Virtual Autopsy in the Kovler Family Library

Upper School forensic science students recently joined their peers from the Young Women in Math and Science club and Community Research and Medicine club to compare abnormal and normal human anatomy and explore various body systems as part of a virtual autopsy experience created by the Center of Science and Industry.

 

The video conference began with an introduction by a chief resident pathologist from Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, who greeted students virtually attending from Parker and Cathedral City High School in California. After sharing her personal story about what attracted her to pathology as a field of study, she explained that the autopsy everyone was about to watch was recorded more than two years ago, and a younger version of her would be perform the autopsy they would be view that day.

 

The chief resident then narrated in real time as the taped autopsy played, describing the various steps involved in a typical autopsy procedure and taking regular breaks to field a range of questions from the students viewing in Chicago and Cathedral City.

 

The Kovler Family Library’s Story Studio space fell silent as students observed the external examination, the exposure of internal organs, the running of the bowel, organ block dissection, examination of the individual organs, the removal and examination of the brain and the various types of follow-up associated with autopsies, such as histology, the study of microscopic cells, and toxicology, the study of the adverse effects of chemical substances on living organisms.

 

In reflecting upon this experience, Upper School science teacher George Austin shared, “It wasn’t long ago that we would take students on a field trip to a local medical school just to see a small sample of what we observed here.” And, “The level of up-close, personal detail afforded students through these virtual experiences is amazing!”

 

One thing is certain: this was a day of class these students are sure not to forget!

 

Click here for an excerpt from the video.