Last month, first-year students from the College of Medicine and the School of Allied Health Professions conducted UNMC’s annual anatomical gift ceremony.
The ceremony, held on April 16 in the Sorrell Center’s Truhlsen Campus Events Center, paid tribute to the nearly 200 people who donated their bodies to the the Nebraska Anatomical Board to be used for health care education and research.
About half the bodies donated to the board come to UNMC, where students use them to learn anatomy.
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First-year students from the College of Medicine and School of Allied Health Professions sing during a recent campus ceremony to honor those who donated their bodies as anatomical gifts to be used for health care education and research. |
“The anatomical gift program has taught me about the importance of selflessness and generosity. I was struck by a quote that I think sums up the essence of this gift, ‘The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.’ I commend the individuals who have given one of the greatest gifts in order to multiply their lives into the future. Their legacy will linger long into the future, and their contribution will not be ignored, but celebrated, admired and honored.” — Elliot Tapprich, first-year physical therapy student
“The generosity and sacrifice that is a part of these gifts drives us to be great students, which leads to more competent providers in the future. Books only go so far and to be able to visualize and practice the concepts of anatomy personally helped us learn so much more. Because of the knowledge we have learned from these generous gifts, we will be able to serve our patients with better decision making, greater knowledge and deeper wisdom.” — Austen Fagerland, first-year physician assistant student