Dr. Rebecca Fisher Named Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy

Rebecca Fisher, PhD, interim co-chair of the Department of Basic Medical Sciences and director of the Gross Anatomy Laboratory at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, has been named a Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy (FAAA).

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“I wouldn’t be where I am today without the American Association for Anatomy,” Dr. Fisher said. “I found so many amazing mentors and friends through the association. It’s really made my career possible and has helped me to thrive.”

Dr. Fisher’s research focuses on biological organisms, with the goal to leverage that knowledge to help industries innovate designs for human use. Her research on the octopus, the cephalopod subject of an Office of Naval Research study that will conclude in December 2021, is inspiring the design of soft robotics for a variety of medical and industrial applications.

“Octopuses can sense chemicals, light, mechanical stimulation and water displacement through their arms and suckers. These sensations are processed locally in the arms, which then creates a motor response to that stimulus that doesn’t require input from the octopus’s brain,” Dr. Fisher said. “This means that a soft robot patterned after the octopus could be deployed and able to make autonomous decisions without input from a human controller.”

The Fisher Lab, established in 2006, provides undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows the opportunity to investigate the functional anatomy of vertebrates and cephalopods. Dr. Fisher works closely with her students, guiding and encouraging them to test the boundaries of the known while simultaneously pursuing pathways to new knowledge.

“Scientific discovery and teaching go hand in hand,” Dr. Fisher said. “In the research lab, you’re supervising your students and training them in the art and science of what we do. You’re an investigator, but also have the real privilege of teaching at the same time. I’m proud of being able to provide students with a home to conduct research and work on experiments that further their undergraduate or graduate career goals.”

In being named a Fellow of the American Association for Anatomy, Dr. Fisher joins an esteemed cohort of 100 scientists who have earned the rank of fellow in the association’s 133-year history. The distinction honors members who have demonstrated excellence in science and in their overall contributions to the anatomical sciences. Dr. Fisher is one of only five fellows admitted in 2021 and the first Latina to receive this honor.