Trailblazer Spotlight: Pranam Parsanlal, senior instructional designer

Pranam Parsanlal knew he wanted to devote his career to helping people.

For 10 years, Parsanlal volunteered at Moffitt Cancer Center. While shadowing physicians and working with nurses at the bedside, he discovered healthcare was near and dear to his heart.

In 2015, he began his journey at USF Health in a multifaceted role. It was there that he first learned about instructional design from a supervisor.

“The way he described this field was something out of this world to me, as he told me I could combine all of my passions into one,” said Parsanlal. “Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else. This role opened my eyes to technology and pairing this with learning and development.”

The interaction with his supervisor ultimately inspired Parsanlal to pursue his current career. Soon after, he went back to school for his master’s degree in learning, design and technology.

“This is where I knew my passion and future were.”

After graduating in 2019, he started at the College of Nursing as a senior instructional designer and enrolled in USF’s Instructional Design program to pursue his PhD. Beyond his current work, he is also exploring research in simulation in nursing education that he hopes to publish soon.

“I have developed such a passion for marrying my love for technology, learning, design and healthcare,” he explained.

That passion shines through his work every day. Director of Educational Design and Technology (EDT) Tasha Brown says she is glad Parsanlal is on her team because he is a huge asset to not only EDT, but the college as well.

“He is an innovative thinker with a broad knowledge base and has an aptitude for taking complex content and developing high-quality learning materials and courses,” she explained.

Parsanlal’s work often bridges the gap between faculty and students through his creation of exceptional digital assets and courses. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Parasanlal developed learning programs to ensure students understood the unprecedented virus, vaccines and care procedures. In 2021, he received the college’s Outstanding Staff Leadership Award for his continued dedication in not only his work, but his efforts as President of the college’s staff council.

Since then, he’s continued making history and developed the Registered Nurse First Assistant (RNFA) Program, making the College of Nursing the first in Florida’s state university system to offer a RNFA program.

“It’s always a team effort,” he said. “We are such a small, but mighty team.”

Story by Cassidy Delamarter