Remarkably, Arapahoe Community College is the only community college in Metro Denver with a cadaver program. The opportunity to examine and prospect a cadaver is highly unusual for a two-year college, and their students benefit immensely from these types of experiences.

ACC is pleased to welcome their newest addition to the Anatomy & Physiology and Enterprise Program. They will hold a Cadaver Program Open Houseon March 24 from 1:30 -3 p.m. at ACC's campus in the Main Building, Room M3122. The public is invited to come and see what all the excitement is about.

The Cadaver Program Open House will allow students, faculty, staff and the community the opportunity to learn more about the anatomy and physiology programs at ACC.

Students and faculty will be available to answer questions and give tours of the cadaver and biology laboratory rooms. Actual exposure to the cadavers will not occur but may be arranged by appointment with Jody Johnson. Student-generated streaming videos of ACC's anatomy & physiology programs will be projected on screen for your viewing interest. Light refreshments will be provided.

"We appreciate the tremendous generosity that allows ACC students and instructors the opportunity to learn from a cadaver. The Colorado State Anatomical Board (SAB) provides cadavers for educational purposes. Individuals who donate their bodies are giving one of the most precious gifts possible, and we are truly grateful," states Jody Johnson, Cadaver Program Director at ACC.

ACC is offering advanced training for students by providing access to cadaver-based anatomy and physiology courses through a collaborative effort between the Biology Department and the SAB.

"The cadaver experience is so great!...It puts everything into perspective. Learning about and seeing the human body is an experience most never get, usually you learn about something and never get to see it. I enjoyed every moment." - Shenita Freeman (ACC student)

The face of next generation's health care professionals is ever changing. ACC's Enterprise Workshops are providing a catalyst for this change by empowering and educating South Metro Denver's high school students interested in careers in the health care profession. ACC provides cadaver workshops to area high school, vocational and college students in the hopes of helping students identify their areas of interest and passion as it relates to the sciences and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) topics in general. The ACC Enterprise Workshops are a shining example of efforts ACC is making to fulfill our commitment to creating a seamless transition from high school to college, the P-20 model.

Jody Johnson states "There is absolutely no better way to understand the relationship between gross human body structure and function than through hands-on human cadaver education." and she supports the theory that highly-prepared students are competitive and will eventually enter the workforce as competent and skilled healthcare providers.

Human gross anatomy is fundamental to health care education, providing students with the most basic foundation for clinical practice. This anatomical foundation is used throughout the career of practitioners in virtually every realm of health care, from research to practice to medical education.

Individuals and their families must give written permission prior to death to donate their bodies for science education. After death, determination is made as to the appropriateness of the cadaver donation (i.e. must be free of communicable diseases, have most of their organs, etc.). If suitable, cadavers are preserved and stored until placement in an educational setting such as ACC. After cadavers are returned to the SAB, the remains are cremated and either returned to the family or interred in a SAB plot at Fairmount Cemetery in Denver. If you are interested in learning more about the Colorado State Anatomical Board program or how donation works go to www.uchsc.edu/sab/.