Meet Dhruva Kuma Revanoor – Anatomy Demonstrator
A medical anatomist with a passion for music, Dr. Dhruva Kuma Revanoor’s academic career has taken him from India and the Middle East to the Caribbean and Canada. In October 2015, he joined the Schulich Medicine Windsor Program team. We sat down with him recently to learn more about his background and his work.
Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Chennai, India which was previously called Madras. I completed my medical education (MBBS) in India in a place called Kakinada (previously known as Cocanada). Interestingly, the city was designed by a Canadian. I completed my master’s degree and postgraduate degree in anatomy in Chennai. I am a medical anatomist.
Does your family still live in India?
Yes, my family still lives in India with the exception of my wife and two daughters who live in Canada.
How long have you been involved in education?
I have been involved in education for about 27 years.
How has your career unfolded?
After completing my postgraduate degree, I worked from assistant professor to associate professor, and soon became the head of the anatomy department in a medical school in India. I worked there for 13 years and decided to explore the world for a while.
I left India and went to the Caribbean. I worked in a medical school in Nevis, West Indies for a short period and then shifted to a university in the United Arab Emirates, where I worked as a professor and head in the anatomy department.
I immigrated to Canada four years later. I then travelled to Caribbean and worked as a teaching faculty member in anatomy in Nevis St Eustatius and St. Lucia. I recently decided to settle back in Canada.
What is your current role?
I’m working as an anatomy demonstrator and support lab demonstrations for first-, second- and fourth-year medical students.
Have you noticed a difference in the approach to teaching at Schulich Medicine?
The approach here is entirely different from what I have experienced. I would describe my education as conventional. I find it different here because the students are exposed to clinical information right from the beginning. I have noticed that students have a varied knowledge in anatomy in their first year, but by fourth year there is great knowledge and that’s partly due to the clinical exposure the students have.
What stands out for you as unique at Schulich Medicine?
What stands out for me is the early exposure to the clinical set-up. It has its own benefits and it’s more student-friendly. Students really seem to enjoy this type of program.
What have you learned from your students?
Students have taught me that I need to keep learning. Students come with so many different learning styles, and I have to find a way to engage with them.
What do you do when you aren’t teaching?
I enjoy playing music. I’ve been playing instruments like the keyboard and guitar for some time. I learned on my own and have always played by ear. My mother is a musician, so maybe I inherited the talent from her. I really enjoy all types of music including jazz, soft pop, Middle Eastern, Indian and western style music.
