Wisco, Jonathan

Physiology & Developmental Biology

357 WIDB
Provo, UT 84602
(801) 422-2402

Associate Professor

Biography

Jonathan J. Wisco, Ph.D. grew up in Gresham, OR. After graduating from Gresham High School, he attended the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) and graduated in 1994 with a B.S. in Biology. He taught high school biology and journalism for two years, then entered graduate school in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Boston University School of Medicine. During graduate school, Dr. Wisco joined the Church and met his wife, Monica. They were married in 1998. Dr. Wisco graduated with a Ph.D. in 2003, trained in Neuroanatomy, Gross Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, Neuropharmacology and Cell Biology. His thesis focused on the relationship of brain structure volume changes and cognitive performance in normal aging using the rhesus monkey animal model. He entered a postdoctoral fellowship in Radiology at the Athinioula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard/MIT, where he investigated brain structure changes in schizophrenia patients and started research on the anatomical validation of Diffusion Tensor Imaging. During this time, his first daughter, Madison was born. After completing his fellowship in 2006, Dr. Wisco and his family moved to Los Angeles, CA where he accepted an Assistant Professor position at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. While there, his daughter Alia and son, Jackson were born. In 2012, Dr. Wisco and his family decided to accept an Associate Professor position in the Department of Physiology and Developmental Biology here at BYU. They live in Pleasant Grove, UT. Dr. Wisco's research focuses on the anatomical validation of innovative neuroimaging and surgical techniques, specifically related to Alzheimer's disease imaging biomarkers and head and neck surgeries, respectively. His teaching scholarship focuses on anatomical sciences pedagogy. He also directs Anatomy Academy, an elementary school outreach and research program that teaches anatomy, physiology and nutrition concepts to 5th grade students as part of their physical education. Dr. Wisco and his wife have served in various leadership capacities in the Church and are excited to be here at BYU.

Teaching Interests

As part of his teaching responsibilities, Dr. Wisco is interested in anatomical sciences pedagogy, namely the effectiveness of dissection versus prosection in facilitating learning three-dimensional anatomy and acquiring confidence in physical exam skills. Dr. Wisco directs Anatomy Academy, an elementary school outreach and research program that teaches anatomy, physiology and nutrition concepts to 5th grade students as part of their physical education. The program is integrated with language arts to encourage self-reflection on health issues. Anatomy Academy aims to combat the obesity epidemic through educational intervention, and is a multi-institutional and multi-disciplinary collaboration between the disciplines of medicine, dentistry, nursing, public health, public policy and education.

For a list of education scholarship and grant awards, please refer to CV.

Research Interests

Dr. Wisco is the Director of the Laboratory for Translational Anatomy of Degenerative Diseases and Developmental Disorders. In general, the lab is interested in the anatomical validation of innovative neuroimaging and surgical techniques. Specifically, the lab focuses on the histological validation of Alzheimer's disease imaging biomarkers, and of Diffusion Tensor Imaging tractography, both in human and mouse brains. In addition, the lab is part of two multi-institutional collaborations to characterize stellate ganglion innervation of cardiac tissue to inform the effects of stellectomy surgery; and to validate a new surgical procedure to use phrenic nerve roots to restore laryngeal function after recurrent laryngeal nerve denervation. The lab also maps the 3D organization of skeletal muscle fibers and distribution of extrafusal and intrafusal peripheral nerve fibers associated with the major synovial joints.

For a list of scientific scholarship and grant awards, please refer to CV.

Education

Ph.D., Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 2003
B.S., Biology, University of Washington, 1994

Experience

Academic - Post-Secondary

Assistant Professor, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, 2006-2012
Adjunct Instructor of Anatomy, Simmons College, 2003-2006
Adjunct Instructor of Anatomy and Physiology, Middlesex Community College, 2003-2004

Postdoc

Postdoctoral Fellow in Radiology, Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging/MGH/Harvard/MIT, 2003-2006

Memberships

American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA), 2008-Present
International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE), 2007-Present
International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM), 2005-Present
American Association of Anatomists (AAA), 2000-Present
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), 1999-Present
Sigma Xi Honorary Scientific Society, 1999-Present
Society for Neuroscience (SfN), 1998-Present

