The official opening of the new Anatomy and Physiology Classroom and Laboratory was held on Nov. 7 and featured a variety of speakers including College President Elizabeth Rider, professors and students of the department.
Located in the Lyet Wing of the Masters Center, the new laboratory is a state-of-the-art facility set to vastly improve how students in the discipline learn. The 3,667 square foot space was previously occupied by hallways and research offices. It can be a single classroom that holds 48 students, or two classrooms that hold up to 24 students each, separated by a removable wall. It is now filled with skeletons, synthetic cadavers and dissection tables, giving students new ways to learn and study in their field.
Along with the classroom, the space includes two storage rooms, one temperature-controlled cold and one used for dry substances. An expanded area creates more storage for tools and lets classes be more spread out when performing activities. It also creates more space to store the body parts that people have donated. The lab is also ADA compliant, an important requirement for it to be used.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a state-of-the-art space in which students can develop a love and deep appreciation for anatomy and physiology,” Professor of Anatomy and Physiology Elizabeth Newell said. “This new lab is a showcase of what Elizabethtown College is able to offer its students.”
Classes such as Human Anatomy and Physiology, Advanced Anatomy, Anatomy and Physiology, General Physiology and more will now be able to enroll more students.
Funding was provided through multiple sources. The Pennsylvania Redevelopment and Capital Assistance Program provided a $1.375 million grant. Another $1.5 million was bestowed by 16 generous donors. However, it was not just the room that was provided, the money helped pay for a quantity of new equipment including a ventilation system, televisions to provide a better view of what is happening, new computers and cameras that give an augmented view of anatomical features that are studied.
Mia Cudmore, a senior biology major with a health professions concentration, serves as Newell’s teacher’s assistant (TA) for Human Anatomy and Physiology I. The course often utilizes teaching stations, which provides a more hands-on and interactive experience. In her role as the TA, she helps students with the teaching stations during class and is a resource for students to seek help from outside of class.
“I love the new classroom. From learning in the smaller space last year, teaching in the new classroom has been great,” she said. “I feel like there is a lot of new and great equipment there that will help the students and future classes that are to be taught there.”
Students taking these majors often pursue additional degrees by going to graduate or medical school. Cudmore feels these upgrades give them a better chance of finding success in their fields.
“This new classroom will benefit a lot of students on different career paths by allowing good exposure to many necessary skills and knowledge before they go to graduate programs or their future careers,” Cudmore said.
The renovations have been very successful, and Newell sees a bright future for the department.
“The new Anatomy and Physiology Classroom and Laboratory will allow us to provide a high-quality program unparalleled at most undergraduate institutions,” Newell said.
