In 2016, Dianne Person became the founding director of the Anatomical Gift Program, a new initiative designed to provide whole-body donors for anatomy education ethically. The program offers individuals a meaningful way to continue 久久热 after death as “silent teachers” in Elon’s anatomy classrooms.

Through her outreach in the community, Person discovered that discussions about end-of-life and bereavement were just as crucial as post-mortem planning. Listening to families share their stories inspired her to create Essential Conversations in Healthcare (EC in HC), an educational event connecting Elon’s graduate students in the School of Health Sciences with community volunteers to explore communication and compassion in end-of-life care.

Co-led by Person and Allison Russo, a practicing physician assistant, the program remains dynamic and ever evolving. Each year, new ideas and feedback help shape EC in HC into a more impactful experience, one that continues to nurture honesty, empathy and effective communication between healthcare professionals and patients.

This October, the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) students participated in the program’s seventh annual event. The workshop invites participants to reflect deeply on the realities of pre- and peri-death care, experiences that every healthcare professional will encounter, not just as clinicians but as human beings.

During the event, small groups of students meet with community volunteers to discuss topics surrounding end-of-life care. Each participant first reflects individually, then joins their group in open, heartfelt dialogue. What unfolds is a moving exchange of ideas, experiences, and shared humanity.

While the primary focus is on end-of-life communication, the workshop also encourages conversations about self-care for healthcare professionals, recognizing that supporting patients and families requires clinicians to care for themselves.

Two long-time volunteers, Ruth Vogelpohl and Ann Kelly, both retired critical care nurses with distinguished careers, shared their reflections on the program.

“Recognize that even though your goal is to ‘care always’ for every patient, there is a real need for you to take care of yourself,” said Vogelpohl. “You cannot make the path smooth for families in dispute over end-of-life decisions for their loved one. Sometimes you have to listen and speak gently to them, sometimes you have to be parental and tell them to leave immediately and take their anger elsewhere, sometimes you must leave and seek help to deal with the crisis.”

“The Essential Conversations聽in Healthcare聽at 久久热 allows all participants to discuss the very sensitive concerns about end-of-life care聽in a safe place with thoughtful people,” said Kelly.

Essential Conversations provides both structure and support, helping participants navigate the emotional complexities of end-of-life discussions. By encouraging openness and reflection, the program equips future healthcare professionals with the confidence and competence to engage in these crucial conversations.

The results of a Qualtrics survey showed that students and community members overwhelmingly reported that the course workshop equipped them to have better conversations about end-of-life care. All but one student agreed that they were highly engaged throughout the process.

“We are honored to advocate for the critical need for intentional, compassionate end-of-life conversations in healthcare,” said Person. “Guided by the insights of Dr. Atul Gawande, a pioneer in this field, we remain committed to equipping students and community members with essential tools that strengthen their professional practice and advance progress in this vital area. What individuals want matters. Their voices matter. Being heard matters. Addressing this gap has proven both profoundly meaningful and deeply promising.”

As Essential Conversations in Healthcare moves into 2026, the program continues to grow, fostering compassion, communication, and connection among students, volunteers, and the patients they will one day serve.

This year, the interactive event took place at the Gerald L. Francis Center in the newly renovated classrooms. Thirty-six second-year PA students and 19 community volunteers were pivotal in achieving the three-hour workshop’s objectives.

Dianne Person, director of the Anatomical Gift Program in Elon’s School of Health Sciences, approached Allison聽Russo, a physician assistant on the cardiac surgery team at UNC-Chapel Hill, to co-facilitate. Russo, who benefited from the workshop as a student in the master of science in physician assistant studies program, cited several opportunities where her profession required resourcing her toolkit from Essential Conversations in Healthcare. Russo readily accepted the offer and the two expanded upon the workshop.

鈥淓ngaging in end-of-life conversations with community members has profoundly enhanced my ability to navigate these sensitive discussions with my patients and their families,” said Russo. “By practicing these dialogues in a supportive environment, I have gained valuable insights into the emotions, fears, and hopes that often accompany such topics. This experience has equipped me with the skills to approach my patients with empathy and clarity, ensuring their wishes are honored while providing much-needed support to their loved ones. As I foster these conversations, I am reminded of the importance of open communication and its profound impact on the end-of-life experience.鈥�

Risa Hanau, clinical and community educator at AuthoraCare Collective, was a guest speaker at the workshop, noting it as an example of what everyone should consider doing: thinking about what gives our lives meaning and sharing our story and wishes with others.

