Mikaela Stiver, PhD
@mikaelastiver.bsky.social
Anatomist 💀 | Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC 🤓 | Puppy Lover 🐶 | Gamified Learning Geek 🎲 | Overthinker 🧠 | Anatomy Doodler 🎨 | Views are mine (she/her)
Pinned
Where are all my #anatomy & #physiology education people at?!
I created an “Anatomy & Physiology Educators” starter pack: go.bsky.app/CEaup1
Comment below to be added & share widely!! 🫀🧠🔬
I created an “Anatomy & Physiology Educators” starter pack: go.bsky.app/CEaup1
Comment below to be added & share widely!! 🫀🧠🔬
I come on Bluesky these days less frequently that most first-year university students wash their bed sheets, but I’m popping on today to assure everyone that my dog is still adorable AND she recently made a tiny friend 🐶🌲❤️
September 14, 2025 at 5:05 PM
I come on Bluesky these days less frequently that most first-year university students wash their bed sheets, but I’m popping on today to assure everyone that my dog is still adorable AND she recently made a tiny friend 🐶🌲❤️
Reposted by Mikaela Stiver, PhD
Time to get excited. Like toddler at Disney World excited.
CIRCLE OF WILLIS, a board game about vascular anatomy, is here!
@befast.bsky.social and I set out to make a #MEdEd game that is more fun than Epcot. Life goal unlocked.
Tell your friends and parents!
www.neurdgames.com/circle-of-willis
CIRCLE OF WILLIS, a board game about vascular anatomy, is here!
@befast.bsky.social and I set out to make a #MEdEd game that is more fun than Epcot. Life goal unlocked.
Tell your friends and parents!
www.neurdgames.com/circle-of-willis
July 9, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Time to get excited. Like toddler at Disney World excited.
CIRCLE OF WILLIS, a board game about vascular anatomy, is here!
@befast.bsky.social and I set out to make a #MEdEd game that is more fun than Epcot. Life goal unlocked.
Tell your friends and parents!
www.neurdgames.com/circle-of-willis
CIRCLE OF WILLIS, a board game about vascular anatomy, is here!
@befast.bsky.social and I set out to make a #MEdEd game that is more fun than Epcot. Life goal unlocked.
Tell your friends and parents!
www.neurdgames.com/circle-of-willis
Obligatory first day of work selfie from Wednesday afternoon! 📸✌🏼
It has been a whirlwind of a short week in my new position at UBC and my emotions are an overwhelming mix of excitement + ‘fish out of water’ / imposter syndrome, but I’m going to just keep swimming until it feels like home! 🐟💙
It has been a whirlwind of a short week in my new position at UBC and my emotions are an overwhelming mix of excitement + ‘fish out of water’ / imposter syndrome, but I’m going to just keep swimming until it feels like home! 🐟💙
July 5, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Obligatory first day of work selfie from Wednesday afternoon! 📸✌🏼
It has been a whirlwind of a short week in my new position at UBC and my emotions are an overwhelming mix of excitement + ‘fish out of water’ / imposter syndrome, but I’m going to just keep swimming until it feels like home! 🐟💙
It has been a whirlwind of a short week in my new position at UBC and my emotions are an overwhelming mix of excitement + ‘fish out of water’ / imposter syndrome, but I’m going to just keep swimming until it feels like home! 🐟💙
Reposted by Mikaela Stiver, PhD
Excited to announce that our visual fields game, "Field Cut," is a finalist for an educational game award called the Gee!
Being a finalist also makes it eligible for their People's Choice Award. Please vote for Field Cut here! www.geeawards.com
More on Field Cut:
www.neurdgames.com/field-cut
Being a finalist also makes it eligible for their People's Choice Award. Please vote for Field Cut here! www.geeawards.com
More on Field Cut:
www.neurdgames.com/field-cut
July 2, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Excited to announce that our visual fields game, "Field Cut," is a finalist for an educational game award called the Gee!
Being a finalist also makes it eligible for their People's Choice Award. Please vote for Field Cut here! www.geeawards.com
More on Field Cut:
www.neurdgames.com/field-cut
Being a finalist also makes it eligible for their People's Choice Award. Please vote for Field Cut here! www.geeawards.com
More on Field Cut:
www.neurdgames.com/field-cut
Reposted by Mikaela Stiver, PhD
📢 Update: the Kickstarter for Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives is coming SEPTEMBER 2025. Learn ID epi with a card game!
