Integrating Advances in the Pedagogy of Gross and Clinically-Focused Anatomy: A Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp

Gross anatomy dissection is still a required course in graduate and medical programs. The nature and content of gross anatomy, historically regarded as a core course in the first year of medical education in MBBS, MD, DO, and some PhD and Graduate curricula as well as in other disciplines of selective graduate education and non-allopathic medical problems. Anatomy curricula have changed significantly in the last ten years as a result of new challenges in the pedagogy of delivering medical education. In addition to financial restrictions and a decline in the number of cadaver donations available to support gross anatomy dissection labs as in the past, there appears to be an ever-increasing emphasis on additional modules in molecular biology, emerging pharmacotherapeutics, and pathophysiology content, which has led to a condensing and apparent erosion of previously allotted classroom and laboratory hours in the gross anatomy curriculum. One of the most sought-after modules in the revised clinically oriented curriculum is described, which has improved the delivery and content retention of medical and graduate students. It has also been deemed to be highly relevant to current graduate and medical education.