Cynthia J. Metz, Ph.D.

Associate Professor and Vice Chairman

Cynthia J. Metz, Ph.D.
cjmill04@louisville.edu
Professor, Vice Chair, and Director of Graduate Studies
University of Louisville, 2008

Dr. Cynthia Metz is an Associate Professor, Vice Chair, and the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Physiology at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.  She serves as the Thread Director for Physiology in the School of Medicine courses MBLDD, HSHD-1, and HSHD-2.  She enjoys teaching dental, graduate, and medical students a variety of topics such as Neurophysiology, the Physiology of Body Fluids, Muscle Physiology, Circulatory Physiology, Renal Physiology, and Endocrine Physiology.  Dr. Metz has also created programs aimed at improving student study strategies, test-taking skills, and ability to cope with the stresses of professional coursework. 

For these efforts, Dr. Metz has received teaching awards including 8 Faculty Favorite Awards (including “Top” placements in 2012 and 2019), a Research Recognition Award and New Investigator Award from the American Physiological Society Teaching Section, an Outstanding Early Career Award from the Kentucky Academy of Science, 3 Ronald Doyle Awards for Excellence in Basic Science Education, and the Wood E. Currens Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Her research activities focus on the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning. She is interested in the integration of active learning and technology into the classroom, and the impact of these methods on student performance and motivation.  This research has led to a “toolbox” of classroom strategies including engaging lectures, online review modules, team-based learning, study skills programs, clinical application exercises, and outreach activities. Some of her educational resources have open-access and are available on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/HowIMetzYourPhysio

Dr. Metz currently serves on the School of Medicine Evaluation and Assessment Subcommittee and Student Promotions Committee.  She leads the Physiology Graduate Admissions Committee and serves on the School of Medicine Graduate Council.  She is also an elected member of the Editorial Board for the journal Advances in Physiology Education and has led international webinars on teaching and learning.  Dr. Metz participates in many community service activities and mentors graduate students who are interested in pursuing teaching careers.

Peer-reviewed Research Articles:

  1. Clark CB, Rane MJ, Mehdi DE, Miller CJ, Sachleben LR, Gozal E. Role of oxidative stress in Geldanamycin-induced cytotoxicity and disruption of Hsp90 signaling complex.  Free Radic Biol Med 47 (10): 1440-1449, 2009.
  2. Metz MJ, Miller CJ. Clinical Case Presentation: Challenging The American Board of Operative Dentistry Certification Examination. JSM Dent 1007 (1): 1-10, 2013.
  3. Miller CJ, McNear J, and Metz MJ.  A Comparison of Traditional and Engaging Lecture Methods in a Large, Professional-Level Course.  Adv Physiol Edu 37: 347-355, 2013. 
  4. Metz MJ, Abel-Azim T, Miller CJ, Lin WS, Nejad Z, Oliviera GM, Morton D.  Implementation of a Laboratory Quality Assurance Program: The Louisville Experience.  J Dent Edu 78 (2): 195-205, 2014.
  5. Miller CJ. The Use of Novel Camtasia Videos to Improve Performance of At-risk Students in Undergraduate Physiology Courses.  World J Edu 4 (1): 22-34, 2014.
  6. Miller CJ, Metz MJ.  Birds of a Feather Flock Together: The Importance of Seating Location with Active Learning in the Professional Classroom.  Adv Physiol Edu 38:181-182, 2014.
  7. Miller CJ. Implementation of a Study Skills Program for Entering, At-risk Medical Students.  Adv Physiol Edu 38: 229-234, 2014.
  8. Miller CJ, Metz MJ.  A Comparison of Professional-Level Faculty and Student Perceptions of Active Learning: Its Current Use, Effectiveness, and Barriers.  Adv Physiol Edu 38: 246-252, 2014.
  9. Fensterer TF, Miller CJ, Perez-Abadia G, Maldonado CJ. Novel Cuff Design to Facilitate Small Vessel Anastomosis in Cervical Heterotopic Heart Transplantation in Rodents. Comparative Medicine 64(4): 293-239, 2014.
  10. Miller CJ, Aiken S, Metz MJ. Perceptions of D.M.D. Student Readiness for Basic Science Courses in the United States: Can Online Review Modules Help?  European Journal of Dental Education 19: 1-7, 2015.
  11. Metz MJ, Miller CJ, Lin WS, Abdel-Azim T, Zandinejad A, Crim G. Dental Student Perception and Assessment of Preventive Dentistry Knowledge. European Journal of Dental Education 19: 81-86, 2015.
  12. Miller CJ, Falcone JC, Metz MJ. A Comparison of Team-Based Learning Formats: Can We Minimize Stress While Maximizing Results? World Journal of Education 5(4): 1-13, 2015.
  13. Miller CJ, Metz MJ. Clinical Scenario Videos Improve Dental Students’ Perception of the Basic Sciences and Ability to Apply Content Knowledge. Journal of Dental Education 79:1452-1460, 2015.
  14. Metz MJ, Metz CJ, Durski MT, Aiken SA, Mayfield TG, Lin WS. A Training Program Using an Audience Response System to Calibrate Dental Faculty Members Assessing Student Clinical Competence. Journal of Dental Education 80:1109-1118, 2016.
  15. Marti AM, Harris BT, Metz MJ, Morton D, Scarfe WC, Metz CJ, Lin WS. Comparison of digital scanning and polyvinyl siloxane impression techniques by dental students: instructional efficiency and attitudes towards technology. European Journal of Dental Education 21(3): 200-205, 2017.
  16. Ballard E, Metz MJ, Harris BT, Metz CJ, Chou JC, Morton D, Lin WS. Satisfaction of Dental Students, Faculty, and Patients with Tooth Shade-Matching Using a Spectrophotometer. Journal of Dental Education 81(5): 545-553, 2017.
  17. Gozal E*, Metz CJ*, Dematteis M, Sachleben LR, Schurr A, Rane MJ. PKA activity exacerbates hypoxia-induced ROS formation and hypoxic injury in PC-12 cells. Toxicology Letters 279: 107-114, 2017.  * indicates equal contribution
  18. Metz CJ, Downes S, Metz MJ. The In’s and Out’s of Science Outreach: Assessment of an Engaging New Program. Adv Physiol Educ 42: 487–492, 2018; doi:10.1152/advan.00085.2018.
  19. Metz CJ, Ballard E, Metz, MJ.  The Stress of Success: An Online Module to Help First-Year Dental Students Cope with the Impostor Phenomenon. Journal of Dental Education 84: 1016-1024, 2020.
  20. Metz CJ, Metz MJ. The Benefits of Incorporating Active Learning into Online, Asynchronous Coursework in Dental Physiology. Adv Physio Educ 46: 11-20, 2022.