Click to be notified when it launches. Early backers will receive a free Emerging Infections bonus card pack. #IDSky #MedSky #EpiSky
www.kickstarter.com/projects/pha...
Click to be notified when it launches. Early backers will receive a free Emerging Infections bonus card pack. #IDSky #MedSky #EpiSky
www.kickstarter.com/projects/pha...
Coming soon: Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives, A Medical Card Game
Learn infectious disease epidemiology through a simple card game. Geography, vectors, reservoirs, and more!
www.kickstarter.com
July 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
📢 Update: the Kickstarter for Epipocalypse: Bug Detectives is coming SEPTEMBER 2025. Learn ID epi with a card game!
Click to be notified when it launches. Early backers will receive a free Emerging Infections bonus card pack. #IDSky #MedSky #EpiSky
www.kickstarter.com/projects/pha...
Click to be notified when it launches. Early backers will receive a free Emerging Infections bonus card pack. #IDSky #MedSky #EpiSky
www.kickstarter.com/projects/pha...
Last day of work at McGill University was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions 💙
Excited to be starting my next chapter as an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC (@ubccps.bsky.social) on July 1st … but first, I have a lot of packing to finish and an overflowing email inbox to attend to 😂🎉
Excited to be starting my next chapter as an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC (@ubccps.bsky.social) on July 1st … but first, I have a lot of packing to finish and an overflowing email inbox to attend to 😂🎉
May 30, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Last day of work at McGill University was an absolute rollercoaster of emotions 💙
Excited to be starting my next chapter as an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC (@ubccps.bsky.social) on July 1st … but first, I have a lot of packing to finish and an overflowing email inbox to attend to 😂🎉
Excited to be starting my next chapter as an Assistant Professor of Teaching at UBC (@ubccps.bsky.social) on July 1st … but first, I have a lot of packing to finish and an overflowing email inbox to attend to 😂🎉
Ciao from my little home away from home in Italia! 💚🤍❤️
Looking forward to finally meeting the first year Harvey Med students in person in ~1 week… ma prima, le vacanze!! ✌🏼
Looking forward to finally meeting the first year Harvey Med students in person in ~1 week… ma prima, le vacanze!! ✌🏼
April 14, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Ciao from my little home away from home in Italia! 💚🤍❤️
Looking forward to finally meeting the first year Harvey Med students in person in ~1 week… ma prima, le vacanze!! ✌🏼
Looking forward to finally meeting the first year Harvey Med students in person in ~1 week… ma prima, le vacanze!! ✌🏼
Fresh off the presses!!!
🗞️🧩♟️🎲🎉
doi.org/10.1002/ase....
Part of a Special Issue on Anatomical Engagement & Science Communication… with lots of other great articles that you should also check out! #AnatEd #MedEd #GBL #GamifiedLearning
🗞️🧩♟️🎲🎉
doi.org/10.1002/ase....
Part of a Special Issue on Anatomical Engagement & Science Communication… with lots of other great articles that you should also check out! #AnatEd #MedEd #GBL #GamifiedLearning
Gamifying anatomy outreach: An underexplored opportunity
This article explores the underutilized potential of incorporating gamified approaches into anatomy outreach initiatives. While gamification and game-based learning approaches have been widely adopte...
doi.org
March 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Fresh off the presses!!!
🗞️🧩♟️🎲🎉
doi.org/10.1002/ase....
Part of a Special Issue on Anatomical Engagement & Science Communication… with lots of other great articles that you should also check out! #AnatEd #MedEd #GBL #GamifiedLearning
🗞️🧩♟️🎲🎉
doi.org/10.1002/ase....
