UQ gives thanks to body donors

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Tags: medical research, thanksgiving service, winter-2011

UQ students play their part in the 2011 Thanksgiving Service

The generosity of those who have donated their bodies to advance education and research was acknowledged at a special ceremony at The University of Queensland in April.

Nine hundred guests attended the 20th annual Thanksgiving Service for Body Donors at the UQ Centre.

The keynote speaker at this year’s event was 85-year-old Dr Sam Mellick CBE, a distinguished retired surgeon and UQ Honorary Professor who is currently tutoring medical students in anatomy.

“It is through the marvellous generosity of these donors that we are able to educate our students in the complexity of the structure of the human body,” Professor Mellick said.

“The Thanksgiving Service allows us as teachers and students to demonstrate our deep gratitude for the generosity of these donors who have been in our care.”

Almost 5000 UQ students and 750 medical and professional visitors have benefited from the donors who were honoured at this year’s service.

Students taught in UQ’s anatomy laboratories include those studying medicine, human movement studies, dentistry, pharmacy, science, speech pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology.

UQ has held the Thanksgiving Service since 1992, when it acknowledged all donors to the School of Biomedical Science’s Bequest Program since 1927. The event was the first of its kind in Australia and New Zealand.

Appreciated by relatives and the community, it is now an important UQ tradition and has been adopted by other tertiary institutions in Australia and New Zealand.

By Jan King

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