Donor families attended a Thanksgiving ceremony at the University of Mississippi Medical Center to remember and honor the individuals whose remains were examined for educational and research purposes. During the ceremony, medical students from various disciplines read the names of the donors and expressed their gratitude.
Kayla Pavlick is a third year doctoral student in clinical anatomy. The last donor name she read was that of her own grandfather, who chose to study her own body in Texas.
“As he neared the end of his life, he tried to understand more about what I was doing and listened to how the donors I had worked with earlier had affected me. Said, “He personally decided to donate to honor both me and future students, future doctors, and future patients.”
Although the event was largely student-led, several faculty members participated in the memorial service. Dr. Norma Ojeda is Head of the Department of Advanced Biomedical Education. She says these donors play an important role in medical education.
“To keep these heroes immortal, we need to remember them because what they do is so selfless,” she said. “This is very important for science and education.”
Ojeda says he wants to assure the family that the donated remains will be treated with “the utmost respect”.