The Impact of Anatomical Donations on Medical Education
Imagine a world where your legacy becomes a beacon of hope for future medical breakthroughs and treatments. The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) Anatomical Donor Program offers a unique opportunity to impact medical science and education significantly. Through these selfless gifts, medical students gain a deeper understanding of human anatomy, ultimately enhancing patient care and advancing medical knowledge.
ACHE medical students in Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine (ARCOM), Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), and Master of Science in Biomedicine (MSB) must complete an anatomy course. Jose Alvarado is a student doctor in the ACHE School of PT and acknowledges the importance of the program, saying, “Having the privilege to learn anatomy with anatomical donors is an experience I will always be grateful for, and one that is invaluable to medicine.” He expresses his gratitude: “To all the donors, thank you for being some of my best teachers. And to the families, I hope you are so proud your loved ones have aided our future healthcare professionals become the best practitioners they can be.”
The impact of the Anatomical Donor Program extends beyond the classroom. Jane Walcott shares her connection to the program after her husband of forty-two years, Jim, passed away in 2023. “We had a lot of time to talk about this. It was always Jim’s wish to help people, to educate others,” Jane said. She notes that both she and their children felt it was the right decision when Jim chose to be an anatomical donor, adding, “Every single detail of this process was handled with thoughtfulness for the loved ones, and with respect and kindness of the donor.”
Jane’s connection to the program goes beyond her husband’s donation. She has formed meaningful relationships with some of the students. “I have been fortunate enough to meet some of the students in his class, and I have become close friends with a couple of them. They know that Jim was their first patient,” she says proudly. Her experience emphasizes the personal bonds and mutual respect developed between families and ACHE students.
The commitment to respect and compassion is evident in every aspect of the process. “They wanted to treat their first patient as if they were already finished with school, being kind, patient, and thoughtful with every step they took,” Jane adds. This careful approach means a great deal to families, ensuring their loved ones are revered with the utmost dignity. “The family members were honored at a banquet, the students spoke, and everything during the process was done beautifully, and with all consideration for the family and the loved ones of the person they have lost,” said Jane. “I just encourage anyone to consider this program.”
Her words are a poignant reminder of the legacy anatomical donors leave behind, impacting the future of medicine and the lives of those they touch.
If you are interested in becoming an ACHE Anatomical Donor, please visit achehealth.edu/ache-anatomical-donor-program, or call 479.308.2364.
“More Work to Do”
WORDS courtesy Morgan Neuenschwander – Osteopathic Medical Student, ARCOM
Today, we say goodbye—a difficult thing to do.
You think of what they taught you,
We think of what they taught us, too.
They worked each day to guide you, teaching you what to do
To ride a bike, read a book, or how to tie your shoe.
Each day they supported you,
But somehow, they knew,
They still had more work to do.
Through all the years, they taught you to be a parent, a spouse, and a friend,
Guiding you the best they could until the very end.
Even as they pondered, they would have to bid you adieu,
In their hearts, they were happy; they had more work to do.
Your spouse, your parent, your sibling, your friend,
You said goodbye, but it wasn’t the end.
Because they gave a gift only given by a few,
And through that heartfelt gift, each of us grew.
They taught you in life, and now have taught us, too.
Not only to be a doctor or a surgeon,
But a more compassionate person.
So, as we continue forward tackling things that are new,
Know that they are with you, and they are with us, too.
In our minds, our hearts, and in everything we do.
Your loved one’s memories will continue,
Because now we are the ones with more work to do.
