Human anatomy is more interconnected and more fascinating than we would expect. And on Feb. 25, students from our Anatomy and Physiology classes were given the opportunity to travel to Saint Louis University (SLU). Furthermore, they were given this opportunity to be able to study a cadaver and gain more real life or hands-on experiences. In addition to that, this trip can give students a lot of valuable information if they want to get into the medical field or profession.
Loukya Vaka (12), further expounded on what this process of traveling to a different school and having the opportunity to study a cadaver was like and the experience she had at Saint Louis University.
“All of the Anatomy and Physiology classes traveled to Saint Louis University (SLU). The experience was really informative,” Vaka said. “We were given a quick introduction and then were split into four groups. Each group was able to observe a cadaver with a SLU medical student guiding the presentation and providing information about what we were seeing. I was so amazed that we, especially as high schoolers, had the opportunity to study the human body in this way.”
Caroline Blankenship (11) also explained what it was like to travel to Saint Louis University.
“We went to SLU and it was a little nerve wracking in the beginning not knowing what to expect, but they made us feel very welcome and comfortable,” Blankenship said.
Moreover, most students might feel apprehensive about studying a cadaver because they might not know what to expect or even how they are going to react to it, but if given the chance, this trip can be a really transformational experience. You might even find yourself wanting to know more, there are so many different ways this opportunity could take you.
Vaka then explained how she felt about studying a cadaver and the impact it had on her personally.
“At first, I was honestly apprehensive about studying the cadaver, mainly because I wasn’t sure how I’d react. By the end of the day, however, I was fascinated and even more excited about learning more about human anatomy and physiology,” Vaka said. “Personally, I know that I want to go into the medical field, so I was particularly interested to see how much I knew and how this would impact my own interest. I was surprised that I knew so much, and I could not stop asking questions and discussing what we were seeing. It was truly quite transformative for me.”
This trip could also impact Anatomy and Psychology students’ entire meaning and understanding of the class because they are getting more hands-on experience. In other words, this trip gives students a different viewpoint on anatomy and puts more things into perspective.
Blankenship indicated how this trip changed her perspective on Anatomy and Psychology class.
“To see pictures in a textbook or on a website is one thing, but to see in real life what things look like makes it all make more sense,” Blankenship said.
Furthermore, this trip can encourage students, who maybe weren’t as sure before, to go into the medical profession, it had that much of an impact. It had that much of an impact because it showed students how they are truly able to help others and even change lives. It also showed students that they could be a part of something great and reminded them of the work that they truly came here to do.
Vaka conveyed how this trip even further inspired her to go into the medical field and how it would have a life lasting impact on her.
“I have definitely been encouraged to pursue a medical profession because of this class,” Vaka said. “Anatomy and Physiology is already an incredibly important class that aspiring medical professionals take, and I went in knowing that what I learned would have an impact that went beyond this year. After all, it’s one thing to know you can do work that is of service to others, but it’s something else entirely to feel like you have the skills that could change lives, too. Each ‘a-ha’ moment, and even the moments where there were things I didn’t know, has reminded me why I decided this is a field that I want to be a part of.”