Honors and Awards

American Association of Anatomists : 2013 Basmajian Award
International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) : Best Abstract
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : American Medical Student Association (AMSA), UCLA chapter Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence
International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) : Best e-Demo Presentation Award
International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) : Finalist, Best Poster Presentation Award
Western Group on Educational Affairs (WGEA), Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) : Great Ideas for Teaching
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : American Medical Student Association (AMSA), UCLA chapter Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence
The Western Neuroradiological Society (WNRS) : Gabriel H. Wilson Award for Best Paper
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : American Medical Student Association (AMSA), UCLA chapter Golden Apple Award for Teaching Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA : PBL Tutor of Excellence
Boston University School of Medicine : Henry I. Russek Student Achievement Day 1st Prize Award
Boston University School of Medicine : Excellence in Teaching for Dental Gross Anatomy
Boy Scouts of America, Troop 740 (Gresham, OR) : Eagle Scout

Courses Taught

Fall 2012

PDBIO 494R: Undergraduate Research Section 021
PDBIO 495R: Adv Undgraduate Research Section 020

Selected Publications

Journal Article

Wisco JJ, Payne S, Stark ME. Creation of an Interactive Learning Module of 3D Virtual Osteological Structures. Medical Science Educator. 2012 Oct;22(4):208-209.

Ajijola OA, Wisco JJ, Lambert HW, Mahajan A, Stark ME, Shivkumar K. Extra-cardiac neural remodeling in humans with cardiomyopathy. Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. 2012 Aug:1010-1016.

Wisco JJ, Stark ME, Safir I, Rahman S. A Heat Map of Superior Cervical Ganglion Location Relative to the Common Carotid Artery Bifurcation. Anesthesia & Analgesia. 2012 Feb;114(2):462–465.

Kuvhenguhwa M, Kotter H, Wisco JJ. Congenital bilateral absence of the flexor digitorum longus muscle. Clinical Anatomy. 2012 Jan;25(8):963–965.

Mendelsohn AH, DeConde A, Lambert HW, Dodson SC, Daney BT, Stark ME, Berke GS, Wisco JJ. Cervical Variations of the Phrenic Nerve. The Laryngoscope. 2011 Sep;121(9):1920-1923.

Wisco JJ, Payne S, Kim S, Stark ME. Creation of a Video-Based Learning Module of Extraocular Muscles’ Structure and Function. Medical Science Educator. 2011 Jul;21(3S):264-265.

Pannell WC, Wisco JJ. A Novel Saphenous Nerve Plexus With Important Clinical Correlations. Clinical Anatomy. 2011 Jul;24(8):994-996.

Novak SH, Quinn M, Canan T, Metten S, Wisco JJ, Wimmers PF, Uijtdehaage S. A New Approach to Learning How to Teach: medical students as instructional designers. Medical Education Online. 2011 Jul;16:7252.

Book

Wisco JJ. Cerebrum. David Morton, PhD, editors. Salt Lake City, UT: Amirsys; 2012. <website>

Presentations

Wisco JJ, Hageman NS, Ajijola OA, Lambert HW, Fox JN, Mahajan A, Fishbein MC, Shivkumar K, Stark ME. Visualization of stellate ganglion local neuronal density remodeling in chronic MI. American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA). 2012 Jul.

Kippers V, Wisco JJ, Stark ME, Bee M, Shaw P. Innovations in Anatomy Education: Does Innovative Technology Inspire Innovative Teaching or Does Innovative Teaching Drive the Need for Innovative Technology? The Chicken and Egg Scenario of Advancing Medical Education for Anatomy and Histology Pedagogy. International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE). 2012 Jun.

Wisco JJ, Korin TL, Wimmers P, Stark ME. Integration of PBL cases into gross anatomy laboratory experiences followed by a modified TBL formative assessment: pedagogy using the best of both worlds. American Association of Anatomists (AAA). 2012 Apr.

Safir I, Wisco JJ, Stark ME. Statistical mapping of the cervical sympathetic chain. American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA). 2011 Jul.

Wisco JJ. Anatomical correlates of cardiac electrical conduction. Electrophysiology Fellows seminar series. 2011 Mar.