Coroner, local investigators sharpen critical skills in HU’s Body Donor Lab

Seneca County Coroner Dr. Zachary West and local Medicolegal Investigators Alexis Prenzlin, Amy Dickman and Paul Whitaker visited Heidelberg University's Barlow Body Donor Lab on Friday for hands-on training. The group worked with Dr. Pam Faber to examine donated remains, organs, and anatomical models, working through the kind of anatomy that comes up directly in the field.

The body donor lab serves as a hands-on learning environment for Heidelberg students studying the Natural Sciences and Exercise and Health Sciences. The investigators were able to observe how the facility operates and see how academic programs complement the work of county forensic professionals.

For West, the day was about bridging the gap between textbook anatomy and the unpredictable conditions investigators face in the field. "The bodies that we typically encounter are oftentimes either decayed or there might be traumatic injuries," he said, "so this is an opportunity to learn and apply anatomy that would be relevant to the work we do in a more controlled setting."

West emphasized how valuable that kind of preparation is for county investigators, and how rare it can be in smaller communities. "We are very fortunate to have two universities in town," he said, noting that access to anatomy resources through Heidelberg is “critical to maintaining strong collaboration between our organizations.”

Partnerships between university programs and county offices create a direct link between academic resources and real-world practice, according to Pam. Opening the lab to working professionals like coroners and investigators puts those resources to use year-round, extending the program's value well beyond the classroom, she added.

Heidelberg's body donor program relies on the generosity of individuals who choose to contribute to science after death. We would like to thank all those who generously donated their bodies through the Body Donation Program at The Ohio State University. Without them, we would not be able to offer such a strong anatomical curriculum. Heidelberg University honors that gift through rigorous ethical standards, respectful handling, and a dedication to advancing knowledge that benefits both students and the community at large through outreach programs.