Could COVID-19 Trigger a Rebirth in Anatomy Education? A Glimpse of Anatomists' Responses to Pandemics of the Past and Present

The future of anatomy teaching post-pandemic: An academic viewpoint

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major disruption to anatomical teaching worldwide with both lectures and practicals being moved online. Throughout this period anatomists were able to find new and innovative ways to teach and to aid student learning via a variety of delivery modes. This study aimed to interview anatomists who were involved in teaching undergraduate medical students at UK universities to document the changes that occurred and to understand academic perceptions of pandemic delivery to comprehend how anatomy education may change in the long term. Results suggest that academics are likely to continue to deliver anatomical lectures online post-pandemic akin to a flipped classroom approach, although caution was noted regarding 'at-risk' student groups. No academics wished to see continued delivery of practical classes online, however, resources designed or invested in during the pandemic will be integrated into practical classes or pre-class preparation allowing for a more complete student experience. No clear picture emerged as to the preferred way staff and students will communicate in the current post-pandemic hybrid working environment and beyond. This will likely only be resolved when a new pattern of home working evolves in UK institutions. This report is the first to detail the academic vision of anatomy teaching in a post-pandemic world and will be useful to those adapting to these changes and for those pedagogical researchers targeting where anatomical education research should focus moving forward.

One year of anatomy teaching and learning in the outbreak: Has the Covid-19 pandemic marked the end of a century-old practice? A systematic review

At the end of 2019, the Covid-19 pandemic spread caused restrictions in business and social spheres. Higher education was also severely affected: universities and medical schools moved online to distance learning and laboratory facilities closed. Questions arise about the long-term effects of this pandemic on anatomical education. In this systematic review, the authors investigated whether or not anatomical educators were able to deliver anatomical knowledge during this pandemic. They also discuss the challenges that anatomical education has faced over the last year. The search strategy was conducted between July 2020 and July 2021. Two hundred and one records were identified, and a total of 79 studies were finally included. How best to deliver anatomy to students remains a moot point. In the last years, the advent of new technologies has raised the question of the possible overcoming of dissection as the main instrument in anatomical education. The Covid-19 pandemic further sharpened the debate. Remote learning enhanced the use of technologies other than cadaveric dissection to teach anatomy. Moreover, from the analyzed records it appears that both from students' perspective as well as teachers' there is a clear tear between those who endorse dissection and those who believe it could be easily overcome or at least integrated by virtual reality and online learning. The authors strongly believe that the best anatomy teaching practice requires the careful adaptation of resources and methods. Nevertheless, they support cadaveric dissection and hope that it will not be replaced entirely as a result of this pandemic.

In death there is life: perceptions of the university community regarding body donation for educational purposes in the United Arab Emirates

Human body dissection is the traditional instructional method for anatomy education worldwide, providing a kinaesthetic learning experience that is often challenging to achieve with other teaching techniques. However, due to lack of body donation programs in Middle Eastern medical schools, dead bodies are imported from abroad. Since literature suggests that the body shortage is influenced by reluctance to donate one's body, this study aimed to determine the perceptions of faculty, staff, and students regarding body donation for educational purposes at a new Dubai-based medical school. An online dually translated questionnaire was administered to the target population (322), of which 150 participants representative of faculty, staff, and students, responded. Although 111 (74.0 %) of participants considered body donation to be appropriate for educational and research purposes, only 44 (29.3 %) of participants expressed willingness to donate their bodies. Reluctance to donate 106 (70.7 %) appeared to be mostly influenced by religion, psychological barrier, and familial reasons. The emergence of four themes (i.e., resource, barrier, humanitarian, and awareness) and the identification of a potential donor group within the group that was willing to donate provided insight into the level of awareness within the university community. Furthermore, such findings may assist to establish future body donation programs and strategize recruitment approaches, especially when there is an ensuing dearth of anatomical donations.

Digital Feast and Physical Famine: The Altered Ecosystem of Anatomy Education due to the Covid-19 Pandemic

This article explores the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic on the evolution of both physical and digital cadavers within the unique ecosystem of the anatomy laboratory. A physical cadaver is a traditional and established learning tool in anatomy education, whereas a digital cadaver is a relatively recent phenomenon. The Covid-19 pandemic presented a major disturbance and disruption to all levels and types of education, including anatomy education. This article constructs a conceptual metaphor between a typical anatomy laboratory and an ecosystem, and considers the affordances, constraints, and changing roles of physical and digital cadavers within anatomy education through an ecological lens. Adaptation of physical and digital cadavers during the disturbance is analyzed, and the resiliency of digital cadaver technology is recognized. The evolving role of the digital cadaver is considered in terms of increasing accessibility and inclusivity within the anatomy laboratory ecosystem of the future.