Anatomy Lab

I have enduring memories of my first-year medical school anatomy lab. Heavy plastic sheets shrouded the corpses laid out on metal tables. The room was quiet, even when filled with teams of students. As we performed dissections I was grimly amazed by the compactness and complexity of the body. The odor of formalin would cling to me after each session.  The cadaver tissues were grey. We were performing an intimate study of the faded form of a human life.

We are our biology – but not only our biology. Ancient biblical texts assume an understanding of human anatomy: not our tissues and organ systems, but the elements and attributes that, together, make up a human life. They show how our material and immaterial selves, woven together, determine who we are and define our purpose in life.

In modern healthcare practice it’s easy to lose sight of the many ways our biology, psychology and spirituality are intertwined – and when that happens the significance of our work starts to fade. In Healing Purpose we’ll explore what it is to be human, and how a proper view of persons is key to finding satisfaction in healthcare.