Part of a Special Issue on Anatomical Engagement & Science Communication… with lots of other great articles that you should also check out! #AnatEd #MedEd #GBL #GamifiedLearning
Teeny tiny London wishes everyone on Bluesky a Happy Monday!! ✌🏼🎉🐶
March 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Teeny tiny London wishes everyone on Bluesky a Happy Monday!! ✌🏼🎉🐶
Just like that, I have wrapped up the final course I get to coordinate at McGill University! 💔😭
Anatomy for Surgeons (a.k.a., Anatomy for Med-4s Who Love Anatomy) is my FAVOURITE course & it's bittersweet to say goodbye... so obviously I seized one final chance to make silly student certificates 🫀✌🏼
Anatomy for Surgeons (a.k.a., Anatomy for Med-4s Who Love Anatomy) is my FAVOURITE course & it's bittersweet to say goodbye... so obviously I seized one final chance to make silly student certificates 🫀✌🏼
March 8, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Just like that, I have wrapped up the final course I get to coordinate at McGill University! 💔😭
Anatomy for Surgeons (a.k.a., Anatomy for Med-4s Who Love Anatomy) is my FAVOURITE course & it's bittersweet to say goodbye... so obviously I seized one final chance to make silly student certificates 🫀✌🏼
Anatomy for Surgeons (a.k.a., Anatomy for Med-4s Who Love Anatomy) is my FAVOURITE course & it's bittersweet to say goodbye... so obviously I seized one final chance to make silly student certificates 🫀✌🏼
Got a paper accepted on my (sort of) birthday!!! 🎉🤓🙏🏼
Non-leap years are a bit anticlimactic because my birthday gets a bit forgotten, but I appreciate the universe giving me a little win just the same! Cheers to my co-authors, getting older one quarter birthday at a time, and happy coincidences 🥂
Non-leap years are a bit anticlimactic because my birthday gets a bit forgotten, but I appreciate the universe giving me a little win just the same! Cheers to my co-authors, getting older one quarter birthday at a time, and happy coincidences 🥂
a pug dog is looking at a birthday cake with a lit candle
Alt: a pug dog is looking at a birthday cake with a lit candle
media.tenor.com
March 3, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Got a paper accepted on my (sort of) birthday!!! 🎉🤓🙏🏼
Non-leap years are a bit anticlimactic because my birthday gets a bit forgotten, but I appreciate the universe giving me a little win just the same! Cheers to my co-authors, getting older one quarter birthday at a time, and happy coincidences 🥂
Non-leap years are a bit anticlimactic because my birthday gets a bit forgotten, but I appreciate the universe giving me a little win just the same! Cheers to my co-authors, getting older one quarter birthday at a time, and happy coincidences 🥂
This has been online for a little while, but I’m so excited to see this scoping review finally published 🎉❤️📝
My first LAST author paper with a couple wonderful students and some of my favourite #GBL friends & collaborators!! @drsarahedwards.bsky.social @empiricgame.bsky.social @tchanmd.bsky.social
My first LAST author paper with a couple wonderful students and some of my favourite #GBL friends & collaborators!! @drsarahedwards.bsky.social @empiricgame.bsky.social @tchanmd.bsky.social
Analog Serious Games for Medical Education: A Scoping Review : Academic Medicine
rovides recommendations regarding gaps and emerging directions for future research.
Method
The authors conducted a scoping review following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, searching 3 databases ...
journals.lww.com
February 27, 2025 at 12:08 AM
This has been online for a little while, but I’m so excited to see this scoping review finally published 🎉❤️📝
My first LAST author paper with a couple wonderful students and some of my favourite #GBL friends & collaborators!! @drsarahedwards.bsky.social @empiricgame.bsky.social @tchanmd.bsky.social
My first LAST author paper with a couple wonderful students and some of my favourite #GBL friends & collaborators!! @drsarahedwards.bsky.social @empiricgame.bsky.social @tchanmd.bsky.social
It is with IMMENSE pride (& a touch of relief... WOW, drawing histology is more challenging than I imagined) that I share all 105 illustrations I contributed to the first ever Histology Colouring Book, created by Drs. Franz-Odendaal & Pinder 🤩🔬🖍️
histologycoloringbook.com
#Histology #AnatEd #MedEd
histologycoloringbook.com
#Histology #AnatEd #MedEd
Histology Coloring Book
histologycoloringbook.com
February 25, 2025 at 4:43 AM
It is with IMMENSE pride (& a touch of relief... WOW, drawing histology is more challenging than I imagined) that I share all 105 illustrations I contributed to the first ever Histology Colouring Book, created by Drs. Franz-Odendaal & Pinder 🤩🔬🖍️
histologycoloringbook.com
#Histology #AnatEd #MedEd
histologycoloringbook.com
#Histology #AnatEd #MedEd
My brilliant med students taught me that in French the pudendal nerve used to be called “nerf honteux”, meaning “shameful/disgraceful nerve” — presumably related to the better known fact that “pudendal” itself is derived from the latin verb pudere = “to be ashamed”!
