Becoming a Doctor through Learning Anatomy: Narrative Analysis of the Educational Experience

Choi, Gwi Yeon; Kim, Jeong Min; Seo, Jae Hoon; Sohn, Hyun Joon

Abstract

Medical education is the process of transforming a layman into a medical professional. Anatomy is a major, primary subject for students entering medical school. How students learn anatomy is important for becoming a doctor. The object of this study is to determine what influences students to get their values and attitudes as an altruistic healer, and to develop professional competence from educational courses in the medical school. We focused on how the lessons and disciplines of the anatomy course guided medical students to become doctors. Interviews of narrative inquiry were conducted in which the students and graduates talked about the experience of learning in their course-work. Anatomy is an important subject for medical students, at both the cognitive and the emotional level. Through learning anatomy, students adapt their emotions and attitudes to the medical profession and become bona fide medical students. They face very stressful condition at first, but they learn how to adapt to their circumstances. They studied with passion, and could develop their own way of studying. Besides, they felt that they were gradually becoming health experts by learning medical terminology, and could enhance their professionalism by practicing anatomy. Indelible experiences in dissection laboratory and rite in memory of cadaver donors evoke deep reflection on thankfulness and altruism. This study addressing the issue of altruistic professionalism in anatomy will have to be continued by following students into the preclinical and clinical years. Public concerns with commercialism in teaching hospitals and schools are also emphasized.