Meet the OUME Team
OUME Staff Listed Alphabetically
Colleen J Burnham, MBA
Educational Specialist III | FCE, CSD
Instructor, Department of Medicine
508–856–5137
Curriculum Support
Colleen joined UMass Medical School in 2009 after 15 years in higher education as a professional teaching associate in psychology and an information specialist in library, computer, and audio visual "sciences." A nontraditional student, Colleen earned her MBA from Thomas College in 2009, specializing in adult online learning and conflict management. Colleen’s scholarly interests include information literacy, the ethical use of subjects (human and animal), and scholarly writing. She is a proud 13th generation Mainer, has three amazing grown children, and is a past cornet player in Civil War Era Serenade bands.
---
Pawel Stefan Chojnowski
Education Specialist
Curriculum Support
International Medical Education Program (IMEP)
Global Health Pathway (GHP)
Interstitial programming
Advanced Studies Curriculum Committee
Pawel joined the OUME team in 2021. He received his bachelor's degree from Suffolk University in 2015 having double majored in international affairs and history. He is also a graduate of the Macquarie University Global Leadership Program.
In his free time Pawel enjoys spending time with his friends and family, cooking, and watching movies. He loves to travel where he likes to pack light, only bringing a few changes of clothes and his trusty Sony camera. He tries to see as much as he can and to meet as many interesting people as possible to learn their stories.
"The wide world is all about you: You can fence yourselves in, but you cannot forever fence it out."
—J.R.R. Tolkien
---
Gail March Cohen, PhD, MFA
Assistant Dean, Undergraduate Medical Education
S1-134
Gail joined UMMS in 2017. Her focus is in preparing learners for their future roles as physicians through effective curriculum design, educator’s development, and integration of educational technology. She is working closely with curriculum committees and co-chairs the Clerkship Directors Committee. Gail teaches in the Teaching in Medicine: Physical Diagnosis elective. She oversees the OASIS SOM curriculum database for mapping, scheduling, and reporting. Dr. March Cohen is also leading the development of independent learning modules in partnership with the Academic Instructional Design and Technology team and consults with faculty on small group learning sessions. Gail is a Junior Faculty Development Program mentor, an AAMC MedEdPORTAL Faculty mentor, and reviews submissions to multiple medical education journals.
Gail is a visual artist, animator, writer, and film and television screenwriter. She loves to cook, garden, brainstorm new ideas, be with her family, analyze new films and TV shows, and laugh.
---
Victoria Cohen, MPP
Education Specialist
Victoria joined the OUME team in 2021. She received her Bachelor's degree in American Literature & Culture from UC Los Angeles in 2016. Between 2016 and 2019 Victoria worked in K-12 education and became an alumnus of Teach For America and the Urban Leaders Fellowship. She received her Master's in Education Policy from Vanderbilt University in 2021. While in Nashville she worked for Vanderbilt's OUME and as an education policy research partner.
In her free time, Victoria loves to socialize with people and animals and has a dog, two cats, and a pet hedgehog - all of whom she loves to take on outings. She also enjoys cooking, reading, painting, hiking, and attending poetry and art exhibits.
---
Manas Das, MD, MS
Assistant Dean for Foundational Curriculum 
Associate Professor
Division of Translational Anatomy, Department of Radiology
Dr. D joined UMass from the University of South Dakota in 2018 and has held instructional and educational leadership positions all over the world. He received his medical degree from Calcutta National Medical College, though he stopped practicing medicine to focus on his love of teaching. He is co-leader for the development, structure, and function (DSF) course for the MS1s and the organ system diseases (OSD) course for the MS2s, and in his Assistant Dean role will oversee and spearhead innovation throughout the biomedical pillar of our curriculum.
Interacting with students is his true passion – he loves to teach! When not teaching, he travels, sings, listens to music, watches sports/TV/movies (several of his teaching sessions have references from 'Friends' or a Brad Pitt movie!), and cook. Finally, he is a believer of 'to err is human, forgive divine' and 'to live and let live.'
---
Melissa A Fischer, MD, MEd
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education
Curriculum Innovation, & the interprofessional Center for Experimental Learkening and Simulation (iCELS)
S1-132
Melissa joined the UMass team directly from her fellowship in Ambulatory Care and Master’s in Education from Stanford in 2002. A general internist by training, she was drawn to the UMass Medical School institutional commitment to education and mission to serve vulnerable populations. She has had the pleasure and privilege of working with colleagues across departments and schools in pursuit of these values. Since assuming leadership of the OUME in 2010, she has worked to support innovation and collaboration, inclusive and experiential learning and engagement across our community.
