An estimated 750 students, faculty members and donor families are expected to attend the memorial ceremonies on Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts in Davis. The event, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., includes a reading of the first names of donors, musical performances by students (guitar, piano, violin and voice) and refreshments.
"The study of anatomy has given me more than just knowledge of the structures of the body. I walk away with a deeper appreciation for life," said Sahar Doctorvaladan, a second-year medical student at UC Davis and one of the coordinators of the event. "As we move forward in our education, we must strive to remain empathetic and compassionate with our patients, and we are deeply indebted and grateful to the families who donated the ultimate gift for the sake of our learning."
Medical students work with human cadavers in the first semester of their first year of training at the School of Medicine in the gross anatomy lab. Over the course of six months, students conduct dissections from the chest through the abdomen, pelvis, head and neck to the limbs to learn about body structures in a way that they cannot be done through a textbook or computerized graphics. Cadavers also are used in research laboratories to better understand disease. They also play an important role in emergency medicine and other specialty care training, where physicians must practice new surgical techniques to save lives.
"This ceremony is a way for us to show respect for the donors and gratitude to their families," said Doctorvaladan. "Our anatomy class takes us on a journey and is a unique experience."
UC Davis anatomy classes are unique opportunities for students to learn what the human body looks like both inside and out. The goal is not only to learn anatomy, but also to develop a genuine appreciation and respect for the individuals who have donated their bodies. In some respects, donated bodies are a medical student's first patient.
Students say it is not uncommon to write notes and poems of appreciation in honor of the once-living individuals who have enabled them to learn about human anatomy and had a powerful impact on their lives.
"Many of my first life lessons at medical school were learned inside the anatomy lab," said Meghan McClure, another second-year medical student who is helping coordinate the memorial event. "Although I knew nothing about my cadaver except her age and probable cause of death, I mourned her after our final exam and came back to the lab, held her hand and cried. I was so thankful for the educational opportunity she had given me."
The Donated Body Program at UC Davis School of Medicine receives donations from throughout Northern California. Established in 1968, the program receives approximately 150 donations each year. The school uses about 30 for its anatomy classes, with the rest used by other UC Davis departments or distributed for scientific and medical research to other colleges and institutions that do not have donor programs.
For more information about the donation process, call (916) 734-9560, e-mail DBPinfo@ucdavis.edu or visit the UC Davis Donated Body Program Web site.
UC Davis School of Medicine is among the nation's leading medical schools, recognized for its specialty- and primary-care programs.The school offers combined medical and master's degree programs in public health, business administration, and rural health, as well as a combined medical and doctoral degree for physician scientists interested in addressing specific scientific, social, ethical and political challenges of health care. Along with being a leader in health-care research, the school is known for its commitment to people from underserved communities and a passion for clinical care. For more information, visit www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/medschool.