Mastering Cadaveric Dissection and Engaging Students: How to Become “An Amazing Asset” to Students in the Dissection Laboratory

As an anatomist, I am convinced that anatomy education is an essential component of the undergraduate medical curriculum. Regardless of how the curriculum changes, dissection-based experience remains the most effective way for students to learn anatomy. At Sidney Kimmel Medical College, we offer cadaveric dissection to both medical student class (about 270 students) and Physician Assistant (PA) class (about 150 students from both PA programs at Thomas Jefferson University and Arcadia University). Teaching gross anatomy in limited time to a large class can be challenging. Here, I would like to share my personal practice in the dissection laboratory as an anatomy educator with my fellow anatomists, to illustrate how we can more effectively guide students through their dissection experience. Hopefully, this article will initiate further discussion on this important topic.