Enhancing humanism through gross anatomy: a pre-course intervention.

摘要

Context and setting At the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, we designed a luncheon where the families of anatomy donors are invited to meet the students who will dissect the bodies of their relatives before the anatomy course begins. The luncheon was specifically designed so that the families of donors lunched with and became acquainted with the very students assigned to dissect their family member. Why the idea was necessary It is well documented that a certain dark humour is associated with gross anatomy classes in medical schools. We felt that meeting the families of donors and hearing their life narratives before beginning dissection would increase the level of professionalism in the anatomy laboratory. We also felt it would increase student empathy for the diseased donor's suffering during life as the students went about the dissection.