First Patients Teach Students Intricacies of Human Body

May 12, 2022

“I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” This quote attributed to Confucius aptly applies to medical education, Lori Redmond, PhD, professor of anatomy and neuroscience at PCOM Georgia, said.

Last Saturday, PCOM Georgia students, faculty and staff members gathered in the campus Atrium to celebrate the individuals who selflessly gave of themselves to ensure future healthcare providers truly understand the intricacies of the human body.

Family members and friends of these donors were invited to a breakfast and a ceremony planned by students in which they received the cremains of their loved ones, hand-written thank you notes and expressions of gratitude.

Dr. Redmond said, “We learn from your family members not only how wonderfully we are made and knit together, but also a life story through scraped knees, interesting tattoos and past surgeries.”

“It is through doing and interacting with the donated bodies that our students and future physicians learn,” she said. “And learn they must to become the best and most capable physicians and healthcare practitioners.”

Student doctors Michael Bien (DO ’25) and Christy Kang (DO ’25), class representatives, led the planning of the service. Bien welcomed the attendees.

He said, “Today we have the privilege of honoring the memories of 40 truly selfless individuals who served as some of our earliest and most important teachers in our training throughout this past year. The lessons they instilled in us ranged from medical proficiency all the way to empathy, humility and most importantly compassion.”

Jeff Seiple, director of Anatomical Donor Services, explained that the donors have been teachers for approximately 135 medical students, 32 physician assistant students, 40 physical therapy students and 70 biomedical sciences students. “What an incredible legacy to pass on to the next generation of healthcare providers,” he exclaimed.

Chief Campus Officer Bryan Ginn remarked, “During their time here with us, your loved ones have been teachers, a profession I believe, as a non-educator myself, to be reflective of the noblest and highest calling.”

“Individually and collectively, your loved ones have caused our students to understand and to know the human body. They have caused our students to appreciate humanity and the human condition and what it means to make a selfless gift of oneself,” he said.

One donor was perhaps influenced by her son’s experience as a medical student at the Medical College of Georgia almost 40 years ago. Her sons, Charles Haver and Paul Haver, MD, a family medicine practitioner in Athens, recalled that their mother, Marceline Haver, had talked about donating her body to science for about 30 years. Grandson Daniel, who also attended the service, said his grandmother was a piano teacher. She was always reading, writing and learning. And she never stopped contributing.”

Dr. Andrea Mann, chief academic officer and dean of osteopathic medicine, thanked the donors’ family members and friends. She said, “You have trusted our students to learn from and care for your family members. And, for that, we sincerely thank you. I am confident that our students will never forget and cherish your loved ones and their priceless gift. We are forever grateful.”

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