The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) – Virginia Campus sponsored the annual Anatomy Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE ) for high school students, ages 14-18, during the month of July. During the week of July 12, 2010, VCOM hosted 18 boys and during the week of July 19, 2010, 36 girls attended the program.

The SEE program has been an annual summer event at VCOM for three (3) years and affords students from rural or medically underserved areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee the opportunity to learn about anatomy from VCOM faculty and students and to gain an introduction to science and medicine. In addition to the daily anatomy lecture/lab experiences on the body systems, topics such as nutrition and the importance of vitamins & minerals; functional areas of the brain; library searches through Medline; building a healthy heart from clay; and constructing a regional vertebrae out of plaster were included in the week-long program.

Among the projects in the SEE program, high school students dissected a sheep brain, were asked to select healthy items for a picnic, worked in groups for friendly competition of “Anatomy Olympics”, and were given a tour of the VCOM Simulation Center and the V-Tech Vet school as part of their Blacksburg experience.

Associate Dean for Post-Doctoral Programs, Francine Anderson, P.T, Ph.D. noted the strong caliber of the participating students. “We have been very impressed by the students in the SEE program. Despite the diverse educational levels of the students, all of the students performed exceptionally well. Learning about the human body has a way of stimulating interest in the sciences among our youth. It was a pleasure having them on campus at the medical school”

The program, including lodging and evening recreational activites, was completely funded by VCOM this year.