Katherine Hyland, PhD

Dr. Katherine M. Hyland is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Institute for Human Genetics at the UCSF School of Medicine. Her primary roles are in health professions education and faculty development. Dr. Hyland received a BS in Biochemistry from Virginia Tech, an MS in Molecular Cytogenetics from Rutgers University, and a PhD in Human and Molecular Genetics from Johns Hopkins University. She completed postdoctoral training at the University of British Columbia, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, and the UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center. In her current position, she teaches genetics, molecular biology and biochemistry, emphasizing clinical applications of foundational sciences using innovative educational modalities. She directs the medical genetics and genomics curriculum in the School of Medicine, and Chairs the Medical Genetics Curriculum Committee and the Institute for Human Genetics Education Committee. She has been actively involved in designing and implementing the UCSF Bridges medical curriculum. Dr. Hyland is active member in the Haile T. Debas Academy of Medical Educators and leads Faculty Development workshops locally, nationally and internationally. She served as the inaugural Chair of the Medical Genetics Course Directors group in the Association of Professors of Human and Medical Genetics (APHMG), led an effort to develop national competencies in medical genetics, and currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer in the APHMG Leadership Council. She is also an active member of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE), the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG), the Association of Biochemistry Educators (ABE), the Western Group on Educational Affairs (WGEA), and the Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics (ISCC). Her current educational interests include encouraging students to engage in curiosity and the process of discovery, applying the concept of cognitive integration, and incorporating an integrated approach to genomic medicine in the training of future and current physicians.