Students express gratitude for body donors

The cutting-edge curriculum in anatomy and physiology would not be possible if not for the generosity and thoughtfulness of body donors. On Thursday, students in Dr. Pam Faber’s two sections of Cadaver Prosection planned and conducted the fifth annual Cadaver Appreciation Ceremony as an expression of thanks for the donors’ gifts and selflessness to their education and training.

Two donors and alumni, Martha Hammel, ‘63, and Dr. Timothy Tuthill, ’62, attended the ceremony and Tim read an original poem.

Donor families and others “have helped transform both our laboratory space and our curriculum,” Pam said.

While anatomy curricula across the country vary greatly, Heidelberg is distinguished because of the ability for undergraduates to study using cadavers. “Our curriculum is cutting edge, and it is only possible in light of the additional funding our financial donors provide to us. For that you have my heartfelt thanks,” she added. “You allow me to provide my students the very best preparation possible to those who go on to work in health and other human performance careers.”

Senior Allison Perry spoke about the benefits of the lab. Senior Kelsey Rossman provided history and advances and seniors Gina Miccinilli, Nicholas Coolidge, Jesse Rudolph, Rebecca Webb and Haley Cochran shared what the lab has meant to their studies at Heidelberg and how it will be an advantage as they pursue further studies and their careers. Also participating in the ceremony were seniors Kris Priddy, Melissa Ware and Kelsey Rossman. Joshua Amburgey also gave his perspective as an alum who studied in the cadaver lab.

Senior Steve Seifert lead a candle and flower ceremony, describing that each student had written a personal letter to the body donors, expressing their gratitude and explaining ways in which their gift has challenged them and impacted their current and future learning. The students placed their letters into an urn and added a symbolic gesture of contributing a single yellow rose.

“These letters are between us and the donors, and even though they will never get the chance to read the letters, we hope that our works of thanks and gratitude will reach them,” Steve said during the ceremony.

Chaplain Paul Sittason Stark provided the invocation and Provost Dr. Beth Schwartz gave remarks.