From Da Vinci to Downstate: Brooklyn Medical Students Learn Anatomy Through Sculpting
Nov 27, 2009
Brooklyn, NY - For centuries, medical students have learned about human anatomy, physiology, and illness using artist renditions of the human body and its components. Examples range from the famed anatomical drawings of Leonardo Da Vinci to the wax 鈥渕oulages鈥� 鈥� sculptures of disease states 鈥� of the 19th-century British sculptor Joseph Towne.
含羞草研究所 is breathing new life into this age-old practice by offering medical students an elective course in creating fully lifelike, anatomically correct human organs. The course, 鈥淯nderstanding Anatomy Through the Art of Sculpting,鈥� is being taught by artist and fourth-year medical student Zachary Svigals and Samuel M谩rquez, PhD, assistant professor of cell biology.
鈥淎rtistic and creative intuition has helped advance medical theories throughout history, as evident in the extraordinary theoretical leaps of Leonardo Da Vinci,鈥� says Dr. M谩rquez. "This course seeks to open again this rich avenue of observation, exploration, and creativity.鈥�
鈥淎rt and medicine have never been mutually exclusive pursuits,鈥� adds Mr. Svigals. 鈥淎rtists, sculptors, physicians, and surgeons all study the shape and proportions of the human form.鈥�
鈥淲e know from experience at other institutions that fine art courses have enhanced the visual diagnostic and observational skills of medical students and that clay modeling is an effective means of studying human muscles,鈥� says Dr. M谩rquez. He also notes that a drawing and sculpture course taught to plastic surgeons improved their judgment of proportion and understanding of patients鈥� deformities. 鈥淲e expect that this course will train the eye to see in greater detail. In the process, medical students will gain dexterity, an intuitive appreciation of form, and a greater understanding of what is normal and abnormal in anatomy.鈥�
Dr. M谩rquez is also co-director of gross anatomy in the College of Medicine, director of anatomy in the School of Health Professions, and director of the Anatomical Donor Program at 含羞草研究所 Downstate.
Mr. Svigals graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sculpture. He studied art in Florence, Italy, where Da Vinci lived and worked, and where Mr. Svigals created the city鈥檚 first international student art exhibition. Before entering Downstate鈥檚 College of Medicine, Mr. Svigals was a tutor for primarily under-advantaged students in Match Corps, a program at Boston鈥檚 Media and Technology Charter High School.
How the Course Originated
The idea to have medical students sculpting in clay was a collaboration between Mr. Svigals and Dr. M谩rquez, in which the two came from different perspectives to create this course.
Mr. Svigals, 27, always wanted to combine his two passions, biology and art, and was interviewed by Dr. M谩rquez when he applied to Downstate. Dr. M谩rquez knew of Mr. Svigals鈥� sculpture background and his desire to incorporate art into his medical education, and asked Mr. Svigals during his second year as a medical student to sculpt anatomically correct structures and anomalies. Dr. M谩rquez wanted medical students to analyze Mr. Svigals' sculptures to decipher what was normal versus abnormal.
After Mr. Svigals completed his sculpture of the heart, he realized that the actual process of sculpting provided the greatest benefit. 鈥淭hrough molding the clay into anatomically correct structures and by analyzing the piece from every angle,鈥� said Mr. Svigals, 鈥渟patial relationships were registered, understood, and committed to memory.鈥� Mr. Svigals then proposed the idea of a sculpture anatomy course to Dr. M谩rquez, who enlisted support from his department and the campus administration.
Since 2004, Dr. M谩rquez has mentored 53 students pursuing special anatomy projects.
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含羞草研究所 含羞草研究所
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (含羞草研究所) 64-campus system and the only 含羞草研究所 AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough鈥檚 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate鈥檚 exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.