The doctors of tomorrow may be missing experience they need, due to a shortage of cadavers around the nation.
William Burkel, director of the University's Anatomical Donations, said this shortage is a nationwide problem that affects the education of medical students.
"We've had enough donations, but there are always more requests for individuals, like teaching surgeons, professionals, physical therapists or graduate students. That's when there aren't enough," Burkel said.
Barbara Rosso at Wayne State University's anatomical study program said the donated cadavers are vital to medical students.
"There has always been a shortage," Rosso said. "We realize donating is not for everyone, but the medical community really suffers.
"It's getting harder for students to get what they need," she added. "There is just no alternative to research."
Rosso said Wayne State receives about 185 adult cadavers each year but needs more than 230 to adequately suit students.
"The demand is always greater than the supply," Rosso said. "We try to team up. A number of students use the same materials."
School of Nursing sophomore Kyle Rinehart said the shortage of donations affects students in the nursing school.
"Because there aren't enough, we have to sign up to watch autopsies," Rinehart said. "It's rare to see an autopsy because you never know when one will performed.
"Although I keep signing up, I haven't been able to see one autopsy yet," Rinehart said. "The cadaver shortage has really hurt nursing students. We can't even get what's second best."
Burkel agreed that nothing compares to the real experience.
"Technology is a long way from being able to compensate," Burkel said. "Virtual reality is visual, but it can't replace the 3-D, hands-on kinesthetic sensations."
Burkel also emphasized how grateful students are for donations.
"We respect that each was an individual, and we look at them that way, not as objects," he said. "We respect the fact that they laughed, cried and had friends just like us."
Criteria must be met before a donationt can be used for study, Rosso said.
The body cannot have undergone surgery in the past six months, she said.
"The embalming fluid we use is really strong. We keep bodies for up to two years at room temperature," Rosso said.
Another problem is obesity. Schools prefer that donations be of relatively proportionate height and weight. Bodies that have been badly burned or decomposed also cannot be used, she said.
Rosso said there is a danger in using a cadaver that had a contagious disease.
"The risk of transmission is too great, especially at Wayne State, which has the largest number of entering freshmen in the country," she said.
There are alternatives for people who are uncomfortable with whole body donation. The Organ Procurement Society is for people who want to designate certain organs for study.
"People will themselves to science for the good of mankind," Rosso said. "We appreciate any donations."
The Organ Procurement Society can be reached at (313) 464-7988. The University's anatomical study department can be reached at (313) 764-4359.