ATSU students, faculty, staff give thanks during annual Gift of the Body ceremony
Posted: October 12, 2022
It was during her first year at A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) when Madalyn Genskow, OMS II, found a new level of admiration for the individuals who donated their bodies to the University and their family members.
Genskow was enrolled in an anatomy lab, and had recently experienced the unexpected passing of a family member. She had gratitude for those who made such meaningful donations before, but amid her grief she gained a deeper appreciation.
“There are no right words that express the extent of gratitude for the gift that your loved ones have given to us by the donation of their bodies to medicine,” said Genskow, now president of the Catholic Medical Student Association. “By their generous donations, I pray that we are able to continue to give the gift of their sacrifice as we take the knowledge gained and use it to care for our patients. Their lives will continue to make a difference.”
ATSU students, faculty, and staff gathered Oct. 12, 2022, atop a hill in Kirksville, Missouri’s Forest-Llewellyn Cemetery, for the annual Gift of the Body ceremony, and welcomed the family members and friends of those who donated their bodies to the University.
“I believe our lives and our bodies are precious and sacred gifts, and what we do with them truly matters,” said Jenny Angleton, OMS II. “What we do here on Earth will have a lasting impact on future generations to come. Your family member’s gift of their body to our program is only a part of their amazing legacies. Their donation has allowed a new generation of physicians and healers to be trained, and their legacy will continue to be spread across this country and this world as we continue on our paths.”
That sentiment was shared by many during an event which included a performance of “Amazing Grace” by the ATSU MEDleys. Student speakers included Austin Lundgren, OMS II, representing the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, Timoteea Saitis, OMS II, president of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and Wesley Roberts, OMS II, of the Latter-Day Saint Student Association.
“While leaving our world, your loved ones have given us the greatest gift anyone could ever give – the gift of their body,” said Cade Cox, D2, ATSU-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) Student Government Association (SGA) president. “As students, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to study something we all possess, but which we cannot all see. To experience the intricacies of the human body is something we could never learn from a textbook.”
“The gift of learning from your loved ones will echo through the years as we go into our professions across the country and the world,” said Nichelle Chastain, OMS II, ATSU-KCOM SGA president. “People choose to leave their mark on the world in many ways, and we hope you find comfort in knowing your loved one’s mark will continue to live on through our work as healthcare professionals.”
