WCU story

August 29, 2022

When Doug Keskula, a professor of physical therapy, and Leigh Odom, an associate professor of speech-language pathology, traveled to Canada from Western Carolina University this summer to conduct an anatomy workshop together to explore human anatomy. It was no ordinary academic partnership.

A five-day dissection at McGill University in Montreal included expert guidance from a faculty member named Gabrielle Bennes, an osteopathy and associate professor of anatomical sciences.

As the dissection progressed, Keskula and Odom investigated the anatomy of the head and neck and noticed different things about the structures they encountered. We shared different understandings of disability, recovery, and what it means for teaching students in the classroom.

“We looked at the same area from a different perspective, from an anatomical and functional standpoint,” says Keskula. “The focus of physical therapy was on the muscles, nerves, and circulatory system related to movement, function, and posture. was.”

This kind of shared perspective is exactly what Keskula, who organized the participation in the dissection workshop, wanted. It is an interdisciplinary opportunity to shape a deeper knowledge of anatomy for better collaboration between professionals and improved student teaching at the University of Health. Human Sciences at WCU.

This was Keskula’s third dissection with Venne. McGill University offers renowned human anatomy programs that support educators and clinicians around the world. “They were a tremendous resource and a joy to work with,” he said Keskula.

Dissection focused specifically on the head and neck. These are the parts of the body commonly involved in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and dysfunctions in the fields of physical therapy and speech pathology.

“Personally, of all the courses I’ve taken, anatomy is probably the most meaningful,” says professor, physical therapist, athletic trainer, and former dean of WCU’s College of Health and Human Sciences. says Kescula. “That’s why I feel so lucky to be able to teach anatomy. might say.”

Anatomy is also a cornerstone of speech-language pathology, said Odom. The growing field serves patients of all ages and does more than just help children overcome articulation and pronunciation problems.

“We work with speech disorders, speech disorders, swallowing disorders and communication disorders. We work with patients suffering from oral cancer, cleft palate and traumatic brain injuries,” says Odom. says Mr. “What’s causing the disability often comes back to the wrong anatomy and why.”

Keskula and Odom noted that the dissection workshops provided a better understanding of human anatomy and how different medical professionals apply anatomical knowledge both in the clinical setting and in the classroom. said it was done.

“When I go back to class and teach anatomy and various medical conditions and treatments and underlying issues, this anatomy really helps shape my syllabus better,” said the Department of Communication Sciences and Disabilities “Seeing the interconnectedness of all these anatomical structures first-hand helps us reinvent the way we approach things and communicate with our students.”

Keskula says working with Venne and Odom has provided a better understanding of the complexity and clinical relevance of head and neck anatomy. “This experience has also improved our dissection skills, which makes these important anatomical structures more accessible and easier to present to our students,” he said.

Keskula and Odom now plan to work with other faculty and programs at the College of Health and Human Sciences to foster collaboration and provide students with more effective and clinically relevant anatomy instruction. I’m here.

Venne says it’s collaborations like these that he hopes to help accelerate the clinical anatomy program that McGill University launched in 2017. This program relies on people donating their bodies to science. We use advanced embalming techniques to provide the most viable tissue possible today, making a dissection similar to what a surgeon would experience during surgery.

“Having healthcare professionals and researchers looking at the same body from different perspectives and discussing how that knowledge can be applied to everyday practice is beneficial not only for patients but also for students,” Venne said. said. “That’s what we want, to create impactful moments, and that’s the will of these donors.”