October 25, 2017 at 9:18 am

Anatomy Learning Center Helps Students Learn Anatomy Principles

Instructor Jodie Foster and students in the Anatomy Learning Center. Students Pictured: Hannah Soltis, Morgan Olczak, Domonique Esposito, Mallorie Wells, Shalyn Foster

The Anatomy Learning Center was developed to accommodate the undergraduate pre-nursing and nutrition students in the BIOS 1300/1310 Human Anatomy and Physiology Labs. Biological Sciences deemed that it was critically important for students to learn anatomy on human bodies prior to clinical training and to expose students to the reality of death.

By interacting with the cadaver, the student contemplates these essential aspects of medicine. The lab holds two cadavers, a male and a female, that are prosected by the instructor along with advanced students interested in human dissection.

Dr. Jodie Foster, in lab, with skeleton and white coat

Jodie Foster, Provost Award for Excellence in Teaching for 2017 and designer of the Anatomy Learning Center.

The lab was thoughtfully designed in the summer of 2016 by Dr. Jodie Foster, Associate Lecturer of Biological Sciences, with the philosophy that life is a continuum from birth to death and through the gift of a donor’s body evolves the learning that will save future patients’ lives. Each aesthetic element in the lab was intended to help put the hesitant student at ease by entering a comfortable and beautiful environment rather than a stark, intimidating classroom. The artwork was chosen to introduce the student to great artistic masters of anatomy in order to weave the historical importance of the fine arts to the subject and teaching of anatomy.

Outside the Anatomy Learning Center, anatomy art is displayed, This artwork was drawn by Rachel Burgess, now a senior in the nursing program.

Over time, the lab has evolved to offer instruction to all students interested in dissection. The instructor teaches small groups of advanced students in cadaver dissection. Those students then progress to peer-lead teaching in the science and art of anatomy to upcoming interested students. The infectious passion the students have for the subject attracts others and offers a unique teaching opportunity for undergraduate Ohio University students.