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Building Bridges with Anatomy: Can Continuing Education in Mortuary Sciences Transform the Profession?

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Building Bridges with Anatomy: Can Continuing Education in Mortuary Sciences Transform the Profession? Eur J Anat, 25 (S1): 155-160 (2021) Building bridges with Anatomy: can continuing education in mortuary sciences transform the profession? Claudia Mosley1, Wanda Lee2, Roxana Gilani1, Gina Terry2, Rachel Reeves1, Joy Y. Balta1 1 Division of Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Education and Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Ohio, USA 2 Cincinnati College of Mortuary Sciences, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA SUMMARY summer CE certificate that will help them devel­ Human cadavers have long been used to teach op those skills, 66.7% expressed great interest in anatomy to different cohorts of students. In order completing such a program. A CE program pro­ to preserve human cadavers these specimens are viding advanced training in the above­mentioned embalmed using different chemicals by an em­ topics could help transform the embalming pro­ balmer with a background in mortuary sciences. fession into a rigorous research­based disci­ The training within mortuary schools is primari­ pline. Further research is required to investigate ly technical based and geared towards the fune­ the success of such CE programs in equipping ral services profession. Meanwhile, embalmers gradua tes with the needed skillset. ope rating within anatomy departments require Key words: Anatomy – Embalming – Mortuary a diffe rent skillset that is currently learned on Sciences – Continuing Education the job. With the current advancement, there is a need to transform mortuary sciences into a ri­ INTRODUCTION gorous research­based discipline. For this reason, students and graduates from Cincinnati College of Human anatomy as a discipline has generally Mortuary Sciences were invited via email to take been defined as a branch of biology that deals with part in an online questionnaire. The goal is to the structure of organisms (Jones, 2000). Several gauge their interest in continuing education (CE) sub disciplines fall under the anatomical sciences courses that would prepare them for a career as such as gross anatomy, microscopic anatomy an embalmer in an academic institution. Eighty­ (histology), neuroscience and embryology. From one participants took part in this study. From the those sciences, gross anatomy is taught to a wide 81 participants, 54.3% expressed great interest in range of students completing different degree learning research skills, 65.4% expressed great programs such as medicine, dentistry, physical/ interest in conducting research on preservation, occupational therapy, mortuary sciences, 74.1% expressed great interest in advancing their engineering, and art (Balta et al., 2019a). Gross anatomical knowledge and 70.4% expressed anatomy is primarily taught through lectures great interest in advancing their dissection skills. and followed by a laboratory practical that might When asking the participant of their interest in a include cadaveric dissection, prosections, plastic Corresponding author: Dr. Joy Y. Balta. Division of Anatomy, Department of Biomedical Education & Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA. E­mail: [email protected] 155 Anatomy and Mortuary Sciences models, plastinated specimen or computer­ goal of those techniques is to preserve the body based resources (Balta et al., 2020). Using human for the longest period possible while retaining cadavers to teach human anatomy has been similar conditions to that of an unembalmed described as a superior method to solidify the cadaver (Balta et al., 2019b). The embalming taught anatomical knowledge and gain other chemicals and protocol utilized during alternative skills (Korf et al., 2008). This teaching method has preservation techniques is different to that used not changed for centuries, but the main difference in the training of funeral directors in the mortuary has been the process through which the human science program. materials are obtained. The requirement needed to become licensed Human cadavers used to teach anatomy are as a funeral director/embalmer varies between primarily obtained through body donation different states with different institutions programs that are housed within academic units offering an Associate or Bachelor’s degree in at most universities. Donors sign consent forms mortuary sciences. However, there is a minimum before death or are donated after death by their educational experience required as outlined by next of kin (laws vary per state). After the donor is three different sources. Those sources are the received through the body donation program, an Manual on Accreditation (2009) and Curriculum embalmer or an anatomy morgue technician will Manual (2010) both published by the American start the process of preparing the body for its use Board of Funeral Service Education along with (McHanwell et al., 2020). This process will usually the Funeral Service Practitioner National/State include documenting any observation upon the Board Examination Content Online published by receipt of the body along with introducing a new