At the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, anatomy labs are a cornerstone of our medical school’s curriculum, providing students with a hands-on understanding of the human body while fostering respect and professionalism. Steven Ontiveros, MBA, PhD, Chair of Anatomy and Cell Biology and a founding faculty member at Burrell College, emphasized the pivotal role our labs play in preparing future physicians.
“Our curriculum integrates anatomical sciences with clinical relevance, and this is very important because it helps to improve the students’ overall clinical reasoning skills,” Dr. Ontiveros said.
Hands-On Learning Through Dissection and Imaging
Students at Burrell College begin full cadaveric dissections early in their medical education. This approach helps them gain a three-dimensional understanding of anatomy, which is vital for clinical practice.
“While dissecting, students gain this three-dimensional aspect of understanding anatomical structures and, in the process, develop tactile understanding of these structures,” Dr. Ontiveros explained. “This deeper understanding is critical for appreciating functional relationships and how they are important for overall clinical practice.”
To enhance their learning, students also use advanced imaging modalities, including ultrasound, which helps bridge the gap between gross anatomy and clinical applications. “This helps students correlate clinical imaging with the anatomical structures that they learned within the gross anatomy lab,” Dr. Ontiveros added.
Ethical and Professional Development
An essential component of the anatomy lab experience is instilling a sense of respect and responsibility. Students learn ethical principles by working with human donors, fostering a deeper appreciation for the human body.
“In the gross anatomy lab, in addition to learning structural elements, they also gain and learn ethical elements,” said Dr. Ontiveros. “They develop respect for donors, which is really important because it helps them gain a stronger appreciation for the human body and translates into developing compassionate future physicians.”
This environment also promotes teamwork and collaboration, as students work in small groups of no more than five per cadaver. “This is very important for maximizing their overall interaction with each other, with their peers, and with the faculty,” Ontiveros noted.
A Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Burrell College operates two anatomy labs, one in New Mexico and another in Florida, with a total of 22 gross anatomy courses offered annually. Dr. Ontiveros highlighted the department’s commitment to evolving its educational practices to meet the needs of students.
“We have an amazing team, and I’m very proud of all the team members that are part of the department,” he said. “Our department is very dynamic and seeks continuous improvement. We’re always looking for aspects to improve in some way or another, and this helps to build an overall meaningful educational environment to make them more suitable and competent future physicians.”
Through its rigorous anatomy lab curriculum, Burrell College ensures that its students not only excel in technical skills but also embody the compassion and professionalism that define outstanding physicians.
Learn more about Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine: https://burrell.edu/explore
Burrell is fully accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and ranked second in the nation for the percentage of underrepresented minority students enrolled in colleges of osteopathic medicine.
Quick Facts
-99% Graduate Medical Education (GME) placement
-94% 2020-2024 COMLEX First Time Pass Rate (99.9% scores reported)
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