“This is an ongoing gift we can give ourselves and those we care about so that nobody is in a crisis situation without an understand of someone’s wishes or someone to speak on their behalf, using their values to guide the decisions,” said Hanau.

Kate Wheatly, resident services director at Twin Lakes Community was one of the course participants and highly recommends it.

“The session was incredibly well-structured and engaging, perfectly balancing theory and practical application,” said Wheatly. “The facilitators were knowledgeable and approachable, fostering an open environment where participants felt comfortable sharing their experiences and insights. One of my highlights was interacting and sharing my experiences with the students.聽 This allowed us to discuss and practice essential communication skills in real-life scenarios. This hands-on approach reinforced the concepts we discussed and made the learning experience enjoyable and impactful.”

Preparing for end-of-life conversations

Recognizing a communication deficiency throughout health care, Dianne Person, director of the Anatomical Gift Program in the School of Health Sciences, came up with the idea to help people better prepare for the crucial end-of-life conversations they will have as health care practitioners and patients, fostering humility, empathy, compassion and respect.

Person expanded upon her idea to pair students with community volunteers, explaining her aim was to “help foster connections and give voice to patients, their families, and future healthcare providers.” In 2019, Person shared her proposal for the course with colleague Tracey Thurnes, associate professor of physician assistant studies. The two sought a partnership with Danielle Lake, director of design thinking, to develop a pilot workshop, which took place in December 2019.

The students and community volunteers were participants and beneficiaries of the workshop. They met the concept with appreciation, inspiration, and motivation. The profound impact of the workshop on them, as evidenced by the results of the post-workshop survey, is a testament to the transformative power of Essential Conversations.

Open and honest conversations with loved ones during a medical crisis can be daunting. A conversation skill set is crucial in cultivating a respectful understanding of healthcare decisions.The survey results from some of the PA students validate the workshop’s effectiveness:

• 鈥淚t was beneficial for those who have never been exposed to these conversations.鈥�
• 鈥淚 thought it was a really valuable class to have.”
• 鈥淭horough with a strong emphasis on interpersonal interaction.”
• 鈥淭he various worksheets were helpful in guiding me to distill my thoughts.”

The following endorsements from the community participants are unparalleled:

• 鈥淭aking part in the Crucial Conversations program has been a real privilege.”
• 鈥淚 always feel that I learn as much from the students as they do from me. I look forward to future programs.
• “The overall structure of the course was good. The students are quite amazing.”
• 鈥淚 appreciate the opportunity to meet with Elon healthcare students聽as they make a concerted effort to wisely navigate sharing end-of-life diagnoses and anticipated challenges聽with their patients. Their understanding of the many concerns which will likely be a part of a person鈥檚 death benefits everyone.”
• 鈥淲OW! The sessions were聽inspiring聽as we shared our personal聽sensitive end-of life-thoughts聽with the PA students.聽聽As senior聽citizens we聽provided personal insights and values that were developed聽over many years. In return, the interactions were聽so open, and we felt a genuine sense of聽camaraderie聽with聽the聽students. We still email each other!鈥�

A few modifications later, Essential Conversations in Healthcare is an established model for presenting the need to talk effectively between patients and healthcare providers about complex diagnoses and dying. The modifications included orienting the community volunteers ahead of the workshop. The focus shifted from scripts to organic conversations between community volunteers and students. The community volunteers bring their life experiences and engage with students who will have similar conversations with future patients.

鈥淓ssential Conversations is a gem of the PA curriculum,” said Kim Stokes, associate professor of physician assistant studies, department chair and program director for physician assistant studies. “The program allows learners to further connect the humanism in medicine introduced through the AGP in the anatomy courses with the tangible needs of our community.聽In a healthcare system of aging individuals, this program gives our graduates true preparation for the real world.”

There is an emphasis on acknowledging that sometimes, conversations about making end-of-life decisions carry emotional weight and complexity. Essential Conversations offers guidelines, a safe space, support, and a toolkit to guide students and community volunteers through them.

Sharing individuals’ wishes for end-of-life care can make a difference in critically important end-of-life planning and how to navigate diagnoses. The workshop instills competence and confidence in providing end-of-life care conversations, helping patients and their families make well-informed decisions regarding future medical care, minimizing discomfort and fear, and allowing patients to express their personal choices.

“I left the workshop feeling more confident in navigating difficult conversations in a healthcare setting,” said Wheatly. “The tools and techniques I gained are invaluable, and I appreciate the emphasis on empathy and understanding throughout the training. Overall, this workshop was a fantastic investment in my professional development, and I look forward to attending more sessions. Elon’s Essential Conversations truly delivers on its promise to enhance communication in healthcare!”

