Abdullah Faiq, the president of the freshman class in the College of Medicine, said the individuals who donated their bodies said he wanted to show the family members that their loved ones taught students more than what can be found in textbooks.
“Working with a human body is richer and more complex experience,” Faiq said. “You start building a humanist relationship with the body. You develop a sense of care, and you start treating the donated body like your first patient.”
In notes of gratitude after the service, family members expressed their appreciation. One woman wrote that her daughter had been depressed before the service, but her mood was elevated after talking to medical students at the service.
“We found out that the students who learned from him really cared about him,” the woman wrote of the memorial. “We were fortunate to have your service.”
For more information about the program, please contact Dr. Donald Orlic, the chairman of the Howard University Department of Anatomy, via [email protected] or 202.865.0058.