Michael Robert Cesarek, M.S.

Q1: Please describe the TA's greatest strengths:

• ​Michael is incredibly compassionate and pays close attention to make sure we are all okay during lab. Particularly when we first started dissecting, he checked in with each of us if he had any sense that we were unsettled,  uncomfortable, queasy, etc. He also is always willing to make time for us, staying late or coming in on weekends, to make sure we are comfortable with the material.

• He is very approachable and easy for us to ask for help. Also when he is teaching, rather than giving us information, he teaches us how to think so that we can participate in answering our own questions (and in turn preparing us to work through problems on our own in the future). For example, when we need help finding a structure, he explains and demonstrates dissection techniques without taking over the dissection. Instead, he verbally explains what we should do or if necessary briefly demonstrates, always ensuring that we in the end answer our own question (by finding the structure ourselves and physically learning the new skill with his guidance). Also, before giving an answer to a more theoretical or identification question, he first asks you a series of questions, using the Socratic method to lead/guide us to answer our own question. This really helps me learn and also has taught me how to think through an anatomy question. Frequently, I may be able to correctly identify a structure but I get anxious and struggle to find the path, or rather the logical steps, that will help me arrive at the answer. He helps you slow down and identify the contextual clues and the questions that you need to ask yourself to systematically narrow down the answer choices to the correct solution.

• ​When teaching/reviewing theory with us, he is always very clear, uses helpful visual aids and diagrams that make the information more accessible, and always checks to make sure we are understanding what he is saying. If you do not understand something or feel behind on a certain topic, he is a safe person to ask. The way he teaches is very neutral
  and when he answers a question he builds upon it so that everyone benefits from his explanation (even peers that knew the answer to the original question). I never feel embarrassed or guilty when I need to ask a basic or fundamental question that I am afraid everyone else around me has already mastered because I know in the process of answering it he will tie in a clinical correlation, contextualize it, or rephrase the question in a new way that also teaches something new to my peers or deepens their understanding of the concept.

• Michael was always just happy to answer questions for us and make sure we understood what was going on. I also appreciate that he allowed us to do our dissection rather than taking over for us.

• ​Michael was always very helpful in addressing our group's questions and would always offer to spend extra time in lab to help review any material that was unclear.

• Michael is great and always knowledgeable. Always willing to help or find out when he doesn't know something.

• Michael was very helpful and he is very knowledgeable. He helped both during lab and outside of lab periods. It was because of his help that I was able to learn some of the important structures for lab.

• Michael was really helpful and a great resource for learning the anatomy structures during lab hours.

• He always was ready to help, actively demonstrated mastery of material, and came more prepared than anyone else I found all of his quick mnemonics and advice incredibly helpful and easy to digest.

• Michael was very helpful with pneumonics and identifying questionable strictures with our dissections.

• Very knowledgeable! Loved his mnemonics at the beginning of class! Always super helpful when coming to our tank.

• Michael takes the time to make sure we really understand anatomical concepts and is always willing to repeat things/suggest ways to study/master the material.

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Q2: Please describe areas that need improvement:

• N/A. Really enjoyed having him as our TA

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Q3: Please write any other comments the student wishes to share with the TA:

• Overall great job

• Thanks for all your help!

• Michael is friendly and upbeat. He makes lab feel a lot less like pulling teeth.

• Good job

• Phenomenal TA on all fronts. 

• Really grateful that he was out TA! It really helped to learn the material

• He's great, hands down one of my favorite people I've interacted with!

• Wish there were more TAs like him!

• Keep up the great work!