May 1, 2025

The end of the medical school cadaver lab?

In the 19th century, medical schools were desperate for corpses from which their students could learn. Grave robbers would sell bodies; sometimes, janitors, students, or even instructors would dig up corpses themselves.

Today's medical students don't have to go into cemeteries themselves, but schools still struggle to find cadavers that are both ethically sourced and affordable. So many are deciding to forgo the use of cadavers to teach students about human anatomy.

First-year medical student Nadir Al-Saidi was disappointed to learn that his school was going to join that group. He joins the podcast to discuss what he has learned in the cadaver lab, and why technology can't replace the real thing.

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