Dr. Sumathi Velavan (Sumathilatha Sakthi Velavan) is an Associate Professor of Anatomy in the Department of Anatomy and Pathology at Marian University Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine (MU-WCOM). She is an experienced clinician and anatomist with a strong background in medical education. Dr. Velavan primarily teaches anatomy, histology, and pathology to preclinical osteopathic medical students and serves as the course director of the Essential Clinical Anatomy and Development course at MU-WCOM. Before joining Marian University, she taught osteopathic medical students at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in New York.
Dr. Velavan earned her medical degree in India, where she also completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology. She later specialized in anatomy by earning a master’s degree in surgery (MS) in the field. In addition to providing patient care, she taught multiple subdisciplines of anatomical sciences in allopathic medical schools in India for nearly ten years. Her clinical background enriches her teaching with a strong emphasis on clinical relevance in anatomy education, and she is passionate about using innovative teaching methods to support student learning.
Dr. Velavan has contributed to national osteopathic assessment as an item writer and reviewer for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examinations (NBOME). In recognition of her excellence in teaching and evaluation, she was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators (NAOME) in 2020. Her dedication to education has earned her multiple honors, including the Frank Gray Teacher of the Year Award from TouroCOM in 2017 and several faculty awards from MU-COM’s Student Government Association, including the Outstanding Biomedical Science Faculty, Outstanding Clinical Faculty, and Advisor of the Year.
