PURPOSE
Anatomy is a challenging subject for first-year medical students due to the
large volume of material and the limited time available, which necessitates
an efficient integration of clinical context. Many students report feeling
overwhelmed or disconnected from recognizing the relevance of anatomical
detail to real clinical practice. To address this gap, an innovative program
was introduced, integrating clinicians directly into the anatomy laboratory
to demonstrate clinical applications. The intention was to highlight the
importance of foundational anatomical concepts, and to support early
professional development in physician training.
METHODS
Clinician-led sessions were incorporated into two phases of the first-year
anatomy curriculum: surface anatomy and gastrointestinal (GI) anatomy. During
the surface anatomy block, emergency medicine physicians and residents guided
students through hands-on procedural practice, including lumbar punctures,
cricothyrotomies, and chest tube placement, on human donors while discussing
the clinical relevance of each procedure and sharing their career
trajectories. During the GI block, a colorectal surgeon demonstrated key
anatomic structures in the donor, connected them to common surgical cases,
and discussed her professional journey. Students completed a post-program
survey evaluating the educational value of this program.
RESULTS
Thirty-nine students completed the survey. Most reported limited prior
exposure to clinical procedures and agreed that the sessions significantly
enhanced their understanding of surgery and interventional fields. Students
indicated that the sessions added depth to their anatomical knowledge,
increased their confidence in applying anatomical concepts in the lab,
reinforced their understanding through surgical case examples, and helped
them contextualize anatomical structures and spatial relationships.
CONCLUSION
Integrating clinician demonstrations into the anatomy lab provides a
meaningful impact on first-year medical students by strengthening their
understanding of anatomy, connecting foundational concepts to real clinical
scenarios, and supporting early professional development in surgical fields.
This approach enhances student engagement and underscores the importance of
anatomy in medical practice.