’ll be learning without even knowing it!
Learn more about FAMI (& FAMI – Level Two for FAMI alum!) & register here!
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