102 - At Umass Chan, You Are More Than Just Your Body

Poster Board Number: 102
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Co-authors:

Yasmin Carter, PhD - Associate Professor, Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Abstract Body : Intro & Objective: Since the beginning of anatomical studies, the human body has been objectified and commodified. Marginalized communities have borne the brunt of this process, leading to historical traumas and mistrusts. We recognized that a large portion of the community did not have or want access to our whole-body donation program. This began a 4-year endeavor to create targeted outreach for donors at all body sizes, LGBTQ+, African American, religiosity, and environmentally focused community members.



Materials & Methods: UMass Chan’s Anatomical Gift Program (AGP) registration paperwork was evaluated and edited to include inclusive and appropriate language. The social and medical histories were expanded and revised. Further, operating protocols and procedures were examined, and revised. The AGP engaged in regular community engagement through in-person and virtual seminars. These informational sessions included both AGP initiated and invited seminars, focusing on strictly spreading knowledge and information. Registration materials were available, but not the focus of the sessions, in addition to this resource, community members were also encouraged to visit the updated AGP website.



Results: Early in the process, the motto, “At UMass, you are more than just your body” was coined. This was a result of community engagement opportunities to deconstruct the historical mistrusts of marginalized groups. Through this outreach initiative, AGP staff have conducted 10 outreach presentations during 2023 including, presenting to the local Funeral Consumer Alliance, Black Clergy Caucus, LGBTQ Lunch Group, in addition to local hospice groups, social workers, and retirement communities. The overall number of registrations increased by 10% from 2022 to 2023. Additional results including 20% of the registrants in 2023 identified as a racial and ethnic category other than “white”, which is a 100% increase from 10% from in 2022.



Conclusion: Current AGP staff should not be held liable for the sins of their academic forefathers, though, history continues to affect the public opinion of AGPs and therefore it is everyone’s responsibility to guard and rebuild community trust. Transparent and intentional paperwork, policies, and protocols are high impacts ways to prove our commitment to the community.



Significance/Implication: Transparent processes, intentional outreach, and policy change can have immense impact on community attitudes toward an AGP. The UMass Chan experience highlights the needs for AGPs to move beyond the view of the body as an object and shift into the view that the anatomy lab is the ultimate clinical simulation, where learners can be taught social determinants of health, DEI concepts, and patient care.