“We believe this moment is pivotal for our students as they complete this work and advance on into the professional clinical practice curriculum鈥攆orever taking lessons learned from their donors into clinical practice,” said Janet Cope, professor of physical therapy.

Founded in 2017, the anatomical program at Elon’s School of Health Sciences was conceived by Cope, who teaches clinical anatomy in the Department of Physical Therapy Education. Cope’s vision was to establish a willed body program to support Elon’s physical therapy (PT) program, physician assistant (PA) program and 久久热 programs in the biosciences. The effort has since expanded to include nursing and 久久热 anatomy programs in the McMichael Arts and Sciences building and the graduate programs in health sciences at the Gerald L. Francis Center.

Those who have enrolled in the program cite a handful of reasons for wanting to contribute, including: “I want to continue to teach” and “I have recycled most of my life, so why not continue by giving my body to Elon students.”

Regardless of the reason, anyone deciding for themselves, having the support of their families and being 18 years or older is eligible to register with Elon’s first-person consent program.

Director Dianne Person, who developed the Anatomical Gift Program advanced the program to become a beacon of educational support for donors and their families, guiding them from life to death. This growth and impact of the program is not just a statistic but a testament to the hope and inspiration it brings to the community, especially the students whose education is enriched by the selfless act of the 鈥渟ilent teachers.鈥�

鈥淣o two bodies are alike, but one thing they do have in common is that they chose to teach after death,鈥� says Person. 鈥淲e hold immense respect and gratitude for our donors, so we compassionately refer to them as our ‘silent teachers.’ They are with us to teach our students head-to-toe anatomy.’鈥�

This respect for the donors is at the heart of the program, making them feel valued and appreciated. Now in its eighth year, the Anatomical Gift Program fosters empathy and trust across North Carolina. Person’s belief in the importance of outreach has brought her to over 60 counties, inspiring many to consider this end-of-life option.

“If only one individual in a room of 300 is interested in anatomical donation, everyone鈥檚 time has been well-spent,” said Person, who notes that聽making this critical decision takes time and requires family discussion, which may require a repeat session.

Person ensures a dignified removal, symbolized by placing an Elon blanket onto the decedent. Upon arrival at the Gerald L. Francis Center, the transport team is met by Gytis Balilionis, Anatomical Gift Program and Human Anatomy Laboratory specialist, who reverently takes each donor into his care until it is time for their ‘久久热 assignment.’

This summer, the first-year students in the DPT program and the master of physician assistant studies program, led by a voluntary student committee of three PT students and three PA students, produced a heartfelt and respectful memorial service honoring 40 “silent teachers” who imparted their knowledge in the study of human anatomy.

“The sacrifice our silent teachers made has a profound impact on us as future clinicians and people,” said Madilyn Treon G’26, a student in Elon’s doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program and one of the student leaders who planned the service. “They taught us patience by their unwavering resolve in times of adversity. They taught us humility by their selfless acts of kindness and generosity.”

The donor memorial service provides a unique opportunity for closure as students, faculty, and donor family members come together as a community to share their stories. The service was also simulcast through a live stream for those unable to attend. Families produced photos of their loved ones and stories about who they were in life.

鈥淲e have good memories of our time at Elon鈥檚 PT,鈥� said the spouse of an anatomical donor. 鈥淲e both enjoyed the PT students and professors.鈥�

In his consent form, anatomical donor 鈥淕eorge鈥� wrote: 鈥淗aving served over 30 years as a missionary in Africa, I chose to give my body to Elon to teach others.鈥�

久久热 expressed their gratitude through verse, poetry, and song. This year, soloist Hope Keys G’26, sang “Fields of Gold” to a heart-focused audience of families, friends, and students.

“Being part of Elon’s Anatomical Gift Program memorial planning this year has been an honor,” said Treon. “Sharing our gratitude and appreciation to the families and their loved ones was a special moment for all of us. When I entered anatomy at the beginning of the year, I never imagined the lessons I’d learn apart from anatomy.”

鈥淚n their profound act of generosity, donors transform their own journey into a beacon of hope for scientific advancement. Their decision to contribute their bodies to the study of life serves as a powerful testament to the interconnectedness of humanity, offering not just knowledge to students but a lasting spiritual legacy that encourages compassion, understanding, and a deeper respect for the mysteries of existence,” said Bobby Plagmann G’26.

