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Education

2012 University of North Texas – B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Anthropology
2014 Sam Houston State University – M.S. in Forensic Science
2023 Indiana University School of Medicine – Ph.D. in Anatomy & Cell Biology

Research

Dr. Tippen’s research is focused on two areas: 1) new techniques for anatomy remediation and 2) the role of empathy and equitability in the anatomy classroom and laboratory.

Developing an effective remediation strategy for any topic is difficult for several reasons. A balance must be struck between reinforcing taught information and facilitating self-directed learning. Additionally, remediation typically occurs when students and faculty are involved in other courses, so the course load cannot be too high. Of highest importance is giving students a variety of alternative learning strategies, so they can identify what strategies maximize understanding and retention of material. Previous remediations have been built into modules from the simplest to the most complex and utilized low-stakes quizzing, drawing, and anatomical terminology. These basic techniques can be applied to any population and any course, so the research opportunities are virtually endless.

Because cadaveric dissection provides each student with their first patient, it is the first opportunity to emphasize the importance of empathy and equitability in healthcare. Previously, a “first look” activity was developed to allow students to meet their donor prior to dissection, and self-reflections were created to give students a space to consider their feelings before, during, and after dissection. These experiences have led students to take more care during dissection, many of them speaking about maintaining respect during dissection, and the act of dissection being more meaningful than in previous years. Additionally, as we bring more attention to the differences between sex and gender, the classroom and laboratory provide spaces to have conversations about equitability and how best to interact with any patient that may walk in the door. Topics for future research could include ways to promote empathy, techniques to encourage equitable teaching, and strategies for navigating conversations regarding sex and gender.

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Selected Publications

• Wilson S, Awazi A, Gray T, Cooper C, Sadacharan C, Mendoza M, Ayala M, Tippen SP. (2025) “Morphometric evaluation of the anterior meniscofemoral ligament in human cadaveric knees: Anatomical variations and clinical significance.” Cureus 17(2):e79013. http://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79013
• Tran P, Bennett D, Mendoza M, Sarpong A, Ayala M, Sadacharan C, Tippen SP. (2025) “Cadaveric study of the Martin-Gruber Anastomosis morphology.” Cureus 17(1):e78139. http://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.78139
• Mendoza M, Sarpong A, Bennett D, Ayala M, Tran P, Sadacharan C, Tippen SP. (2025) “The Berretini Anastomosis’ morphology and “probable zone”: A cadaveric study.” Cureus 17(2):e78967. http://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.78967
• Boedeker P, Moreno N, Newell A, Maheshwari A, McMillin MA, Tippen SP, Pillow T, Bergemann AD. (2025) “Pedagogical content knowledge as a lens for transforming teaching in medical and health professions education.” Med Sci Educ https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-025-02325-8
• Tippen SP, Metzger CE, Sacks SA, Allen MR, Mitchell CF, McNulty MA. (2024) “Clinically-relevant doses of tiludronate do not affect bone remodeling in pasture-exercised horses.” Equine Vet J 2024:1-9. http://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14119
• Tippen SP, Metzger CE, Swallow EA, Sacks SA, Wallace JM, Allen MR. (2021) “The combination of aging and chronic kidney disease leads to an exacerbated cortical porosity phenotype.” Bone 154:116228. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2021.116228
• Tippen SP, Noonan ML, Ni Pu, Metzger CE, Swallow EA, Sacks SA, Chen NX, Thompson WR, Prideaux M, Atkins GA, Moe SM, Allen MR, White KE. (2021) “Age and sex effects on FGF23-mediated response to mild phosphate challenge.” https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bone.2021.115885