Self‐sustaining Laboratories and Collaborative Mentoring in Anatomy Research

Abstract

The development of new technologies and tools for teaching anatomy and the high cost of anatomy laboratories have forced a tendency to decrease the use of bodies and practice. However, these are essential for teaching gross anatomy, and their value is indisputable; students can understand anatomy and develop surgical and clinical skills. Our laboratory has been structured in a manner it can cover all student activities, but also be self‐sustaining through the implementation of postgraduate courses, host for clinical practices for specialists, and pharmaceutical sponsored courses. The incomes are then re‐invested in furthering the laboratory equipment (ultrasound, fluoroscopy, arthroscopy, microsurgery, minimally invasive surgery), to offer a wider range of courses for physicians to expand their knowledge and clinical practice.These equipments for the laboratory are also used to offer courses for near‐peers that aid in the Anatomy Department. Courses are also made specifically for the anatomy research group (GIA – Grupo de Investigación en Anatomía) students, oriented to areas of interest. Through a tightly organized and collaborative mentoring structure, the group with 17 years of experience, has grown and inspired its members into research. Mentors and mentees benefit from scientific production, enhanced research skill training, and combined experience. Scientific output has increased steadily over time, demonstrating an effective method with longitudinal results of its effectiveness. The group promotes scientific publications in indexed journals, with the students as first authors. The mentor‐mentee relationships are nurtured causing appreciation and recognition bilaterally. Most students wish to continue with a clinical residency, however, most report they wish to continue with some form of clinical research.Support or Funding InformationNone