Testimonials

"I am incredibly grateful for the unique opportunity provided by DUCOM in the Anatomy lab to work with donor bodies. This experience has greatly deepened my understanding and appreciation of anatomy. I extend my sincere thanks to the families who have made this invaluable contribution to our education. I constantly remind myself to be appreciative of this opportunity and the profound impact it has on my learning."

- Vikki Rueda-Juarez, MD Class of 2027

"Working in the cadaver lab gave me an appreciation for the human body, unlike any other experience in my lifetime. Pictures and 3D models, while very beneficial for learning, do not entirely replicate the intricacies and interdependency of the different body systems. Being able to feel and trace the structures within each donated body and comparing how structures presented in one body versus another is an unparalleled learning experience that is fundamental to my understanding of anatomy."

- Alexandra Voutsinas, DPT Class of 2026

"Every day is a good day in the anatomy lab!' This is the place where educational exploration and experiential learning come together. The anatomy lab is where medical students begin their journey in a doctor-patient relationship, fostering concepts of ethics, professionalism, working group dynamics, and peer-to-peer exchange of ideas and teaching. In the end, they take valuable skills and knowledge from this experience and take it with them to serve their future patients. In my practice, I had two books on my treatment room counter. The Physician Desk Reference (PDR) and the Netter Atlas. Not a day went by in which I didn’t have the Netter Atlas open to educate my patients about their conditions. For musculoskeletal medicine, knowledge of gross anatomy was tantamount to making the correct clinical diagnosis. The anatomy dissection experience is like a box of chocolates…You never know what you are going to get.”

- Dr. Bill Frank, WR Neurobiology and Anatomy, Associate Professor 

"The Gross Anatomy lab is one of the best places to learn for medical students. The lab offers so much more than a textbook, such as the ability to visualize the depth of the human body, feel and follow structures through different regions, and find anatomical variations. Students also practice hands-on motor skills, teamwork, professionalism, patience, and creativity. Every donor body tells a story through their clinical findings and the students learn more about them as they explore the human body through dissection. As a faculty member, I am grateful to be able to work with the donor bodies and teach the students the subject of Gross Anatomy so they can use this knowledge to heal future patients."

- Dr. Caitlin Howe, PHL Neurobiology and Anatomy, Associate Professor

“My time in the anatomy lab has helped me grow not only as an individual but also as a future clinician. Working in the lab allowed me to deepen my understanding of anatomy and refine my clinical reasoning skills, particularly in how they interact with the complexities of the human body and its movements. The opportunity to observe that, while we share fundamental similarities on an anatomical level, each person is uniquely intricate, has been invaluable. I am deeply grateful to the donors and their families, whose generosity has enabled me to integrate knowledge from classes, textbooks, and personal experiences. This learning will be instrumental in my journey to help others in the future.”

- Chloe Oshanani, DPT Class of 2025