Wessam Ibrahim

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Biography

Dr. Wessam Ibrahim is a Teaching Assistant Professor and the Anatomy and Embryology Discipline Lead at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. In this role, she provides leadership in anatomy education, curriculum development, and student mentorship, contributing to the preparation of future physicians through rigorous, inclusive, and clinically relevant instruction. Dr. Ibrahim brings a robust academic and medical education background to her position. She earned her medical degree, as well as her master's and doctoral degrees in Basic Sciences, Anatomy, and Embryology from the Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine in Cairo, Egypt. To further strengthen her expertise in educational leadership and curriculum design, she completed a Master of Education in the Health Professions (MEHP) at the Johns Hopkins University School of Education. Her training reflects a strong foundation in both biomedical science and evidence-based educational practice. Prior to joining Carle Illinois, Dr. Ibrahim was a distinguished faculty member at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, where she taught anatomy and embryology and contributed extensively to medical education. Her dedication to teaching excellence and student learning was recognized with the Educator of the Year Award on three separate occasions, underscoring her impact as a consistently highly regarded instructor. At Carle Illinois, Dr. Ibrahim is recognized for her leadership in anatomy instruction, curricular innovation, and program development. She directs anatomy laboratory experiences and electives, emphasizing professional dissection practices and clinical integration. She also serves as Director of the CIMED post-baccalaureate program (Pre-Health Medical Innovation (PMI) program), which is designed to support students preparing for entry into medical and other health professional schools. Dr. Ibrahim's scholarly work spans anatomy education research, case-based anatomical studies, and clinically oriented anatomy innovation. Her research emphasizes assessment design, curricular integration, educational technologies such as virtual reality, and student-centered scholarship developed through anatomy electives and laboratory research. A defining aspect of her academic work is her commitment to mentorship; since joining the faculty, she has mentored medical students through research projects, electives, and pipeline programs, supporting their development as emerging physician scholars. Dr. Ibrahim is deeply committed to advancing anatomy and embryology education to prepare future generations of physician innovators for the evolving challenges of healthcare. Through her integrated roles in teaching, research, mentorship, and service, she contributes to a learning environment that values excellence, inclusion, and the ethical foundations of medical education.

Professional Highlights

• MEHP, Master of Education in Health Professions Education-Leadership Track, School of Education, JHU, 2021-2025

Continuing Education

• (BSE 737) Exploring Anatomy through the Virtual Reality Lens Elective - 1 Credit Hour.
• (BSE 720) Advanced Anatomy Elective Course - 4 Credit hours.

Chapters in Books

• Ibrahim, W. and Dauzvardis, M (2025). The Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System, Chapter 1. In Hegazy, S., Thorn, J., Burnette, M. (Ed.) 2025. The Female Reproductive System and Women’s Health Through a Multidisciplinary Lens. Open Access E-Book and Ancillary Materials, as an open education resource by CARLI and hosted on LibreTexts. LibreCommons | Female Reproductive System and Women's Health through a Multidisciplinary Lens

Selected Articles in Journals

• Lim, M., Shackelford, L., Ibrahim, W. (2026). Bridging Anatomy Curricular Gaps: Leveraging Student-Created Video Resources in Elective Courses. Clinical Anatomy, 1-8. Role: *Corresponding author, Project PI. 
•  Oni, O.A., Adams, W., Prem, P., Ramakrishnan, R., Sira, A., Vachon, E., Shima, M., Ibrahim, W. (2026) Bilateral Extensor Pollicis et Indicis Accessorius: Clinical & Anatomical Perspectives. Surgical and Radiological Anatomy 48,115. Role: *Corresponding author, Project PI.
• Lin, T., Ibrahim, W., Peng, C. Y., Finegold, M. J., and Tsai, R. Y. (2013). A novel role of nucleostemin in maintaining the genome integrity of dividing hepatocytes during mouse liver development and regeneration. Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.), 58(6), 2176–2187. https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.26600

Honors

• Nominee of the Alice B. Hayes Award, Loyola University Chicago. This award recognizes faculty who demonstrate exceptional commitment to advising and mentoring students both inside and outside the classroom. Awardees exhibit a passion for student development and professional growth, showing personal care for each individual. (2018)

Teaching Honors

• Excellence in Foundational Sciences Teaching Award (2025)
• M1 Educator of the Year Award-Loyola University  (2017-2018)
• M1 Educator of the Year Award-Loyola University  (2015-2016)
• M1 Educator of the Year Award-Loyola University  (2013-2014)

Recent Courses Taught

• BSE 601 - Anatomy
• BSE 720 - Advanced Anatomy
• BSE 737 - Exploring Anatomy through VR