Cantrell showcases curriculum data innovation at Tableau Conference
Posted on July 6, 2026 by Marketing and Communications
Russell W. Cantrell, MSCIS, MBA
When curriculum information lives in dozens of spreadsheets, Word documents, PDFs and course files, answering even simple questions can become a complicated task. That challenge inspired Russell W. Cantrell, MSCIS, MBA, director of data administration and strategic initiatives at the Whiddon College of Medicine, to rethink how curriculum data could better serve faculty, administrators and students.
That work recently earned national attention when Cantrell presented “Making Curriculum Data Make Sense,” a case study on using Tableau to improve curriculum review for medical school accreditation, at the Tableau Conference in San Diego.
The presentation highlighted how the college transformed a fragmented collection of curriculum documents into a standardized, repeatable data system. By developing consistent course templates and workflows, Cantrell helped convert disconnected information into clean, reliable data that could be visualized through interactive Tableau dashboards. Faculty and administrators can now more easily examine course objectives, instructional methods, assessment strategies, curriculum gaps, content overlap, and year-to-year trends.
The session also emphasized Cantrell's philosophy for effective data visualization: Begin with the real-world workflow, simplify the experience for non-technical users, clean and organize the data before building dashboards, and continually refine the tools based on how people actually use them. The result is a system that helps medical education leaders ask better questions, conduct more productive curriculum reviews, and make more informed decisions.
Timothy Gilbert, Ed.D., associate dean for accreditation and planning, said Cantrell's work reflects the college's commitment to using technology in ways that directly improve medical education.
“By creating a shared, reliable view of our curriculum, we've strengthened our ability to evaluate our programs, identify opportunities for improvement, and ensure we're providing the highest quality medical education,” Gilbert said. “This project reflects the innovative approach we strive for at the Whiddon College of Medicine, where data serves as a tool for continuous improvement, not simply compliance.”
The session drew 148 registered attendees, and Cantrell received a 4.7 rating for his knowledge and expertise. Interest extended well beyond the presentation itself, with representatives from two schools inviting him to present to their institutions and numerous conference attendees seeking additional information about the college's approach throughout the event.