WesternU students honor their first ""patient""

Our Osteopathic Medical, Dental, Podiatry and MSMS students celebrated the gifts of their donor “patients” on Oct. 31, 2012 in WesternU’s HEC Lecture Hall 1. The Student Sponsored Cadaver Memorial Ceremony highlights the wonderfully talented students each class is blessed with. Pianist, guitarists, vocalists and compassionate, caring students shared their personal reflections of their time in Anatomy Lab the past 12 weeks.

Dr. Vicki Wedel opened the ceremony with congratulations to the students for a job well done this past semester. Sean Wyman, OMS-I, served as Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Brian Foxworth gave his personal reflections of his time with Sally, his first “patient,” in the Anatomy Lab.

But this year something new and exciting happened! Second-year students took time out of their schedules to come back to show their appreciation a second time by participating again. The Military Medical Student Association gave Military Honors to the seven Veteran donors and the Western University Chamber Singers brought their angelic voices to soothe souls!

Julia Kim, president of the MSMS Class of 2013, stated, “I can’t play the piano or sing, but I wanted to do something, so we put our hand prints on this art to express our appreciation to those who gave the greatest gift. It reads, ‘May the impressions you leave be forever in our hearts and minds.’ ” She’s an artist.

This art piece will hang outside the Anatomy Lab front door. “It is a masterpiece, as far as I’m concerned,” said Willed Body Program Director Nina McCoy. “Their creativity and heartfelt appreciation moves me. I am happy to display this art for all future students, faculty and visitors so they may understand Western University of Health Sciences’ reverence to the donors and their family’s sacrifices to further medical education.”

Story and photo by Nina McCoy