<p>I'm assuming that all medical majors (pharmacy, optometry, dentistry, nuclear medicine, etc.) all require gross anatomy with cadaver dissection?? I understand the importance of dissecting a human cadaver in relation to learning hands on how things relate to one another, but I'm having a little uneasiness about it.</p>
<p>May I ask why you don't want to do cadaver dissection and are interested in medicine?</p>
<p>It has always intrigued me and I enjoy helping people. I don't feel any trepidation when it comes to treating live people, but cutting on deceased humans makes me feel a little uneasy. I know I just need to put on my big girl pants and just accept the fact that it's a part of learning, but I'm a sensitive soul and not sure how I'll be able to desensitize myself. So I take it that it is a requirement for Pharmacy? I'd prefer a "virtual cadaver" but know that it's not as effective.</p>
<p>Umm... if you are referring to pharmacy that is a completely different realm than medicine. First year medicine you spend your time with 2 other students getting to know a human who donated their body to science (aka a cadaver). There are other programs you can do to avoid this, one being pharmacy others being biochemistry, occupational and physical therapy, neurobiology, microbiology etc. I am pretty sure that in order to be any medical specialist though, be it surgical or pure medical based, you need to cut deceased people.</p>
<p>There are programs in pharmacy that do not require you to do that. I am not sure about optometry. Nuclear medicine would be in the realm of medical physics... so that is probably not going to happen.</p>
<p>I'm a senior in HS and I've assisted in a shoulder replacement on a cadaver. Wasn't the least bit gross to me whatsoever. I mean you have to realize it's a dead person's arm, but they donated it and as long as you don't abuse it, then there's nothing wrong with it.</p>
<p>Look into Psychiatry, I'd bet that involves few cadaver labs.</p>
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Look into Psychiatry, I'd bet that involves few cadaver labs.
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This is incorrect. Psychiatrists go through the exact same med school that all other doctors go through, and they don't specialize until long after dissections are finished.</p>
<p>This may sound odd, but have you ever dissected anything before? Before my 7th grade biology class, which was the first time I dissected something, I was totally grossed out by the concept of cutting something up! Then, on the second day of class (yeah, our teacher was a little odd) I came into class to find a cow eyeball sitting on the desk on a little tray. We got in groups to dissect, and of course I was stuck with two people who absolutely refused to touch it, so I got stuck with the scalpel. And guess what? I loved it! It's fascinating to see the machinery of a living thing. I went on to dissect a frog and a shark that year (both pregant) and I know it sounds weird, but that's the only thing I remember from middle school science. If you've never dissected something before, give it a try first. And no, I think the gross anatomy lab is required for all meidcal students, first year.</p>
<p>That's right, it's required for all first year medical students. And dental students (although they typically only work on the CNS and the neck up). </p>
<p>Let me tell you, if you have difficulty being around blood, guts, and gore, working as a physician or in the allied health specialties is not for your. As a nurse, physician, or even dentist, you will see things THOUSANDS of times worse than a cadaver on an anatomy lab.</p>
<p>If you've never tried it, it might be worth exposing yourself to these fields and seeing how you feel. For example, what about shadowing a surgeon? I am sure you will find it a bit strange at first, but if you like it after a few minutes, the health field may be for you! If you absolutely refuse to handle these sorts of situations, then you'll have to find something else.</p>
<p>A few of these suggestions are not bad, such as occupational therapy, psychology, or optometry, if you absolutely want to be in the healthcare field. My suggestion is explore! You won't know what you like until you try it out.</p>
<p>"Look into Psychiatry, I'd bet that involves few cadaver labs."</p>
<p>Wrong. At least for undergrad and medical school.</p>
<p>P.S. I don't know if you should say the old "help people" thing on your apps and interviews.</p>
<p>Med students @ UMKC Med do not dissect cadavers.</p>