Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Stanford University, School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Palo Alto, CA

Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences: Creighton University, School of Medicine, Omaha, NE

M.A., Education: Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, AZ

B.S., Biological Sciences: University of Northern Colorado, Greeley, CO

Peer-nominated Clinical Teaching Award, Simulation, AU/UGA Medical Partnership (2024)

Educator of the Year, Class of 2026, AU/UGA Medical Partnership (2023)

Excellence in Scholarship Award, AU/UGA Medical Partnership (2022)

Biomedical research

· Giffen, K. P., Liu, H., Kramer, K. L., & He, D. Z. Expression of protein-coding gene orthologs in zebrafish and mouse inner ear non-sensory supporting cells. Frontiers in neuroscience, 13, 1117. 2019. DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01117

· Giffen, K. P.*, Liu, H.*, Grati, M. H., Morrill, S. W., Li, Y., Liu, X., … & He, D. Z. Transcription co-factor LBH is necessary for the survival of cochlear hair cells. Journal of cell science, 134(7), jcs254458. 2021. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.254458

· Liu, H., Giffen, K. P., Chen, L., Henderson, H., Cao, T., Kozeny, G., Beisel, K., Li, Y., He, D.Z. Molecular and cytological profiling of biological aging of mouse cochlear inner and outer hair cells. Cell Reports, 39, 2, 110665. 2022. DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110665

· Giffen, K. P., Li, Y., Liu, H., Zhao, X. C., Zhang, C. J., Shen, R. J., … & He, D. Z. Mutation of SLC7A14 Causes Auditory Neuropathy and Retinitis Pigmentosa Mediated by Lysosomal Dysfunction. Scientific Advances, 8(14), abk0942. 2022. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abk0942

· Giffen, K.P., Liu, H., Yamane, K., Li, Y., Chen, L., Kramer, K., Zallocchi, M., & He, D.Z. Molecular Specializations Underlying Phenotypic Differences in Inner Ear Hair Cells of Zebrafish and Mice. Frontiers in Neurology, 15. 2024. DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1437558

* Co-first author

Medical Education research

· Martin, A.T. and Giffen, K.P. Twelve tips for orienting preclinical medical students to healthcare simulation education. Medical Teacher, 46(10), 1291-1295. 2024. DOI: 10.1080/0142159X.2024.2323176

· Giffen, K.P., Barany, D.A., VanLeuven, A.J., Szymik, B.G., and Hesse, D.W. Station-based neuroanatomy laboratory instruction with donor specimens exploits limited pre-clinical curricular time to increase student engagement and improve learning outcomes. Poster presentation at the American Association for Anatomy meeting, Toronto, Canada. April 2024.

· Martin, A., Giffen, K., Deramus, L., Travis, M.* Impact of Whiteboard Scribing on Pre-Clinical Medical Student Performance in Manikin-Based Simulation. Podium presentation at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, Orlando, FL. January 2025.

· Giffen, K.P., Szymik, B.G., Hudson, C.*, O’Meara, J.*, Forton, A.*, Brooks, J.*, Lopez, J.*, Frank, A.*, VanLeuven, A.J., and Hesse, D.W. Interdisciplinary collaboration between medical education and engineering: Creating a pipeline for 3D printing custom anatomical models. Poster presentation at the American Association for Anatomy meeting, Portland, Oregon. March 2025.

· Giffen, K.P., Szymik, B.G., VanLeuven, A.J., and Hesse, D.W. Enhancing student engagement in neuroanatomy: Utilizing guided instruction with donor imaging and 3D printed models. Poster presentation at the International Association of Medical Science Educators annual meeting, Calgary, Canada. June 2025.

Content expertise: Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience, & Physiology

Teaching activities:

Anatomy Lab
IPE
Large Group Instructor
Simulation
Small Group Facilitator
Ultrasound

Seminars and Invited Talks

The Molecular Landscape of Hearing: Insights into Cochlear Hair Cell and Supporting Cell Specialization. Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, University of Georgia, January 2025.

Implementing ultrasound education in an integrated undergraduate medical curriculum. Department of Medical Education, Creighton University School of Medicine, April 2023.

Identification of a novel gene in syndromic hearing loss. Mechanisms of Disease Seminar Series. AU/UGA Medical Partnership, September 2021.

Research Interests:

Biomedical Science

Genetics of hearing loss

Inner ear regeneration

Theraputics to prevent drug-induced ototoxicity

Medical Education

Metacognition and learning

Pedagogy in medical education