Reflections on life, death and the gift of learning
Medical students flex artistic muscles during anatomy instruction
trokes of watercolor paint swirl on the page to create a new world. Words strung together reveal deep thoughts and pose poignant questions. These are the works of UF medical students who, as they anticipate the experience of human dissection, are asked to express their thoughts about the individuals who donate their bodies for medical instruction. As Kyle E. Rarey, PhD, instructs, each medical student spends their first day of class reflecting on the lives that were lived before the donors passed away. When the students encounter the cadavers in the gross anatomy lab, an appreciation for those lives — for the events, the decisions, the pain and pleasures — is now top of mind, lending a sense of warmth and gratitude to the experience.
Haley Oberhofer, a member of the class of 2021, visualized dissecting a human body as entering “a new world” full of adventure and understanding. Emily Pregmon of the class of 2021 highlighted different organs to ask critical questions about the life that was experienced before the donor passed away. Victoria Dukharan of the class of 2022 composed a poem about the impact a donor’s life makes, an impact that lingers long after they take their final breath.
The students’ art and poetry are displayed at the annual cadaver ceremony that marks the end of their anatomy instruction.
Student Art Gallery
Medical student Haley Oberhofer creates artwork to reflect on her anatomy class.
Haley Oberhofer, class of 2021: “As I reflect upon the privilege of human dissection, I think it is akin to entering a new world. With every dissection, I am embarking on a new adventure in hopes to further my understanding of the human body.”
Emily Pregmon, class of 2021: “I was inspired by a letter we read from a loved one of someone who donated their body to our medical school. The writer asked us to not only try our hardest to learn everything we could from her loved one but also to remember the full and beautiful life experienced by the donor. Because of her letter, I wanted to make sure I always kept in mind the unique lives created by each muscle fiber, nerve and blood vessel we were studying.”
Dana Eyerly, class of 2021: “This piece was inspired by the unknown of dissecting a cadaver, as if the black strokes at the
top represent the unknown anatomy we’ll discover below. As our knowledge and skills grow, those black strokes become lighter, until we find clarity and serenity with the anatomy of the human body.”
Halle Goodwin, class of 2021: “The act of dissecting a human being for the purpose of learning is a privilege. The specific emotion it elicits varies from student to student based on their past experiences and personal beliefs, but we all are united in sharing this experience and having gratitude for those who have donated their bodies.”
Victoria Dukharan, class of 2022: “In anticipation of human dissection, I attempt to imagine how the donors might have lived.”
