Medical students recently invited donor families of the WSU Spokane Willed Body Program to a special gratitude ceremony to honor the generosity of their loved one’s donation. The ceremony provided an opportunity for the families to learn more about the impact of this thoughtful and important gift on the future of health care.
Knowledge of anatomy is essential for students who aspire to become health care professionals. Nothing can surpass the experience of learning anatomy from real human bodies.
To thank these families, students created and presented artwork deeply connected to medicine. The special art work included beautiful representations of anatomical hearts using a variety of materials and techniques. They also created artistic renditions of MRI scans showcasing the intersection of science and art in medicine.
“Each piece reflected the students’ appreciation for the gift of body donation and their commitment to honoring it with reverence and creativity,” said Gabriela León, who will begin her third year in the Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine MD program in the fall.
Alongside the artwork, students gifted handwritten notes to express their heartfelt thanks to the donor families, acknowledging the profound impact on medical education and patient care.
These items were displayed during the ceremony and will be printed into physical books that are gifted to the donor families.
The students who organized the ceremony are members of the Gold Humanism Honors Society (GHHS). The organization recognizes medical students, residents, and physicians who demonstrate excellence in humanistic patient care, compassion, and professionalism. Members are selected based on qualities such as empathy, integrity, altruism, and service to others. GHHS encourages its members to uphold these values and to advocate for humanism in medicine.
Because of the generosity of our donors, the Willed Body Program has been able to provide students with a unique and priceless learning experience since 1972. We invite you to learn more about the program and the impact it has on educating tomorrow’s health care providers.