Elizabeth Franzek, '12, and Sophie never met. Franzek doesn't even know Sophie's last name, but she's been one of the best teachers this young Weill Cornell Medical College student has ever had.
First-year students (from left) Gregory Bonci, Anh-Thu Vu and Maricela Castillo express their appreciation for their donor, Helene.
"Sophie has helped us as medical students and as people to truly understand what it is to be human," Franzek said.
Sophie is one of 26 people who donated their bodies to the Medical College after their deaths. The donor bodies are studied and dissected throughout the course of the year as part of the students' "Human Structure and Function" course. At the end of that first year, the entire class gathers to formally thank the donors and their families at a memorial service attended by several faculty members and administrators. This year's memorial service was held April 21 in Uris Auditorium.
"Donors like this help advance scientific knowledge in a very unique way," said Dr. Antonio M. Gotto, dean of the Medical College. "There is only so much medical knowledge that can be transmitted through books. The rest comes from listening to, observing and respecting the individual patients."
Matthew McConnell and Chonghua Wang perform "Ashokan Farewell."
The donor bodies, in many respects, represent the first patient contact for the medical students. It is here that the doctors-to-be will take their first steps toward developing the emotional instincts and empathy needed to become a world-class physician.
And those first steps are facilitated by the selflessness of the donors and their families.
"This institution thrives on these tremendous gestures of goodwill," said Dr. Estomih Mtui, director of the Program in Anatomy and Body Visualization at the Medical College. "I invite you all to reflect on the lives of these 26 men and women who have donated this gift to Weill Cornell Medical College."
In a symbol of their gratitude, the students laid bouquets of flowers on a table at the front of the auditorium.
"It is truly an act of courage to allow the body of a loved one to be used for a higher purpose," said David Slottje, one of the students selected to speak. "While many will never know of your contribution, it will never be forgotten by the people in this room."
Dr. Estomih Mtui (at the podium) acknowledges the donors and donor families for their great contributions.
Between the remarks, some students expressed their gratitude through music. Marta Galecki, Nasim Khadem, Neha Kumar, Anh-Thu Vu and Cora Walsh sang "Forget Me Not"; Chonghua Wang and Matthew McConnell performed "Ashokan Farewell" as a violin duet; and William Maguire played Claude Debussy's "Pour le Piano — No. 2 Sarabande" on the piano.
The service made an impact not only on the students and faculty, but also helped families understand and appreciate the great and difficult sacrifice their relatives made.
"Thank you for the great respect you have," said Barbara Rohmer, the daughter of one of the donors, to the students. "I have come to understand this is a wonderful thing my father did, and I'm very proud of him."
Photography by Weill Cornell Art & Photography.