Leonard Shapiro

Leonard Shapiro - Leonard is honorary lecturer in the Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT). He is an artist and educator working in the health sciences and designs tailored, art-based exercises for application within the anatomical education curriculum, specifically aimed at improving observation and three-dimensional (3D) spatial awareness. Leonard has developed a novel, multi-sensory observation method, that...See more

Leonard Shapiro - Leonard is honorary lecturer in the Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town (UCT). He is an artist and educator working in the health sciences and designs tailored, art-based exercises for application within the anatomical education curriculum, specifically aimed at improving observation and three-dimensional (3D) spatial awareness. Leonard has developed a novel, multi-sensory observation method, that specifically employs the sense of touch (haptics) coupled with the simultaneous act of drawing. It is called the Haptico-visual observation and drawing (HVOD) method. In anatomy education, the benefits of using the HVOD method include i) the enhanced observation of the 3D form of anatomical parts, ii) the cognitive memorization of anatomical parts as a 3D mental picture, iii) improved spatial orientation within the volume of anatomical parts, and iv) an ability to draw. Leonard teaches the HVOD method to medical students and clinicians in South Africa and abroad. Professor Iain Keenan (Newcastle University) and Leonard Shapiro (UCT) have designed a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) consisting of art-based exercises for improving student 3D spatial awareness and their observation of human anatomy. This online course is titled Exploring 3D Anatomy and is available to medical students globally, as a supplement to their anatomy curriculum. A second online course titled Exploring 3D Anatomy Plus was developed for clinicians and surgeons for improving their 3D spatial awareness, leading to improved 3D spatial skills. Leonard contributes to the anatomy education discourse via publications and articles and by presenting at anatomy conferences. Leonard Shapiro, BSocSci, BA Fine Art (Hons). See less