News @ UOW
Opinions & Experts
Multimedia
Campus News & Events
Resources
 |
Students Kim Bruce and Jessica Osborne (left) and Ashleigh Black and ... |
 |
Graduate School of Medicine student Kim Bruce and Jessica Osborne, wh... |
 |
Faculty of Creative Arts music student James Combridge provided a mus... |
Body donation the ‘ultimate’ generosity
University of Wollongong Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton today paid tribute to the many people who have joined UOW’s Body Donation Program.
Speaking at a simple but moving Ceremony of Appreciation for family and friends of donors, as well as people who have joined the program, Professor Sutton commended them for their “ultimate” act of generosity.
He said the donations made a significant contribution to scientific research and UOW’s training of doctors and other health practitioners.
Since launching the program in 2006, the University has received 40 donations and close to 270 people have joined the donor register.
The Vice-Chancellor said it was vital for medical and health sciences students to be able to train for their future careers by studying human tissue, rather than materials manufactured to resemble parts of the human body.
“The donation of a body … is a very personal one, which is highly significant for the University.” Professor Sutton said. “The donation absolutely results in better trained and prepared medical practitioners and health professionals.”
Professor Sutton assured the guests at the ceremony that the University had protocols to ensure every body donated was treated with the utmost dignity and respect.
He paid tribute to the program coordinator Darryl McAndrew for his commitment and dedication, which he said had been vital to its success.
Graduate School of Medicine (GSM) student Ashleigh Black spoke on behalf of students, expressing appreciation for the donations which she said made a huge difference to students’ understanding of the human body.
Ashleigh, who graduated with a Bachelor of Medicinal Science degree from UOW before joining the GSM program this year, said she had developed as fascination with the human body and a determination to pursue a career in medicine after spending time in the Anatomy Laboratory early in her undergraduate degree.
“I learned so much more in the Anatomy Lab than any textbook could provide,” Ashleigh said.
More than 100 people attended the ceremony, held in the University Hall foyer.
Current GSM student Kim Bruce and Jessica Osborne, who will join the GSM program next year after completing her undergraduate degree in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, lit of special Flame of Remembrance.
Music student James Combridge provided a reflective musical interlude, playing an original composition on his acoustic guitar.
There is a memorial garden for UOW’s body donors at Lakeside Memorial Park at Kanahooka.
For more information on the Body Donation program visit http://www.uow.edu.au/gsm/bdp/index.html