Virtual thanks giving to a cadaver by medical students exposed to learning anatomy before and amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Purpose: Due to COVID-19 pandemic, Thanks giving ceremony to cadaver was different this year in two ways: the students were partially exposed to cadaveric dissections (for 7 months) and later learned Anatomy via online classes due to lockdown (for 5 months) and secondly it was not feasible to gather for the ceremony so virtual platform was preferred. The purpose of this study was to discern the gratitude for cadaver and to recognize the importance of cadaveric dissection from the reflection of students who experienced hybrid anatomy learning amidst COVID-19.

Methods: The study was conducted on 48 first year medical students who were admitted to the college in August 2019 and were willing to participate. An online invitation was sent to students to participate in virtual thanks giving to cadaver ceremony on the last day of their anatomy class (August 2020).

Results: Though the students partially studied gross anatomy with the aid of dissections on the cadaver; however, they expressed respect and gratitude to the silent mentor in the form of a card, poem, drawing or paragraph and shared it via google classroom platform. The students wished if they could continue their anatomy course in dissection hall as paused due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions: Reflection of these students may mark impact on future anatomy students who may or may not get the chance for dissections. The thanks-giving gesture will also help to bind medical science and humanity especially during the crisis of pandemic.

Keywords: COVID-19; Dissection; Gratitude; Silent mentor; Thanksgiving; Virtual.

Fig. 1

Drawing by Student “e” indicating the easy and effective subject understanding with the help of silent mentor