CommencementEducation
Education

Michelle B. Titunick, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medical Sciences

Dr. Michelle B. Titunick is an anatomist, educator, and researcher in the Department of Medical Sciences at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. She serves as Course Director for Structural Principles and teaches gross anatomy, histology, and embryology. Her academic career has focused on integrating anatomical science with innovative medical education and student-centered learning, while her research spans anatomical variation, medical education, and the basic science of diabetic fracture repair.

Dr. Titunick is also the creator and Course Director for the Anatomy Teaching Assistant and Embryological Research Journal Club Phase 3 electives. In addition, she oversees the HMSOM Center for Histology Research and Training and the HMSOM Anatomical Plastinate Collection.

Education

Ph.D., The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine

B.A., Rutgers University

Peer-Reviewed Articles

  • Pagano AS, Smith CM, Titunick MB, Idso A, Ahmad M, Yu A, Chung K, Li K, Lee S, Laitman JT, Márquez S. Muscular origins of the levator veli palatini muscle: Documenting anatomical variation and resolving five centuries of conflicting accounts. Anatomical Record (Hoboken). 2025 Sep 18. doi: 10.1002/ar.70055. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40966029.
  • Bharani V, Sidoti H, Titunick MB. Unique Constellation of Vascular Anomalies in a Female Cadaver: IVC, Renal Vein, and Left Colic Artery Variation. Surgeries. 2024 Jan 4;5(1):6–12.
  • Panesar H, Singh M, Adams Q, Titunick MB, Pagano AS. Cadaveric dissection of connection between accessory hemiazygos vein and left brachiocephalic vein. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy. 2023 Sep;45(9):1145–1148. doi: 10.1007/s00276-023-03191-y. Epub 2023 Jul 12. PMID: 37436454.
  • Titunick MB, Lewis GS, Cain JD, Zagon IS, McLaughlin PJ. Blockade of the OGF-OGFr pathway in diabetic bone. Connective Tissue Research. 2019 Nov;60(6):521–529. doi: 10.1080/03008207.2019.1593396. Epub 2019 Mar 31. PMID: 30931654.
  • McLaughlin PJ, Sassani JW, Titunick MB, Zagon IS. Efficacy and safety of a novel naltrexone treatment for dry eye in type 1 diabetes. BMC Ophthalmology. 2019 Jan 28;19(1):35. doi: 10.1186/s12886-019-1044-y. PMID: 30691415; PMCID: PMC6348650.
  • McLaughlin PJ, Cain JD, Titunick MB, Sassani JW, Zagon IS. Topical Naltrexone Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Standard Treatment of Diabetic Wounds. Advances in Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2017 Sep 1;6(9):279–288. doi: 10.1089/wound.2016.0725. PMID: 28894635; PMCID: PMC5592845.
  • Stockdale DP, Titunick MB, Biegler JM, Reed JL, Hartung AM, Wiemer DF, McLaughlin PJ, Neighbors JD. Selective opioid growth factor receptor antagonists based on a stilbene isostere. Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry. 2017 Aug 15;25(16):4464–4474. doi: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.06.035. Epub 2017 Jun 27. PMID: 28693915; PMCID: PMC5567982.