October 11, 2016

Families thanked for their unique donation to science

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has today (Tuesday 11 October) acknowledged those who have donated their body to science with a formal Ceremony of Appreciation.

Held in honour of the UOW Body Donation Program, the ceremony gave the University the opportunity to thank donors and their families for their generous donation to the anatomy lab.

The UOW Body Donation Program is used to train health-care workers and scientists, including doctors, dieticians, medical scientists, exercise physiologists and other health-related professions.

Third year Medical and Health Sciences Honours student Kate Mikilewicz, who has completed five subjects in anatomy as part of her Bachelor of Medical and Health Sciences Advanced Honours and is currently teaching anatomy as a demonstrator to first and second year students, credits the Body Donation Program for giving her a greater understanding of the human body.

“You can learn anatomy from a textbook, but it’s never going to be the same as looking at an actual body,” she said.

“No one has a textbook body, we’re all custom-builds, so it’s really important for us to gain a proper understanding of what’s actually going on in the body.”

Donors are guaranteed that their remains will be treated with dignity, respect and anonymity at all times, with students made aware of the special and unique privilege that has been accorded to them.

“Going back to my very first anatomy class, I remember thinking how amazing it was that people so courageously gave their bodies so I could learn,” Kate said.

“To learn the way muscle fibres run, and then see them in reality is really fantastic, it really does give us a true understanding of the human body and it’s something that wouldn’t be possible without the Body Donation Program.”

The rights of donors are safeguarded through strict enacted laws, including the NSW Human Tissue and Anatomy Legislation Amendment Act 2003 and the Anatomy Act 1977.

More information on the UOW Body Donation Program can be found on the website.