Students in the University of Maine at Fort Kent Nursing program, both on the Fort Kent campus and at the University of Maine at Presque Isle, have a high-tech new way to learn about human anatomy with the universities’ acquisition of two state-of-the art Anatomage tables. These tables, used by the world’s top medical schools and hospitals and featured by TEDTalks and PBS, are described as the most technologically advanced 3D visualization systems for anatomy and physiology education.
“We are pleased to have such a powerful teaching tool available for our professors and students,” Erin Soucy, UMFK Dean of Undergraduate Nursing, said. “Rather than seeing a picture in a textbook, students see a realistic, 3-D picture of body systems, organs, and even cells. Learning is an interactive process and students remember more when they can link content to a visual image.”
UMFK’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree program, which UMFK also delivers on the UMPI campus, provides students with Nursing classes, labs, and clinicals each semester starting the students’ very first semester and strives to deliver as many hands-on and high-tech activities as possible—from mock hospital suites filled with equipment they’ll see in a real hospital setting to human patient simulator mannequins.
The program delivered at UMPI is designed to meet the needs of place-bound students—those who aren’t able to travel to Fort Kent to complete the BSN degree due to family and work responsibilities—as well as to address the region and the state’s nursing workforce challenges.
“We are so pleased to have such technology-forward equipment available to the students who are taking part in the UMFK Nursing program here on our campus,” UMPI President Ray Rice said. “This will give students an absolute advantage in terms of understanding anatomy and body systems and being able to apply that knowledge once they are in the career field.”
Described as the “world’s first virtual dissection table” by the Anatomage company, this highly interactive equipment features a life-sized display, touch-screen technology, and 3D imagery, allowing users to view photorealistic anatomical structures layer by layer and from every angle. These structures are based on thousands of real human cases that have been digitized in the highest possible resolution. According to Anatomage, research has shown that working with the table improves student retention and test scores.
Both tables have arrived at their respective campuses and the Nursing faculty are preparing them for use in class. On the UMFK campus, the Anatomage table will be housed in Cyr Hall so a number of professors can use it for nursing clinical and biology courses. On the UMPI campus, the Anatomage table will be located in the Nursing lab in Pullen Hall.
“Having access to this state-of-the-art medical technology has a profound impact on nursing students, as well as students enrolled in all UMFK/UMPI programs,” Stacy Thibodeau, UMFK Assistant Professor of Nursing who delivers Nursing classes on the UMPI campus, explained. “The incorporation of the Anatomage Table into our lectures and labs allows for a virtual learning experience of tomorrow, to be experienced in today’s UMFK/UMPI classroom. This is an exceptional learning and diagnostic resource that is FDA approved; the Anatomage Table is transforming classrooms and students’ minds alike. We are excited to be sending invitations to upcoming meet and greets, in order to have local healthcare providers experience this technology first hand.”
To learn more about the Anatomage system or to watch a video on how the table works, visit www.anatomage.com/table. To learn more about the UMFK BSN program, call 207-834-7600 or email umfklife@maine.edu. To learn more about the program delivered on the UMPI campus, call 207-768-9532 or email umpi-admissions@maine.edu.
