Welcome to the Division of Anatomical Sciences (DAS), the educational and research center for human anatomy in the U-M Medical School’s Department of Surgery. DAS faculty design and facilitate curricula supporting the Medical School, School of Dentistry, and numerous graduate and undergraduate colleges. Faculty also are involved in anatomical research, pedagogical research, and developing premier tools for learning anatomy.
Services & Programs
- Curricula: The Division of Anatomical Sciences provides courses in the focus areas of medical, dental, and anatomy education. These courses include M1 Foundations of Anatomy, M2 SAS, M4 RPCs & Bootcamps, DENT 545, D1 & D2 Sequences, D3, ANAT 403, ANAT 510, and MOOCs.
- Anatomical Consulting & Collaborations: DAS faculty are interested and available for consulting and collaborative endeavors with students, faculty, and staff. Please see faculty profiles for areas of interest and specialization, or contact Director Dr. B. Kathleen Alsup for assistance.
- Plastinated Anatomical Specimens: U-M DAS maintains a sizable collection of permanently preserved anatomical materials, including large osteological and plastinated collections. Some of these materials are on loan to other U-M colleges as well as external colleges and universities. Dr. Mary Orczykowski and Dr. Amanda Kingston curate these collections, and may be contacted for inquiries.
- Donor Requests & Laboratory Booking: Requests for anatomical donors and/or laboratory use are facilitated through the Anatomical Donations Program. Please contact Clayne Frazer at 734-764-4359 or [email protected] for more information.
Curricula
M1 Foundations of Anatomy
Foundations of Anatomy provides first year medical students with the content and context they need to be successful as future clinicians. Lectures, small groups, and dissection laboratory sessions support M1 curricular blocks, and provide students with a carefully integrated exploration of regional gross anatomy. Offered Fall-Winter semesters. Team taught. Course directors: Drs. B. Kathleen Alsup & Glenn M. Fox.
M2 SAS
The Anatomy week of the second year Surgery & Applied Science clerkship focuses on regional and applied clinical anatomy of the head and neck. Students complete podcast lectures at their own pace, and work through dissection laboratory sessions to achieve an understanding of the high yield clinical regions of the head and neck. Offered year-round. Course director: Dr. David Brzezinski.
M4 RPCs & Bootcamps
Anatomy faculty participate as lecturers and laboratory consultants to support the various residency prep courses (RPCs) and bootcamps, which provide fourth year medical students an immersive preview of their chosen specialties. Offered Winter semester. Coordinator: Dr. Kelli Sullivan.
DENT 545
Head & Neck Gross Anatomy (DENT 545) provides first semester dental students with a rigorous and expansive understanding of the anatomy of the head and neck. Lectures and dissection laboratories provide students with didactic and active learning required for mastery of the anatomy of these regions. Offered Spring-Summer. Team taught. Course directors: Drs. B. Kathleen Alsup & Glenn M. Fox.
D1 & D2 Sequences
Anatomy faculty participate as lecturers and laboratory guides for first and second year dental students as they complete foundational medical systems sequences. Offered Fall-Winter-Spring semesters. Coordinator: Dr. Andrew Barnosky.
D3
Applied Clinical Head & Neck Anatomy provides third year dental students with the opportunity to develop a robust understanding of the science of the anatomy of the head and neck to apply to clinical care. Lectures, a hands-on lab, and an active patient examination bridge the gap between the anatomy learned in preclinical years with their future practice as clinicians. Offered Spring-Summer semesters. Course director: Dr. David Brzezinski.
ANAT 403
Human Anatomy (ANAT 403) offers students with a broad understanding of systems-based human anatomy. Lectures and curated observational lab sessions provide students with the understanding of human anatomy needed to apply and be successful in their future programs and careers. Team taught. Offered Fall & Winter semesters. Course director: Dr. Kelli Sullivan.
ANAT 510
Anatomy Teaching Experience (ANAT 510) is a companion course to ANAT 403 that allows previously successful 403 students with the opportunity to develop as anatomy educators. Students work with anatomy faculty to build and refine their funds of anatomy knowledge as teaching assistants in ANAT 403 labs. Offered Fall & Winter semesters. Course director: Dr. Mary Orczykowski.
MOOCs
As educators at a premier public university, anatomy faculty are dedicated to sharing educational opportunities with extramural students. Drs. B. Kathleen Alsup, Glenn M. Fox, and Kelli Sullivan developed system-based human anatomy curricula offered through EdX and Coursera platforms to support the foundational student of anatomy. These courses may be taken for free, or students may earn a certificate for a fee. Offered year-round.