Anatomy of Human Life: Moving Ahead From Considering An Embalmed Cadaver As Your First Patient

First exposure to a deceased person for many medical students is the cadaver in gross anatomy. This can give rise to a myriad of anxiety provoking experiences from confronting mortality to humanistic concerns. Further, students know they are likely expected to dissect and dismember the body. To assuage these concerns it is commonly suggested "consider this body your first patient". Since anxieties might persist, does this approach really engender comfort and promote clinical skills? Here we present a new approach in a new school that might help bridge any gaps. Students can be exposed to surface anatomy of the body before they meet the face of death in lab. We propose students become familiar with body surface phenomena such as pulses, reflexes, bony & muscular landmarks and auscultation. Experiences serve as living links to systems and deep structures. The "first patients" will be themselves, their peers and live simulation models. Further, the nature of a living individual's body is welcoming, realistic and distinct. We conclude that our new approach will have students initiate their lifelong journey of learning human anatomy as physicians with fond memories of an unforgettable founding experience.