“I want to thank our donors for the selfless decision to donate to Elon’s Anatomical Gift Program, as I often reminded myself that their body was a gift born not out of force, obligation, or random chance but out of a desire to leave the world a better place than they found it,” said Sarah Levine, G’26, a student in Elon’s DPT program. “The knowledge that they chose to donate in their last moments always brought me a deep sense of comfort each time I had the opportunity to be taught by them. Their sacrifice is perhaps the greatest gift I have ever received. A gift no man nor woman can buy, the gift of peace of mind. I have the deepest appreciation for this.”

During a candle-lighting ceremony, students ignited the first flame and, one by one, passed a lit candle to light the next while students read each of the names of 40 anatomical donors. The ceremony was to signify the donors who so nobly gave of themselves this academic year to educate our students.

鈥淭hank you for supporting your loved one鈥檚 decision to teach our students through their anatomical donation. Today is about connection. Each one of us is connected because of our ‘silent teachers.’ They have indeed brought us together in their own words and through their noble gift of themselves. And to their families, we are enriched by your stories and family photos,” said Person during the memorial service. “Your shared stories profoundly impact us, giving us a glimpse into who our 鈥榮ilent teachers鈥� were as people with children, grandchildren, spouses, and friends. We thank you as we witness the unwrapping of one intangible gift after another.”

Following the service, all in attendance proceeded outdoors, where butterflies, this year’s theme, were carried to the terrace. The act symbolized the release of the ‘silent teachers’ following their indelible gift to healthcare education.

“I have had the privilege to work with multiple silent teachers at Elon. I have learned more than I have ever imagined about the human body, and I can’t wait to be able to apply this knowledge to my future career,” said Christina Westbrooks G’26, a DPT student. “To all of our donors, I will be forever grateful for the most amazing gift a person can give when they have passed.”

Later, all gathered in the McBride Gathering Space, united by the profound experience. This was not just a moment for light refreshments but also for deep conversations and reflections, strengthening the bond shared between the ‘silent teachers’ and the students they taught.

“The donors who graciously share their bodies with science embody a sacred trust between life and learning,” said Plagmann. “Their gift transcends the physical realm, creating an enduring spiritual impact that nurtures the minds and hearts of students. Through their selfless act, they bridge the gap between knowledge and the divine, reminding us that in understanding the human body, we honor not only their lives but the timeless journey of every soul.”

More than 160 families, friends, students and faculty filled the Sacred Space to honor the memory of 35 鈥渟ilent teachers鈥� whose noble gift to health care education was the hallmark of the service.

The School of Health Sciences first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Program students and Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies students, under the direction of Anatomical Gift Program Director Dianne Person, organized this year鈥檚 service. A committee of five students was assembled and over the course of a few months, the committee worked intentionally to develop a message of heartfelt appreciation.

Maha Lund, dean of the School of Health Sciences, opened the service with words of welcome acknowledging the impact that the anatomical donors have on educating students in the school. Lund explained that the students鈥� experiential learning goes beyond the study of human anatomy and described the respect and dignity that the students have for the anatomical donors. Lund continued to impress upon the families of the anatomical donors that their loved ones鈥� lessons will be carried forth throughout the students鈥� careers as health care professionals.

Dr. Cynthia Bennett described the anatomy experience at Elon as a pivotal one for health sciences students, emphasizing that 鈥渟ome of the most important learning experiences aren鈥檛 about anatomy at all.鈥� She emphasized to the families of anatomical donors in attendance that the students in the school had been excellent caregivers to their family members in the lab, and that the lessons their family members had taught about love, loss and both the commonalities and the differences that humans share would impact each student for a lifetime.聽

DPT student Emiliano (Emi) Chirigliano G鈥�25 said the memorial was a beautiful celebration of life to further commemorate the great people our silent teachers were.

鈥淚t was of no surprise to hear stories of how our silent donors gave so much to others in their lives; continuing to do so in their passing,鈥� Chirigliano said.

PA student Kylie Haduck G鈥�24 said that working with and learning from the anatomical donors was something that she loved right from the start of her health care education at Elon. Haduck said it was fascinating to learn about each donor and appreciate them for all of their commonalities and differences.

鈥淲hen I learned that there was a committee for the Anatomical Donor Memorial Service, I knew that I had to be a part of it. I feel such a sense of gratitude for our donors and their families, and I wanted to be able to really say 鈥檛hank you鈥� to them in any way that I could,” Haduck said.