#ValentinesDay anatomy facts ❤️
#ValentinesDay anatomy facts ❤️
a woman is smiling with the words i learned a thing behind her
ALT: a woman is smiling with the words i learned a thing behind her
media.tenor.com
February 14, 2025 at 11:16 PM
My brilliant med students taught me that in French the pudendal nerve used to be called “nerf honteux”, meaning “shameful/disgraceful nerve” — presumably related to the better known fact that “pudendal” itself is derived from the latin verb pudere = “to be ashamed”!
#ValentinesDay anatomy facts ❤️
#ValentinesDay anatomy facts ❤️
Every time I open the news I want to start sobbing and/or punching pillows, so instead I’m crocheting Woobles cacti and succulent kits, & I hope they will cheer everyone else up a bit too 🌵🪴💚
January 31, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Every time I open the news I want to start sobbing and/or punching pillows, so instead I’m crocheting Woobles cacti and succulent kits, & I hope they will cheer everyone else up a bit too 🌵🪴💚
Apropos of nothing 🙄 “large reproductive cell[s]” are called ova, “small reproductive cell[s]” are called sperm (spermatozoa, if you’re fancy), zygotes do not produce either gamete “at conception”, and some people never produce gametes at all…
…and that’s just the TIP of the iceberg! 🫠
…and that’s just the TIP of the iceberg! 🫠
a man with a mustache and a suit says " it 's science "
Alt: GIF of a man with a mustache and a suit (Ron Burgundy) saying "it's science”
media.tenor.com
January 21, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Apropos of nothing 🙄 “large reproductive cell[s]” are called ova, “small reproductive cell[s]” are called sperm (spermatozoa, if you’re fancy), zygotes do not produce either gamete “at conception”, and some people never produce gametes at all…
…and that’s just the TIP of the iceberg! 🫠
…and that’s just the TIP of the iceberg! 🫠
Even pulling super late nights to finish recommendation letters, manuscript reviews, and lecture slides is tolerable with my best friend helping me out 🐶💜
January 17, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Even pulling super late nights to finish recommendation letters, manuscript reviews, and lecture slides is tolerable with my best friend helping me out 🐶💜
Yeah that tracks ❤️🩹
If at first you don’t succeed… ✌🏼
If at first you don’t succeed… ✌🏼
January 1, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Yeah that tracks ❤️🩹
If at first you don’t succeed… ✌🏼
If at first you don’t succeed… ✌🏼
Merry Christmas Eve Eve 😉🎄
London and I are spending some quality time in our matching Christmas PJs while watching Richard Osman’s House of Games reruns on YouTube ✌🏼
London and I are spending some quality time in our matching Christmas PJs while watching Richard Osman’s House of Games reruns on YouTube ✌🏼
December 24, 2024 at 2:14 AM
Merry Christmas Eve Eve 😉🎄
London and I are spending some quality time in our matching Christmas PJs while watching Richard Osman’s House of Games reruns on YouTube ✌🏼
London and I are spending some quality time in our matching Christmas PJs while watching Richard Osman’s House of Games reruns on YouTube ✌🏼
Can we go all in and toss out the term "hysterectomy" while we're at it? 😤✌🏼 Just call it a uterectomy. It's not that hard!!
Motion to ban the term hysterical from ever being used in reference to female patients or the issues that affect them.
December 13, 2024 at 11:10 PM
Can we go all in and toss out the term "hysterectomy" while we're at it? 😤✌🏼 Just call it a uterectomy. It's not that hard!!
