Career Journey and Reflections as an Anatomist

Quaye, Benedicta (2024) Career Journey and Reflections as an Anatomist. In: Early Career Anatomist annual conference, 2024-08-22 - 2024-08-23.

Abstract

My foremost encounter with an anatomist was with a surgeon who taught human anatomy during my undergraduate degree. He used no PowerPoint or slides during lectures, and I was always fascinated how much anatomy he effortlessly delivered during every interaction. This ignited my interest further in the discipline. After my first degree, I accepted my first teaching role in anatomy and physiology to Nursing students and realised the more I taught the more I enjoyed the discipline. Indeed, Anatomy is learning about your own body and only as complicated as you make it. I decided to build my career and make a profession out of this discipline. Formally, my career as an anatomist begun after I enrolled into an MPhil in human Anatomy at the University of Ghana Medical School. After my postgraduate degree in Anatomy, my love for anatomy kept growing trough participation in both practical and theoretical teaching of various students focusing on the 3 main branches of the discipline (Embryology, Histology and Gross). After a while, I decided to go further and pursue a terminal degree, and this took me to Germany where I was able to successful complete two PhDs in anatomy and experience teaching anatomy the Deutsch way. In a permanent position now and the journey so far has been an enlightening and maturing one. The ever-changing face of anatomy motivates me to evolve with the times, so I can be part of the gate keepers ensuring anatomy stays relevant in medical education. Keywords: anatomy, career, reflections