Dr. Sushma Prabhath is a medical educator and anatomist with a keen interest in integrating ethics, humanities, and technology into anatomy education. She serves as faculty (Associate Professor) in the Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College manipal and is an IFI-FAIMER Fellow, committed to advancing innovative and reflective medical education practices. Dr. Sushma has completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Bioethics and Medical Ethics from Yenepoya, strengthening her interdisciplinary engagement in teaching and research.
Her scholarly work focuses on interprofessional education, AI-driven innovations in medical education, and the humanistic dimensions of doctor–patient relationships. She has designed and implemented educational modules that use hermeneutics and storytelling to foster ethical reflection and collaboration among health sciences students.
Dr. Sushma has presented her educational innovations at international platforms, including the AMEE Conferences. She also contributes as a Basic Medical Scientist and Bioethicist (External Member) on institutional ethics committees and actively reviews manuscripts in the domains of anatomy and medical education. She also functions as an editorial board member for BMC Medical Education. Passionate about mentoring and collaborative research, she continues to explore ways to humanize anatomy learning and promote ethical practice in medical training.

Dr. Sushma Prabhath’s creative scholarship reflects her passion for integrating imagination, ethics, and technology into anatomy education. She consistently seeks to include innovative teaching–learning practices that make anatomy more engaging, reflective, and relevant to professional practice. Her work bridges science and the humanities, emphasizing empathy, interpretation, and ethical reasoning in medical training.

She has conceptualized and implemented several original educational modules, notably those that use hermeneutics (interpretation of art and paintings) and storytelling to teach interprofessional ethics and communication.

Clinical Anatomy, Medical Education, Interprofessional Education, Bioethics

Dr. Sushma Prabhath has extensive experience in teaching anatomy to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students, integrating both traditional and innovative pedagogical approaches. She emphasizes active, reflective, and technology-enabled learning, using tools such as image-based assessments, storytelling, and hermeneutics to make anatomy more meaningful and contextually relevant.
She has been actively involved in curriculum design and development, contributing to modules that promote interprofessional ethics, communication, and professionalism among health science students. Her initiatives often incorporate art interpretation, narrative reflection, and AI-based learning platforms to encourage critical thinking and empathy in medical education.
As a medical educationist and FAIMER Fellow, she has facilitated workshops and training programs for faculty development, focusing on educational innovation, ethics, and learner engagement.
Beyond teaching, Dr. Sushma serves as a Basic Medical Scientist and Bioethicist (External Member) on Institutional Ethics Committee (Yenepoya Deemed to be University), providing expert input on research ethics and integrity. She is also an active researcher and reviewer in the domains of anatomy, bioethics, and medical education, and has presented her educational innovations at reputed national and international forums, including AMEE.

Awards and recognition:

• Best paper award (oral presentation) for the scientific work- “Fascinating World of Human Anatomy”:The Usefulness of Conducting A Hands-on Workshop in Human Anatomy for Biology School Teachers at the 23rd KCACON, organised by Department of Anatomy, Kasturba Medical College Manipal on 14th to 16th September 2023.
• First Prize in ‘Informed Consent Writing’ competition organised by Center for Ethics, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) during the Intensive Summer Workshop on Ethics and Research (I-SWEAR 2023) on 26th May 2023.
• Best Poster Award for the scientific work- ‘“Diabetic Seethamma”: A Sequential (SqS) and Distributed (DS) Simulation using Standardized Patient as a part of an Interprofessional Collaborative Educational Module for Patient Education in Diabetic Foot Care’ at the SKILL EDUCON 2022, Father Muller’s Medical College & Hospital, Mangalore held on September 24th and 25th 2022.
• Free Registration Award to attend AMEE 2022, held at Lyon, France from 26th -31th August 2022.
• Best Paper Presentation Award for the scientific work- ‘Enhancing the Embryology Teaching-Learning Experience in the Medical Curriculum: A Faculty & Student Lookout’ at the 68th National Conference of Anatomical Society of India- NATCON-organised by Department of Anatomy, King George’s Medical University, UP, Lucknow from 28th -30th January 2022.
• Free Registration Award worth 95 pounds to attend AMEE 2021: The Virtual Conference organised by AMEE, Dundee, UK on 27th -30th August 2021.
• Best Paper Presentation for the scientific work- ‘Healing Diabetic Wounds using Indian Traditional Medicines: A Biomechanical and Histological Exploration’ at the e-National Conference AVEOCON-2021 organised by Department of Anatomy, Teerthankar Mahaveer Medical College & Research Centre, Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh under the aegis of Anatomical Society of India (UP-chapter) from 9th-10th July 2021.
• Third Place- Paper Presentation for the scientific work- “Reflective Writing on the ‘Ethical and Humanitarian Aspects of Cadaveric Dissection’ by the first-year Medical Undergraduates” at the International Health Humanities Conference on the theme, “Designing Pedagogy for Medical Humanities” held on 10th – 12th September 2020 at Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru.
• Good Teacher Award for Excellence in Teaching for the year 2018, presented by Manipal College of Dental Sciences Manipal on 9th March 2019.
• Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Teaching for the year 2018, presented by Kasturba Medical College Manipal on 26th March 2019.
• Good Teacher Award for Excellence in Teaching for the year 2017, presented by Manipal College of Dental Sciences Manipal on 10th March 2018.
• Best Poster Award (Second Place) for the Scientific Work- Original Research Category titled “Facial Nerve in Foetal Cadavers: An Anatomical Study with Clinical Relevance” in the International Symposium on Head and Neck Tumors- Translation from Cancer Biology to Cancer Medicine at Manipal University from 3rd to 4th October 2015.