Joy Reidenberg

Last updated
Joy Reidenberg
JoyReidenberg.tif
EducationCornell University (BA)

Mount Sinai (MPhil)

Mount Sinai (PhD)
Alma materCornell (BA)

Mount Sinai (M Phil)

Mount Sinai (PhD)
Occupation
  • Comparative Anatomist
Employer(s)Full Professor, Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology, and Department of Medical Education, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Known for
Website http://www.mssm.edu/profiles/joy-s-reidenberg

Joy S. Gaylinn Reidenberg is an American comparative anatomist specializing in the vocal and breathing apparatus of mammals, particularly cetaceans (whales, including dolphins and porpoises). [1] She is best known as the Comparative Anatomist in the TV science documentary series Inside Nature's Giants where she has dissected a number of animals varying in species. [2] In addition, Reidenberg has also contributed to several other TV documentaries centered around animal life and anatomy. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards ranging from academic honors to film and recognition awards. In 2024, she has also participated in the first dissection of a rare species of whale.

Contents

Education

Reidenberg became interested in animal science and art as a high school student. She earned a bachelor's degree (B.A.) from Cornell University in 1983, a master's (M.Phil.) from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Graduate Program in Biological Sciences in 1985, and a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biomedical Sciences: Anatomy in 1988. There, she worked with anthropologist Jeffrey Laitman.

Career

Media

In 2009, a British production company now known as Windfall Films approached her about coming to Ireland on short notice to help dissect a 19.8 m (65 ft) fin whale that had washed up on the south coast. She conducted the dissection, and the company was so happy with her performance that they asked her to become a regular contributor to Inside Nature's Giants, dissecting a variety of animals (18 episodes in total), and explaining their anatomy. These animals include: fin whale, sperm whale, lion, tiger, elephant, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, python, great white shark, giant squid, camel, kangaroo, cassowary, baboon, leatherback sea turtle, polar bear, race horse, giant jungle insects. [3] Reidenberg has also starred in the 4-episode series "Sex in the Wild" (on PBS in the USA), also known as "Born in the Wild" (on Channel 4 in the UK), about animal reproduction in elephants, orangutans (and other primates), dolphins (and other whales), and kangaroos (and other marsupials). [4] She was also featured in a 3-day live series called "Big Blue Live" on PBS about marine life in Monterey Bay, California. [5] In November 2013, she held a TED Talk about the respiratory functions of whales and how they are used in communication and echolocation. [6]

She has also made appearances in many other TV documentaries on PBS, BBC, CBC, SBS, NatGeo, Science Channel, Discovery, Channel 4 (UK), and many other networks, including:

Academic

Reidenberg works in New York City and is a professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai's Center for Anatomy and Functional Morphology, [7] where she teaches in the Structures Course (Gross Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, and Imaging). She was also the Course Director for General Anatomy at the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. [8] from 2014-2020.

Spade-toothed whale dissection

On December 2, 2024, Joy Reidenberg participated in a week-long dissection of a 5-meter (16.4 ft) male spade-toothed whale in New Zealand. She was one of three US anatomists to join the dissection, led by Te Rūnanga o Ōtākou, partnering with Te Papa Atawhai, the Tuhura Otago Museum, and the University of Otago. The dissection was the first of its kind, as only 6 specimens of the species have been recorded as of 2024. She was fascinated by working with the Māori people, along with learning their beliefs and practices. [9]

Awards

YearAwardNotesRef.
1989Outstanding Doctorial Dissertation AwardGiven by the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Icahn School of Medicine. [1]
1993Excellence in Science Communication AwardGiven by the Society for Marine Mammalogy. [1]
1998Recognition of Excellence in Science CommunicationGiven at the 12th Biennial Conference held by the Society for Marine Mammalogy. [1] [10]
1999Basmajian/Williams and Wilkins AwardGiven by the American Association for Anatomy. [11]
2003IME Excellence in Teaching AwardGiven by the Institute for Medical Education at Icahn School of Medicine. [12] [13]
2005Pre-Clinical Teaching AwardGiven by the Icahn School of Medicine. [1]
2007Scholarly Achievement AwardGiven by the Icahn School of Medicine. [1]
2010ZSL/Clarivate Analytics Award for Communicating ZoologyGiven by the Zoological Society of London to Windfall Films for the Inside Nature's Giants series; to which Reidenberg was a contributor. [14]
2010 British Academy Television Award for Best Specialist Factual Given by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for the Inside Nature's Giants series; to which Reidenberg was a contributor. [15]
2014FellowGiven by the American Association for Anatomy for demonstrated excellence in science and overall contributions to anatomical sciences. [16]
2015First Years' Student Choice AwardGiven by the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. [17]
2017Mount Sinai Graduate School Alumni AwardGiven by the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai for continued contributions in a field of study after graduation. [18]
2017Professor of the YearGiven by the New York College of Podiatric Medicine. [19]
2021Jacobi Medallion AwardGiven by the Icahn School of Medicine. [20]
2024Henry Gray Distinguished Educator AwardGiven by the American Association for Anatomy for educating in anatomy and anatomical sciences. [21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Joy S Reidenberg | Mount Sinai - New York". Mount Sinai Health System. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  2. ↑ Patalay, Ajesh. "Inside Nature's Giants: A gory attempt to disprove 'intelligent design' theories". Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  3. ↑ From Inside Lions and Leviathans, Anatomist Builds a Following. New York Times, 6 February 2012
  4. ↑ "'Big Blue Live' makes its US debut" . Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  5. ↑ "'Big Blue Live' on PBS explores great whale migration" . Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  6. ↑ Reidenberg, Joy. "How whales breathe, communicate ... and fart with their faces". TEDEd. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  7. ↑ "NYCEP: Joy Reidenberg".
  8. ↑ "New York College of Podiatric Medicine". www.nycpm.edu. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  9. ↑ Hutchins, Rob (2024-12-17). "Rare spade-toothed whale has nine stomachs and 'wisdom' teeth". Oceanographic. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  10. ↑ "Past Conferences - SMM Conference". 2020-12-17. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  11. ↑ Haines, Duane (26 December 2002). "AAA award winners". The Anatomical Journal. 257 (2): 45–47. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0185(19990415)257:2<45::AID-AR2>3.0.CO;2-# – via WILEY Online Library.
  12. ↑ "IME Excellence in Teaching Award Recipients" (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  13. ↑ "IME Excellence Teaching Awards | Icahn School of Medicine". Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  14. ↑ "Clarivate Award for Communicating Zoology" (PDF). Zoological Society of London. Retrieved 26 February 2025.
  15. ↑ "Specialist Factual". Bafta. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  16. ↑ "List of Fellows". American Association for Anatomy. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  17. ↑ "Dr. Reidenberg Wins First Years' Student Choice Award With 'Unique and Enviable' Anatomy Instruction" (PDF). New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  18. ↑ "Alumni Awards: Past Recipients". Icahn Alumni. Retrieved 2025-03-17.
  19. ↑ "2017 Football Features Fun and Student Choice Winners" (PDF). New York College of Podiatric Medicine. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  20. ↑ "2021 Jacobi Medallion Award Ceremony". Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. July 8, 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
  21. ↑ "Past Recipients of the Henry Gray Distinguished Educator Award". American Association for Anatomy. Retrieved 27 February 2025.
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