Meet a HAPSter- Quelly from Brazil!

This post describes Quelly Shaive’s anatomy program in Manaus, Brazil.

Anatomy for Medicine is a class which emphasizes the application of anatomy knowledge within a clinical anatomy model.  The approach of Anatomy for Medicine is topographic, where we explore each segment, structure or organ in great detail . This course is divided into 2 parts: Anatomy I and II. This course consists of teaching the anatomy itself as well as pertinent clinical correlations to facilitate student learning and to prepare them for further clinical and surgical education. Students are responsible for presenting seminars where they demonstrate their understanding of anatomy within a clinical case format.

The aims of Human Anatomy I (given in the first period) and Human Anatomy II (given in the second period) are to know the main aspects of regional anatomy and the relationships with the clinical diagnosis of major diseases that affect humans.  Students also have guidance on anatomical dissection practices and the technical notion of invasive procedures, both diagnostic and therapeutic.

Our topographical approach focuses on the regional division of the human body and incorporates in its discussions the medical/surgical importance and applied anatomical knowledge.  This provides students of medicine good learning conditions to study the subjects that are prerequisite: Medical Propedeutics, Neuropsicoimunologia and Operative Technique and Experimental Surgery.

We have 8 teachers and we count on the help of Teacher’s Assistants, who are selected through written test. These Teacher’s Assistants give us support in practical classes, help students in extra class schedules, organize symposiums and events in anatomy and perform the anatomoclinical sessions. The Teacher’s Assistants also participate in events outside the state of Amazonas, such as Brazilian Medical Education Congress.

The Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) offers the discipline of Anatomy for various courses in the health area, which is offered according to the needs of each course as shown in the table below:

It is noteworthy that these subjects offered by UFAM are not exactly the same for all federal universities in Brazil; however, there is equivalence of the nomenclature, workload and content approach.  The Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) is the institution which determines accreditation and coordination for all public and private universities.

Some studies published in Brazil show that anatomical teaching in our country began on 18 February 1808 by Decision No Régia. 2, D. João VI, the Bahia School of Surgery, was formed in Salvador, and over the years, other medical schools were opened in Brazil until today.

The Anatomy courses are divided into theoretical and practical classes. For lectures, we make use of Power Point and whiteboard. The classes are held in laboratories with real human specimens without using any advanced technology, such as 3D Dissection Tables. The human cadaver parts used for dissection are preserved in formaldehyde, alcohol and glycerine. When anatomical variations are found they are cataloged and published in appropriate journals.

The importance of the use of cadaver dissection is appreciated for providing a faithful model of the future student reality. UFAM has adopted these practices to help students of anatomy, favoring the development of teamwork, respect for the body, familiarization with the body, application of practical skills, integration of theory and practice and preparation for clinical work

To improve my performance in class, I participated for the first time in the 30th HAPS Annual Conference in May 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. As a member of HAPS, I receive messages daily about novelties in anatomy, clinical discussions of best books tips, applications, websites and videos that is of great value to improve my knowledge in the area. I have a long way to go in higher education, and I know I can count on the support of HAPS and my fellow members to improve my teaching of one of the oldest arts in the world: Anatomy.

Quelly Shiave is a professor of anatomy at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM) in Manaus, Brazil.