Sept. 6, 2024 — Surrounded by 60 peers and faculty mentors, members of the University of Florida School of Physician Assistant Studies Class of 2026 recently gathered to reflect on the lives impacted by those who chose to donate their bodies to the advancement of medical knowledge.

During a donor body ceremony, organized by first-year UF PA students at the conclusion of their anatomy lab Aug. 22 in the George T. Harrell, M.D., Medical Education Building, students and anatomy faculty honored these individuals and meditated on the value of gaining a deeper understanding of the human body through hands-on learning. UF medical students hold a similar ceremony during the spring at the conclusion of their anatomy section.

While many PA programs forgo the use of human cadavers during anatomy labs due to the rising costs—although the bodies are donated, medical schools still pay for preparation, maintenance and, eventually, burial—UF is one of a handful of PA educational programs that continues to provide this unmatched opportunity for students to gain knowledge of the intricate structure of the human body.

During this year’s ceremony, groups of students read reflection letters they wrote about the learning experience, and classmate Dylan Meadows presented an art piece depicting an anatomical human heart made from rolled up pieces of paper to anatomy faculty members to thank them for their guidance.

“Their gift to us will not only impact ourselves, but it also plays a role in the care and treatment we provide to every single patient we encounter for the rest of our careers. These donors will touch the lives of thousands of people through us … For us as PA students, learning anatomy through direct experience is invaluable. The opportunity to study and understand the human body in such a detailed and hands-on way has been transformative. It is through this direct engagement that we can truly appreciate the complexity of human anatomy, which is far beyond what we could learn from textbooks or models alone. Their donation has provided us with this crucial, real-world perspective.”

— Trew Primack, UF PA Class of 2026 vice president

“Your light guided us in our learning and will continue to guide us as we apply the anatomy we learned from you to our future patients. You will forever enlighten our minds as we make decisions and treat disease. Your hands have held ours as we have embarked on the beginning of our medical journey. You did not just gift yourself to us — think of all the patients we will treat. Think of their children. Their grandchildren. Their great-grandchildren. You are the epitome of a gift that keeps on giving. We wish we could have known you personally. That we could have heard your laugh, seen your smile, watched you care for those around you. But your sacrifice has taught us so much about you, and a piece of you will forever be part of us. Even though these words will never be enough, thank you for giving us the ultimate gift.”

— Landon Taylor, Lainey Jensen, Lesley Banh, Maddie Mullins, Marika Witkus, and Mariel Williams, UF PA Class of 2026

“When I think of a word to describe our donor and those of the other groups, the first word that comes to mind is ‘selfless.’ Our donor chose that his last act in this life would be giving me and my group the opportunity to learn through him and his donation … I will forever be grateful for the opportunity our first patient allowed us to have through his generosity and I hope to honor this donation throughout the entirety of my career by providing considerate and empathetic health care to my future patients.”

— Ally Blair, UF PA Class of 2026