On May 2, the E-2023 cohort attended the Donor Memorial Ceremony at the University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine campus. The family members of anatomical donors joined students from programs at CU Anschutz and Wyoming WWAMI to commemorate the donors and their families’ generosity in supporting medical and anatomical education programs in Colorado and Wyoming.
“This ceremony is an important step in developing professionalism for our future health care providers, and in providing solace and closure for donor families by knowing how impactful their gift was to both the anatomical and overall medical education of our students. I was very proud of our class’s contributions to the ceremony itself, and also their willingness to circulate and speak with donor families to express their gratitude,” says Dr. Cam Walker, Wyoming WWAMI’s Anatomy Lab Director.
E-2023 students were instrumental in planning and orchestrating the ceremony. Quinton Brooks served on the planning committee for the event. Kit Ng provided piano music as guests entered the reception. And Sabrina Gay was the student speaker representing Wyoming WWAMI. In her speech, Gay thanked family members:
“We do not know what emotions or challenges you faced as your loved ones made their decisions to support us in our education, but we see you. We recognize that you delayed closure with your loved one and honored their last wishes. We are beyond grateful and acknowledge your individual sacrifices that came alongside your family member’s generous decision. We thank you for entrusting us with your family member, and we honor you and everything you have experienced. We hope that during this ceremony we have been able to convey our utmost appreciation and respect to you, and we hope – as we proceed to thank your loved ones for what we continue to learn from them – that you know that you share in their legacy.”