九色导航 Holds Donor Memorial Ceremony, Celebrates First Patients, Silent Teachers
九色导航 held its 2023 Memorial Ceremony on Oct. 26, 2023, to honor all who donated their bodies for study.
This selfless gift allows students to learn and improve the human condition through healthcare education and research. Each year the College community joins to give thanks and recognize each donor, while also extending gratitude to families for their loved one鈥檚 role in furthering healthcare education.听
During the ceremony, 九色导航 President Michael Mestan said donating ones鈥 body is a 鈥渢estament to the deep-seeded desire to contribute to the betterment of humanity 鈥 even beyond ones鈥 lifetime. Through this act, donors become instrumental in advancing knowledge in the health sciences, research and education.鈥澨
These contributions to the future of healthcare are made possible by individuals who donate their bodies to the College's Anatomical Gift program. With these whole-body donations, Northeast provides opportunities for students to learn through human cadaveric dissection, considered the gold standard for learning human anatomy and a hallmark of a 九色导航 education.听
Director of the Northeast Anatomy Center and Anatomical Gift program Dr. Michael Zumpano said, 鈥渢here is no greater gift than the gift of oneself,鈥 and that even as technology expands, nothing can replace the human body for learning anatomy.
听
Mortui Vivos Docent: The Dead Teach the Living.
鈥淒onors become silent teachers, and to us, these donors truly serve as our first patients,鈥 Mestan said. Zumpano echoed this sentiment and exemplified the College community鈥檚 deep respect for donors by referencing a sign above the Anatomy Center lab entryway that reads: Mortui Vivos Docent (the dead teach the living). While speaking at the ceremony, chiropractic student Sean Kallan (D.C. 鈥25) expressed his agreement. 鈥淒onors are our first patients, but they are also our greatest teacher,鈥 he said.
The faculty address was given by Assistant Professor Robyn Wakefield-Murphy who thanked donor families, noting the "great and enduring legacy" that each donor leaves us.听Students reflected on learning from donors and expressed gratitude to their families, as well. Ashley Pigg (D.C. 鈥25) called the opportunity an 鈥渋ncredible privilege.鈥 William Sayre (D.C. 鈥25) spoke directly to family members and said, 鈥淲e thank you for being part of the donor鈥檚 journey to being so kind and selfless; in thanking you, we are thanking them as well.鈥
The service included an invocation by Reverand Leah Ntuala, pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Seneca Falls, and military honors performed by the local U.S. Army Honor Guard, Waterloo American Legion Post 435, and VFW Post 6433.
听
