Jane Kring

I am a human biologist. I received my B.S. in Biology from SUNY Binghamton University, where I minored in Chemistry. I earned my MD from SUNY Upstate Medical University, where I spent 9 months in the RMED elective in the Canton Potsdam area. I started my Internal Medicine/Pediatrics residency at East Carolina University, but ultimately decided to leave medicine to pursue teaching. I earned a teaching certificate through East Carolina University’s Alternative Licensure program while teaching high school and community college science courses.

In the Biology department, I teach Anatomy & Physiology I & II labs. Each week in lab we start with a student talking points presentation about a disease or condition that relates to the body system we’re covering.  Beyond that every lab is different.  Over the course of the year during A&P labs students learn some basic physical exam skills, complete physiology experiments, analyze cases or problems like why someone is short of breath or what is causing their abdominal pain, dissect organs and full anatomical specimens, and spend time understanding and looking at the microanatomy or histology of organs. I love teaching these labs, and learning and sharing knowledge about the human body.

I also teach Health & Wellness Coaching with CBL every spring.  This course focuses on learning the rapport building and motivational interviewing skills to guide others in incorporating positive changes.  We also learn about common health conditions and how they can be actively managed.  Students work on a communication skill each week in their community based learning placement.  During this course we have a number of guest lecturers with a variety of perspectives on how to help others improve their health.  This course prepares students for Community Health Coaching when they are assigned to their very own patient, and work with them to set and achieve small realistic goals to improve their health.  I love how these courses build practical communication skills and seeing what clients can accomplish with their student health coach’s support. 

The other course I regularly teach is Foundations of Medicine. This course focuses on MCAT and application preparation for medical school.  I love this class since I get to see students pull on all of their prior experiences to put together a compelling personal statement and medical school application.  I also enjoy being students’ MCAT coach - assigning content and practice exam ‘workouts’ and providing encouragement as students build skills and improve their performance over time.

I really enjoy working with pre-health students to maximize their application to professional schools. I am very excited to be co-chairing the Pre-Health Program and Health Careers Committee with Dr. Kari Heckman, RD, PhD. Together we coordinate a Pre-Health Mentorship Program for incoming students each fall.  I am a member of NEAAHP and NAAHP.

My current research project is in collaboration with The Richard E. Winter Cancer Center in Ogdensburg.  Together we’re assessing the benefits of health coaching in oncology patients as compared to care as usual.  Students can participate as Oncology Health Coaches after they’ve taken my Health & Wellness Coaching class.