For many medical students, their first-year experiences in the anatomy lab are a turning point in their education, the moment at which concepts about science and medicine become reality. In the anatomy lab, not only do textbook descriptions of human physiology become real, but for the first time medical students also view medicine through the prism of a patient — their donor.
On April 19, the Weill Cornell Medical College 2014 class gathered in Uris Auditorium to recognize and honor the gift their donors made in giving their bodies to further medical education.
"Our donors continue to serve and teach, even after death," said Dr. Estomih Mtui, the director of the gross anatomy and body visualization program at Weill Cornell. "As we say 'thank you' there is also another significant reason for this gathering — to cherish memories of the men and women who donated their bodies to this medical college."
In addition to the entire class of 2014, as well as leadership from the medical college, the event was attended by family, friends and colleagues of the donors.
Speaking to the donors' families and friends in attendance, medical student Colleen Wichser, president of the 2014 class, said, "I realize this ceremony is inevitably difficult for many, yet I hope this afternoon can also be a time that we celebrate the lives of your loved ones, celebrate their selfless nature and their willingness to give of themselves."
Over the course of four months in the anatomy lab, first-year students translate textbook anatomic descriptions into scientific observation and experience by dissecting donors' bodies. However, when a donor makes a gift of his body to the medical college, it goes far beyond enriching only first-year students. A typical donor will provide a length of study of between 18 and 24 months, serving medical students as well as residents in a number of disciplines and medical subspecialties, said Dr. Antonio M. Gotto Jr., the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean of Weill Cornell Medical College.
"The gift represents an invaluable contribution to the education of our doctors in training and our medical students," Dr. Gotto said. "The donations help humanize the study of medicine by teaching students to appreciate the amazing complexity and beauty of the human body."
Speaking to the families in attendance, Dr. Gotto said, "This gift that your loved one has made is truly special and greatly appreciated."
The ceremony featured spiritual offerings by the Rev. Cheryl Fox of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Dr. David Shapiro and Dr. Joshua Levinger of Weill Cornell Medical College. Musical performances were also given by the WCMC 2014 Mixed Choir and Orchestra, the WCMC 2014 Women's Choir, and class of 2014 medical student Miheer Sane.
However, the centerpiece of the memorial service was a flower presentation by each of the 26 first-year anatomy lab groups, in which a bouquet in honor of each donor was presented and a student from each group reflected on their experience in anatomy lab.
"As a first-year medical student, I often feel like I don't have a lot to give back, and yet these donors have given us their most intimate secrets, and they ask nothing in return. I wanted to take these few moments to say that I'm very humbled by that, and I think I speak for all of us when I say that," said Peter Barish, '14.
Although students did not know their donors in life, as they become physicians, they will always remember their donor and the gift they gave. "I will now be armed with everything he taught me and in this way he will always be with me," said Stacy Chu, '14.
Class of 2014 student musicians performed during Anatomy Merorial Service.
For every student, in one way or another, the experience goes beyond simply connecting an anatomic illustration with the living body.
"For many of us, this was our first experience with the nature of death," said Nandita Sriram, '14. "Coming to terms with our own mortality is part and parcel of the medical profession, and while that might take a lifetime to achieve, [our donors] have allowed us to begin that process."
For others, the experience translated immediately into daily medical student life.
"Frankly, I had my doubts about the usefulness of this class," said Corynn Kasap, '14. "But that doubt was obliterated when I saw a patient in the lung clinic."
The patient was suffering pain beneath a scar from a previous surgery that had likely resulted in nerve damage. "As soon as I saw the scar on her incision site," Kasap said, "I also saw our donor, and I was able to really understand what was going on."
Some of the most moving perspectives, however, came from the donors' family members in attendance.
"I had no idea what today would be like because 34 years ago, when I was a medical student, we didn't have anything like this," said Dr. Joanne Jordan, the daughter of a donor.
Speaking to the medical students, she said, "I would like to thank you very much for calling my dad a donor and not some other words that are inanimate — thank you for recognizing that they are people. That meant a lot to me."
Dr. Jordan's brother John also spoke, saying that their father "looking down would be proud... In the end, he gave a gift, and in the end, I hope I do the same."
Because donors are preserved for medical science, families do not get to experience the mourning process of a funeral and burial. Several family members said the memorial service provided a sense of closure.
"When someone chooses to be a donor the family doesn't get the same kind of closure that a family who buries a body or goes through a cremation gets, and that bothered me more than I thought it would," said the son of a donor who had received treatment for cancer at Weill Cornell and Memorial Sloan-Kettering. "Being here today and being with all of you, I feel a lot better about it and I feel more closure, and I didn't expect to."
Ultimately, the memorial service showed the extent of the gift that a donor makes, one that shapes not only students' knowledge, but also their values as a physician.
"As today's testimonials have shown us, the gross anatomy course not only provides future doctors with a fundamental understanding of the human body," said Dr. David Hajjar, dean of the Weill Cornell Graduate School, "but through the compassion of these donors, they've also learned about the human attributes that are really at the heart and soul of medicine — charity, compassion and consideration, and care for others."