 Peer-reviewed Teaching Resources:

  1. Miller CJ.  Clinical Focus Presentations: Can You Talk the Talk?  Life Science Teaching Resource Community (Formerly the American Physiological Society Archive of Teaching Resources), http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=6045  March 8, 2012.
  2. Miller CJ. Where Does That Ion Go?  A Video of the Cardiomyocyte Action Potential: Part 2. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=6043  March 8, 2012.
  3. Miller CJ. Where Does That Ion Go?  A Video of the Cardiomyocyte Action Potential: Part 1. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=6044  March 8, 2012.
  4. Miller CJ. A Collection of Games and Activities for the Endocrine System: It CAN be fun! Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=6716  July 7, 2012.
  5. Miller CJ. How Hormones Use G-protein Signaling Pathways: A Video Review of the Basics. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=6715 August 1, 2012.
  6. Miller CJ. Controversial Discussion Topics for Physiology Courses. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=7689   June 28, 2013.
  7. Miller CJ. Form Follows Function: A Video Introduction to Stereochemistry. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=7631 June 28, 2013.
  8. Miller CJ. The Nephron in Numbers: A Video of Renal Clearance. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=7630  June 28, 2013.
  9. Miller CJ. The Physiology of Receptors: A Video. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=7629  June 28, 2013.
  10. Miller C, Metz M.  The Autonomic Nervous System Review Module. MedEdPORTAL; 2013.  Available from: www.mededportal.org/publication/9550.
  11. Miller CJ. Visualizing the Synthesis of Thyroid Hormones. MERLOT II, http://www.merlot.org/merlot/viewMaterial.htm?id=764892 October 27, 2013.
  12. Metz MJ, Miller CJ. Mock Board Preparation Materials for the Operative Dentistry Section of Regional Dental Licensure Examinations. MedEdPORTAL; 2013. Available from: www.mededportal.org/publication/9646
  13. Metz MJ, Miller CJ, Abdel-Azim T, Lin WS, Zandinejad A, Morton D. Resources for a Novel Laboratory Quality Assurance Program: Operating Procedures. MedEdPORTAL; 2014. Available from: https://www.mededportal.org/publication/9865.
  14. Miller CJ. Study Smarter, Not Harder: Ten Tips for Studying Physiology. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=9976 April 10, 2015.
  15. Miller C, Metz M. A Collection of Clinical Scenario Videos: Using Physiology to Understand Medical Emergencies in the Dental Office. MedEdPORTAL Publications; 2015. Available from: https://www.mededportal.org/publication/10119
  16. Miller CJ. Strategies for Taking Multiple-Choice Exams: A Video for Students. Life Science Teaching Resource Community, http://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=10616 October 2, 2016.
  17. Downes S, Metz MJ, Metz CJ. A Novel Oral Health Outreach Activity for Elementary Grade Students, Life Science Teaching Resource Community, https://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=11301 December 11, 2017.
  18. Metz CJ, Metz MJ. Every Breath You Take: Resources for Respiratory Outreach, Life Science Teaching Resource Community, https://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=11565 February 26, 2018.
  19. Metz CJ, Metz MJ. An online module to understand body fluid status in clinical cases. MedEdPORTAL. 2018;14:10719. https://doi.org/10.15766/mep_2374-8265.10719
  20. Metz CJ, Metz MJ, Schuschke DA, Maldonado CM, Gibb AA, Hill BG. Resources for Cardiovascular Outreach: A Day in the Life of a Doctor, Life Science Teaching Resource Community, https://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=11054 April 4, 2018.
  21. Metz CJ, Ballard E, and Metz MJ. An Online Module to Help Students Cope with Impostor Thoughts. Life Science Teaching Resource Community https://www.lifescitrc.org/resource.cfm?submissionID=11955 September 4, 2019.