New Science And Medical Tech Helps Students In Richland County

Through a cooperation of private and public entities that include both the Sidney Health Center and Richland County Schools, a groundbreaking piece of technology is now available for educators and students. The Anatomage Table is a highly advanced anatomy visualization system that is used in leading medical schools. Its technological innovations have been highlighted on PBS, the TEDTalks Conference, and other national outlets, but have now found a home educating Richland County students.

The Anatomage Table is the only piece of technology available that allows users to fully visualize anatomy just as well, if not better, than if they had a real cadaver. Anatomy structures are reconstructed and deconstructed on the electronic device to allow students to fully explore human anatomy. And unlike using human cadavers, there are no chemicals, smells, or bureaucratic red tape that goes along with cutting open real bodies.

The table was on display at the Sidney High School and Anatomage trainer, Philip Lenz, was busy giving tutorials with the device on Tuesday.

The Roundup spoke with Reese Dullea, the Sidney High School anatomy teacher, whose class gathered around the table and listened to Lenz explain the teaching tool. Dullea is a Fargo native, and this is his first year in Sidney.

Dullea explained, "The table is jointly owned. The hospital was involved in purchasing it, and all the high schools in Richland County were involved. It will be located here in Sidney, but all the high schools – including Savage and Fairview and so forth – will utilize it. It was a group effort in order to acquire it."

He continued, "The value is immense. This is probably going to be standard among schools in the next few decades, but our school is getting it very early because a dedicated group of people decided to make it happen. It will bring to Sidney the ability to see anatomy without a cadaver lab. And with this, you can see things that you can't even see with a cadaver lab."

Dullea said, "Those students are going to be using it extensively throughout the year. It won't just sit in the corner and only the instructor will use it, but the students will use it. It will supplement their curriculum and the table will be used to practice and know the information."

"It's even better than a cadaver," Dullea continued, "as a camera will go through the digestive track. It's basically reenacting a colonoscopy."

"The kids are so looking forward to using it. There's a mix of kids in the anatomy class, and some of them are heading off to college and eventually the medical field. Those kids are obviously going to respond more to it than kids just looking to fill their science credits. Of course, technology always excites students these days, but all the kids are interested in it and finding it useful."

Dullea concluded, "The first day we got it and opened it up, we were quizzing on muscles. That day, in a matter of just a few minutes, they saw the value and wished they had it all along. It's really a great tool and this is going to be very helpful."