Completely inconsequential, I know, but I just need to cry into the Bluesky void so somebody somewhere can hear that I’m REALLY sad I inadvertently broke my Wordle, Connections, and Minute Cryptic streaks!!! 😫
392-day NYT crossword streak still going strong though 🏆
392-day NYT crossword streak still going strong though 🏆
a stuffed animal wearing a red sweater and a unicorn hat
Alt: A blue unicorn puppet with a rainbow horn, grey hair, and wearing a red sweater throwing its arms up and down with the caption “ahh, gum drops”
media.tenor.com
December 13, 2024 at 5:07 AM
Completely inconsequential, I know, but I just need to cry into the Bluesky void so somebody somewhere can hear that I’m REALLY sad I inadvertently broke my Wordle, Connections, and Minute Cryptic streaks!!! 😫
392-day NYT crossword streak still going strong though 🏆
392-day NYT crossword streak still going strong though 🏆
Reposted by Mikaela Stiver, PhD
Hey! I've just realised that I haven't told Blue Sky about our histology colouring book. Made in collaboration w/ Dr Tamara Franz-Odendaal & images by the marvelous Dr @mikaelastiver.bsky.social. Check it out as a visual learning resource for those studying #histology. histologycolouringbook.com 🖍️🔬
Histology Coloring Book
histologycolouringbook.com
December 9, 2024 at 10:33 PM
Hey! I've just realised that I haven't told Blue Sky about our histology colouring book. Made in collaboration w/ Dr Tamara Franz-Odendaal & images by the marvelous Dr @mikaelastiver.bsky.social. Check it out as a visual learning resource for those studying #histology. histologycolouringbook.com 🖍️🔬
First test to see if the #anatomy hive mind is alive on Bluesky...
Xiphisternal joint ➡️ symphysis or synchondrosis?
Moore's says synchondrosis (1º cartilaginous joint; hyaline cartilage)
Last's & Gray's for Students say symphysis (2º cartilaginous joint; fibrocartilage)
My brain says... HELP!!! 🚨🤯
Xiphisternal joint ➡️ symphysis or synchondrosis?
Moore's says synchondrosis (1º cartilaginous joint; hyaline cartilage)
Last's & Gray's for Students say symphysis (2º cartilaginous joint; fibrocartilage)
My brain says... HELP!!! 🚨🤯
December 6, 2024 at 5:30 PM
First test to see if the #anatomy hive mind is alive on Bluesky...
Xiphisternal joint ➡️ symphysis or synchondrosis?
Moore's says synchondrosis (1º cartilaginous joint; hyaline cartilage)
Last's & Gray's for Students say symphysis (2º cartilaginous joint; fibrocartilage)
My brain says... HELP!!! 🚨🤯
Xiphisternal joint ➡️ symphysis or synchondrosis?
Moore's says synchondrosis (1º cartilaginous joint; hyaline cartilage)
Last's & Gray's for Students say symphysis (2º cartilaginous joint; fibrocartilage)
My brain says... HELP!!! 🚨🤯
In case you missed your emails, the deadline for abstract submission has been *extended* until December 9th!! 🎉🎉🎉
Please come join us in Portland, OR at the end of March and share your research + if you're into analog educational games, we've got an awesome workshop planned 🤓 🎲 🧩 #Anatomy25
Please come join us in Portland, OR at the end of March and share your research + if you're into analog educational games, we've got an awesome workshop planned 🤓 🎲 🧩 #Anatomy25
AAA is now on Bluesky just in time to tell you why you should submit an abstract for Anatomy Connected 25! Listen to our past participants, abstracts are essential to level up in your career! 📈 More info: ow.ly/Ywev50UbcY2
vimeo.com/1032411840
#Anatomy25 #anatomy #science #research #education #AAA
vimeo.com/1032411840
#Anatomy25 #anatomy #science #research #education #AAA
Why submit an abstract?
Anatomy Connected 2025 is the perfect opportunity to share your research, make valuable connections, and learn from your peers!
vimeo.com
December 5, 2024 at 1:49 AM
In case you missed your emails, the deadline for abstract submission has been *extended* until December 9th!! 🎉🎉🎉
Please come join us in Portland, OR at the end of March and share your research + if you're into analog educational games, we've got an awesome workshop planned 🤓 🎲 🧩 #Anatomy25
Please come join us in Portland, OR at the end of March and share your research + if you're into analog educational games, we've got an awesome workshop planned 🤓 🎲 🧩 #Anatomy25
Last day of undergraduate classes today (AND my last time teaching the Clinical Neuroanatomy course I love so much 💔🧠), so I went all out with mini pre-exam care packages for my students — complete with encourage-mints, positivi-tea, stickers, and a little hand written note (among other goodies) 🍬
December 4, 2024 at 9:13 PM
Last day of undergraduate classes today (AND my last time teaching the Clinical Neuroanatomy course I love so much 💔🧠), so I went all out with mini pre-exam care packages for my students — complete with encourage-mints, positivi-tea, stickers, and a little hand written note (among other goodies) 🍬