Valerie Dean O'Loughlin received her undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary, and her Ph.D. in biological anthropology from Indiana University. She is an Associate Professor of Anatomy at Indiana University School of Medicine, where she teaches human gross anatomy to medical students, basic human anatomy to undergraduates, and human anatomy for medical imaging evaluation to undergraduate and graduate students. She also teaches a pedagogical methods course and mentors M.S. and Ph.D. students pursuing anatomy education research. She is active in the American Association of Anatomists (AAA) and the Society for Ultrasound in Medical Education (SUSME). She currently serves as President of the Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS). She received the AAA Basmajian Award for excellence in teaching gross anatomy and outstanding accomplishments in scholarship in education