Beschreibung:
<jats:sec><jats:label /><jats:p>This research project explored the experience of first‐year medical students studying anatomy through full cadaver dissection. Literature suggests that cadaver dissection is a learning experience comprised of multiple variables that do not lend themselves to quantitative analysis. The goal of this research was to gain a greater understanding of the meaning that medical students take from cadaver dissection. The study was qualitative in nature. Perspectives of 16 first‐year medical students were drawn together through individual interviews and one focus group to produce a grounded theory hierarchy of the meaning‐making process associated with cadaver dissection. Themes emerging from the data were congruent with those identified in the literature. However the predominant theme of Balancing Respect is not reflected in the current scholarly literature regarding the use of cadaver dissection as an educational tool. These results suggest that the cadaver lab is the initial training ground for doctors to learn how to balance personal values connected with the human body with the invasive procedures they are required to do in order to be competent physicians.</jats:p><jats:p><jats:bold><jats:italic>Grant Funding Source</jats:italic></jats:bold><jats:italic>: AAA Student Travel Award</jats:italic></jats:p></jats:sec>