How a Professional Identity is Forged in the Anatomy Lab for Medical Students

It is recognized that the development of a professional identity is significantly influenced by experiences in academic and clinical settings, and through certain rites of passage, such as, learning from cadavers. Little is known, however, about how the experiences in the cadaver lab actively shape the development of the Professional. To understand the impact the experiences in the anatomy lab have on students' professional identity formation, first year students were surveyed before and their first anatomy session. Four months after commencing their anatomy sessions, students completed another survey and focus groups were conducted. In both the survey and focus groups, students were asked to explore their perceptions of themselves as students, physicians in training, idealized physicians, and the congruency between values held and behaviors displayed. When asked to rank their own development and the perception of their peers in the anatomy lab, students positioned themselves on the pathway towards the medical professional. They ranked those students coping best with the experience as closest to the qualities of a physician they admire. The emphasis on professionalism in the course had a positive impact on their experience. While cadavers have historically been used to teach anatomy, the findings from this study indicate that the same anatomy labs significantly contribute to the formation of the professional. As medical curricula across the world continue to evolve, the goal should be to preserve the rich experience gained by cadaver dissection.