the International Conference of Funeral Service identification method, followed by embalming. Examining Boards (ICGSEB, 2005). The subjects Embalming is a process of introducing chemicals covered in a mortuary science curriculum range into the body to slow down the decomposition from the sciences of embalming, anatomy, process and reduce any risk of biological hazard restorative art, microbiology, pathology, and (Balta et al., 2015). Anatomy morgue technicians chemistry, to the arts including funeral directing, are trained on how to embalm a human cadaver psychology and counseling, ethics, business as part of their degree in mortuary sciences. management, sociology, accounting, and history While this process is somehow similar, there is a of embalming. In the state of Ohio, graduates from huge difference in how the body is prepared for a a mortuary science program are required to take funeral service compared to its use in academia the National Board Exams to become eligible for (Balta et al., 2015). a license which is earned upon completion of a 1­year apprenticeship under the supervision of When preparing a body for a funeral service, a licensed embalmer. Completing those steps the goal is to preserve the body for a short period ensure the registration as a funeral director in of time, which ranges between a few of days to a the State of Ohio and to maintain this license, 18 week. Meanwhile, in an anatomy department the Continuing Education (CE) hours are required preservation period of human material can range every 2­year license term. between a few months to several years (Balta et al., 2015). Moreover, funeral directors have a In a study by Balta et al. in 2015, authors discuss huge focus on the aesthetic part of the process, the need to transform the embalming profession which is not the priority of an anatomy morgue into a research­based discipline to meet the technician. In addition to the use of human need of alternative preservation techniques material in anatomy, there has been an increasing within medicine. For this reason, the aim of this use of human material in clinical training and study is to investigate the awareness of mortuary the development of medical equipment (Balta et science students and graduates of this gap and al., 2017). This increasing demand has led to the their interest in pursuing a graduate degree in development of a new research area referred to as anatomical embalming and research. Alternative Preservation Techniques. Ideally, the 156 Claudia Mosley et al MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethical Approval Ethical approval was granted for this project Study Design by the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Sciences An online questionnaire was developed through Leadership Board. OSU QualtricsXM. The questionnaire was then validated by Cincinnati College of Mortuary RESULTS Science (CCMS) faculty members who completed Background demographic data was initially the questionnaire and provided feedback. This collected from all survey participants (n=81). feedback was used to make the necessary changes The population of individuals who completed the to the questionnaire. questionnaire consisted of 77.8% females and Emails were used to send out invitations to 17.3% males, with 4.94% preferring not to specify CCMS current students and graduates that were gender. The majority of participants were aged currently on the college Listserv. The invitation 20­23 years at 43.2%, followed by 27­30 years at email provided participants with information 22.2%, 24­26 years at 16.1%, > 30 years at 13.6%, about the project, how to provide informed and < 20 years at 4.9%. The current states of consent and take part in the study. residence among participants included California (3.7%), Florida (1.2%), Illinois (1.2%), Indiana (12.4%), Kentucky (7.4%), Michigan (1.2%), Ohio Questionnaire (67.9%), Oklahoma (1.2%), Virginia (2.5%) and The questionnaire was divided into two West Virginia (1.2%). These demographic data main sections as demonstrated in the attached are summarized in Table 1. supplementary document. The first section Highest academic degree of participants was included questions that aimed at collecting reported as follows: 34.6% specified a science data about the participants’ backgrounds. In bachelor’s degree, 19.8% a non­science bachelor’s the second part, students were asked about degree, 1.2% a science master’s degree, 1.2% a non­ their awareness of existing careers outside the science master’s degree, and 43.2% specified “other” funeral profession along with their interest in as their highest level of degree. Of the individuals advancing their anatomical knowledge, cadaver that specified a highest degree of “other”, 65.7% dissection skills and research skills. Moreover, earned an associate’s degree, and 34.3% earned a participants were also asked about their interest high school diploma. Among those that specified in a summer certificate program to advance the high school diploma as their highest degree, 16.7% above­mentioned skills along with the option of were currently working on a bachelor’s degree at the an online component. time the survey was conducted. Table 1. Demographics of mortuary science student survey participants in percentages.
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