Anna Blenda, PhD, professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville (SOMG), has been elected to the board of directors of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) for a three-year term through June 2029. Blenda also served as chair of IAMSE’s Publications Committee from 2022 to 2024, leading efforts to enhance the quality and reach of IAMSE’s publications.

With more than 2,000 members from over 50 countries, IAMSE’s mission is to advance health professions education through teacher development and to ensure that the teaching and learning of medical science remain grounded in foundational sciences and best practices.

“It is an honor to represent this organization, to represent our medical school at this level, and contribute to meaningful discourse on medical education,” said Blenda.

Professor Blenda looks forward to championing initiatives that integrate student research into medical curricula and promote discovery-based learning as a cornerstone of medical education. She is committed to ensuring IAMSE remains a leader in fostering innovation, collaboration, and excellence in health professions education. Another significant topic of interest for IAMSE over the next three years will be Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its potential to transform medicine and medical education.

As the only member on the IAMSE board of directors from South Carolina, Blenda is excited to represent SOMG and the state. In addition to her position as professor at SOMG, Blenda, an accomplished investigator in translational cancer research and biomarker discovery, holds a joint appointment with the Prisma Health Cancer Institute. Blenda celebrates 10 years at SOMG this December.