Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience host third Thanksgiving Service

22 Feb 2016

The Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience hosted its third Thanksgiving Service in memory of the people who donated their bodies for medical research. The 2016 Thanksgiving Service was held in the Honan Chapel UCC on Thursday February 11th 2016 at 4.00pm.‌

The Department of Anatomy & Neuroscience hosted its third Thanksgiving Service in memory of the people who donated their bodies for medical research. The 2016 Thanksgiving Service was held in the Honan Chapel UCC on Thursday February 11th 2016 at 4.00pm.‌

Bodies have been donated to the college for the teaching of anatomy to its medical, dental and science students since 1849. Each year the University accepts about 20 bodies of people from the Munster region who have indicated prior to their death that they wish to donate their bodies for this purpose. This Service is unrelated to the final committal or funeral service of any individual but, rather, is intended as an opportunity for the altruistic actions of the donors to be acknowledged. It is non-denominational and members of the congregation do not need to be of any particular religious affiliation or, indeed, hold any religious belief, to attend the Service.

Tara O Sullivan, reader, 2nd year Direct Entry Medicine, Grainne Ryan, Harp, 1st year Dentistry, Clare Keaveney Jimenez, Violin, 2nd year Direct Entry Medicine.

The 2016 Thanksgiving Service took place in a packed Honan Chapel, relatives and friends of the deceased, students, academic, administrative, postgraduate and support staff, senior University representatives, and clergy joined with the many musicians readers and the UCC Staff and Student Choir to remember the donors whoe bodies have been buiried in the last two years.‌‌

The Thanksgiving Service is a biennial event and important date in the Calender of the College of Medicine & Health at UCC.

Professor Mary Horgan, Dean School of Medicine  & Professor John Cryan Head of Department of Anatomy and  Neuroscience welcomed all attendees.  Professor of Anatomy John F. Cryan said: "We are very grateful to those who are generous enough to donate their bodies for medical science and education. Such bequests are essential to our proper functioning within the Medical and other Health Science schools. The body donors’ selfless and public-spirited actions benefit the education of approximately 600 students each year. I am delighted to say, representatives of our students that have benefited from this generosity will take an active part in the Service and acknowledge the gift they have been given by their “first patients”".

The body donors’ selfless and public-spirited actions benefit the education of approximately 600 students each year. I am delighted to say, representatives of our students that have benefited from this generosity will take an active part in the Service and acknowledge the gift they have been given by their “first patients.  Prof John F. Cryan

An opening message followed from Fr. Marius O’Reilly Head Chaplain, UCC Chaplaincy. The Service included performances by musicians Clare Keaveney Jimenez, 2nd year Direct Entry Medicine, violin and Grainne Ryan, 1st year Dentistry, harp, and the voices of the UCC Staff & Student Choir conducted by Dr. Eva McMullan-Glossop.   

Student Readers were Noel Brennan 2^ndyear Direct Entry Medicine, Tara O Sullivan 2nd year Direct Entry Medicine, , Jillian O Keeffe  1st year Graduate Entry Medicine, Edward Ahern, 2nd year Direct Entry Medicine, Soheilali Karmali, 2nd year Graduate Entry Medicine.

Staff readers included Dr Gerard O’Keeffe, Senior Lecturer and Dr. Aaron Stirling,  Senior Medical Demonstrator Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience.

Dr Brian O’Donnell MB, MSc, MD, FCARCSI, a medic and graduate spoke on behalf of medical graduates and Mr Michael Cronin, manager of the FLAME lab named each of the donors that have been buiried in the past two years and thanked the families and friends.

Life of a Donor

Among the many donors remembered at the 2016 Service was the geologist, photographer, pilot and body donor Daphne Pochin Mould,  she was represented at the service by her dear friends who spoke of a most remarkable woman and shared some fascinating articles documenting the life of this anatomy donor. Daphne Polchin Mould- A Life Lived.