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Thanksgiving Service 2008 |
 The Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology held its annual Thanksgiving Service on Wednesday 24 September 2008 in The Great Hall, Christchurch Arts Centre. The service was attended by about 180 people, including family members and friends of donors, and staff and students of the Department and Medical School. The service is an opportunity to remember and give thanks to those who have so generously donated their bodies to the Department.
Fourth and sixth year Medical students and fourth year Physiotherapy students played an important part in the service, welcoming families, giving readings and providing music during the service.
Guests were invited to bring a framed photograph of their loved one, and these were placed at the front of the room, providing a focus for the evening. Family members were also invited to come forward and light a candle in their honour.
Associate Professor Dorothy Oorschot gave the main address. She acknowledged the wonderful, brave and generous gift that allows students the privilege of studying the human body. She also talked about the research currently being undertaken in the Department, and the importance of this research in advancing the knowledge of the 3-dimensional human body.
PhD student Mr Jon Cornwall gave a brief history of the bequest programme which dates back to the beginning of the Otago Medical School in 1876. In that year, two bodies were received and used solely for medical student training. In 2008, the Department received over forty bodies, and more than one thousand students studying medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, physical education and science have access to these bodies as part of their studies.
The next Thanksgiving Service will be held in Dunedin in 2009. For more information, please contact the Department on 0800 580 500.
Listen to parts of the Thanksgiving Service
Click on the following links to listen to any part of the 2008 Thanksgiving Service.
Welcome
Readings 1
Readings 2
Main Address
Song and End
 
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Body Bequests 