Professor Dr. Monica Pessina

Biography

Monica Pessina received her PhD in Anatomy and Neurobiology from Boston University and holds a Master’s in Education from Northeastern University and a Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Boston University. Before her full-time academic appointment at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine (BUSM), she gained extensive experience in upper extremity rehabilitation at Massachusetts General Hospital and in working with orthopedic, neurological, and burn injuries. As the Director of Rehabilitation at Shriners Burns Institute, she continues her work as an educator in the field of burn rehabilitation on a national and international level. Currently, she teaches both Gross Anatomy and Microscopic Anatomy at the BU School of Medicine and BU Goldman School of Dental Medicine. She serves in various roles including Course Director, Section Leader, Lecturer, and Laboratory Instructor. Her research interests are focused on the return of motor function after cortical injury, specifically using primate models. Additionally, she acts as a Graduate Medical Sciences Educator and Mentor at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine.

Research Interests