A New Yorker by birth, Melissa loves to travel and explore the arts and nature with her family and friends. Though some are skeptical, she feels central MA and northern CA have a lot in common – with liberal perspectives, opportunities for cultural engagement, open space, beaches, and mountains.
---
Gerlando LoTempio
Education Specialist
Curriculum Support
Organ System Diseases (OSD)
Transition to Internship
T3 Curriculum Committee
Gerlando joined the OUME team in 2021. He received his bachelor’s degree in English literature from Rutgers University in 2017, while also receiving minors in comparative literature and Italian studies. He also plans to continue his academic endeavors by pursuing his M.A. in English and American Literature. Most of his professional career has been based in higher education and serving students, and he looks forward to continuing to grow within this field.
Gerlando is passionate about academics and is a lifelong student. In his free time, he enjoys traveling in order to soak up all the culture and world experiences he possibly can, reads literature of all eras and origins, enjoys nature, and spends time with his loved ones.
"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
—Ralph Waldo Emerson
---
Karen Morrissey, MBA, CAGS
Education Specialist
508–856–5660
S1-130E
Curriculum Support
Interstitial Curriculum (ISC)/Interprofessional Experiences (IPE)
Transition to Core Clinical Experience (TCCE)
Elective Curriculum Committee (ECC)
Optional Enrichment Electives (OEE)
Karen joined the OUME team in 2019. Karen worked for 11 years in a postsecondary health and counseling setting where she tracked and reported student immunization requirements as well as case visits and facilitated health and wellness events. Prior to her role in health and counseling, she worked at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, the Caitlin Raymond International Bone Marrow Registry, and was an instructor for the American Red Cross. Karen has a bachelor's degree in health education as well as a Master of Business Administration with a certificate of advanced graduate study in health informatics.
In her free time, Karen enjoys time with family and friends, book club, and trips to the beach.
---
Sonia Nunes
Education Specialist
OUME Onboarding Partner
774–455–6612
S1-130H
Curriculum Support
Learning Communities
Principles of Pharmacology (FM106)
Infections (FM109)
Transition to Advanced Studies
Clerkship Directors Committee
Core Clinical Experience Committee
Sonia joined the OUME in 2019. A proud native of Worcester, she earned her Bachelor of Arts in English literature and art history from Assumption College in 2017—Go Hounds! She went on to earn a certificate of advanced graduate study in higher education administration from Stonybrook University, School of Professional Development. Her background in editorial, health care, and higher education fields have prepared her for a dynamic role on our team, and she enjoys bringing energy and a creative eye to every project.
On weekends, you can find her with her Polish or Brazilian families—sharing great food, listening to remarkable stories, and playing with cousins and nieces and nephews. She is a voracious reader, antique shop visitor, and subscriber to perhaps one-too-many true crime podcasts.
---
Michael Sweeney, MS, NREMT
Education Specialist
774–455–4726
Curriculum Support
The Brain (FM201)
Development, Structure and Function (FM105)
Medical Physiology, Histology and Embryology (HSP502)
FOM1 Curriculum Committee
Michael joined the OUME team in 2019. Michael has been at UMass Medical School in various positions since 2010. He has worked in the Emergency Department as a Medical Scribe, as well as a Clinical Research Assistant. He also worked as a Standardized Patient for several years! He received his bachelor’s degree in biology with a neuroscience concentration and psychology from Assumption College in 2016. He earned his master's in medical sciences from Boston University School of Medicine in 2019. He is currently enrolled in the MBA in healthcare management program at Assumption College.
In his free time, Michael enjoys spending time with family and working as an EMT/firefighter in his hometown of Blackstone, Massachusetts. He also likes hiking, cooking, and taking care of his two cats with extra toes (Paulie and Buckey)! He has a myriad of funny photos at his work desk in OUME and welcomes visitors!
---
Jean M Welker, MA
Education Specialist
508–856–6107
S1-130F
Program/System Support
FOM1 & FOM2: Academic Year Calendaring, Room Reservations
Oasis Curriculum Management and Student Scheduling
SOM Faculty Blackboard Learn Access
Curriculum Inventory
FOM2 Curriculum Committee
Jean joined the OUME in 2019 after many years in the UMass Memorial Health Care and UMass Medical School systems. Most recently, she worked as a project coordinator in the Center for Mindfulness in Medicine, Health Care and Society, managing the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) programs. Before that, Jean worked at UMMHC in the Center for Health and Fitness, working with employee wellness, cardiac rehab, and pulmonary rehab.
In her free time, Jean enjoys being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.