“It was a very emotional afternoon in the best way and was a great way to send off our donors with love, appreciation, and great respect for them letting us be a part of their lives,鈥� Haduck added.聽

Rachel Davis G鈥�25, a DPT student, said she and her fellow students are thankful to have a resource like the Anatomical Gift Program at Elon. With students taking anatomy at the start of their program, the silent teachers are their first patients, Davis said.聽

鈥淚t is an honor that we get to take all the lessons they have taught us and continue their journey the rest of our careers,” she added. “The memorial service was a day for everyone to come together and say a huge thank you to our silent teachers. The room was full of gratitude from the students, faculty, and families. It was the perfect moment for us to honor those who gave so much to us.”

As an 久久热, Sam Kattiria G鈥�24 took an anatomy class that involved working with cadavers, and she never stopped to consider where they came from. The second-year PA student said she can’t help but reflect on that experience felt “cold and impersonal,” a stark contrast from what she has experienced at Elon.

鈥淗ere, our donors are teachers, not cadavers. My classmates and I refer to them by their names when we are discussing聽uniqueness, [which] we found in each of them,” Kattiria said.聽鈥淭he Anatomical Donor Memorial Service was a way for me to tangibly say thank you to my silent teachers, Faye and Mimi,聽and their friends and families聽for the many lessons I learned about anatomy, compassion and gratitude.”

Josie Freeman 鈥�25 said it was truly an honor to be able to pay tribute to the donors and their families and friends as well as the students who got to work with these donors. 鈥淚’m super grateful to have also gotten to work with the other committee members and Ms. Person to help prepare a beautiful service,” Freeman said.聽

Katherine Zdrojeski is the daughter of one of the silent teachers. She tenderly submitted words that were shared during the service.聽

鈥淸My mother] would be so impressed by you and the Anatomical Gift Program,鈥� Katherine Zdrojeski said. 鈥淭he work you do is just incredible, and I’m very grateful a program聽like yours exists. My brother and I have spent much time reflecting on the memorial, and how glad we were to be part of it. You put such thought into every detail and it shows. From the tissues in baskets by the door, to the forget-me-nots on the table, to the seeds in the butterfly name cards 鈥� it all meant so much.

“You gave us a sense of closure, you brought us joy and you also offered us a lot of peace. If our mother was alive and had gone to the memorial for someone else, she would have said to us afterward, 鈥楾his. It’s exactly what I want.鈥� Anatomical donation was always聽so聽important to her, but we were not prepared when she was diagnosed with glioblastoma. Knowing that we fulfilled her wish in the most dignified way, and that she helped others learn, so that she could keep living her values even in death 鈥� there’s tremendous comfort in that.聽‘Thank you,’ feels woefully聽insufficient, but you always have mine,鈥� she said.

The outpouring of affirmations from family members was abundant. It is with humble appreciation and gratitude that the School of Health Sciences students and those in the Anatomical Gift Program acknowledge everyone鈥檚 generous expressions.

Janet Cope, professor of physical therapy education eloquently conveyed a closing message in the poem she wrote:

“Today I was walking in the woods / The air was heavy and still / Like it had tears that could not be shed鈥� / Not today / Spring flowers that had turned to berries / Petals had fallen / But so had the seeds鈥� / Feeding the residents of the forest / Our teachers like once bright flowers, shedding their petals鈥� seeing this forest鈥� nourishing us.”

University Chaplain and聽Dean of Multifaith Engagement Rev. Kirstin C. Boswell led attendees in prayer and shared her reflections on the service. Calling it one of the more special events she attends each year, Boswell said the care and respect shown to each silent teacher by their students is beautiful and commendable.

鈥淭he tangible reality that I come away with each year, is that the students are impacted far beyond the classroom by their experiences working with their silent teachers,” Boswell said. “I believe that a care and respect for the simultaneously fragile and resilient beauty of human life develops from those relationships in the labs, and we witness it so beautifully memorialized in the Sacred Space each year.鈥�

Dianne Person spoke about the unique and careful decision made by the anatomical donors. Person said the hope is that the silent teachers understood the academic and personal impact that they would have on the students.聽

“They have created a legacy. Their lives will continue through the respectful and skillful hands of their students, as exemplary future healthcare professionals,” Person said. “All of this and more, thanks to your spouses, partners, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles and friends. Each one made a lasting impact, a mark on humanity and healthcare. For their meritorious gift of body and spirit toward the future of healthcare, we thank them.鈥�

A candle was lit while students read each name of the silent teachers who taught them much more than the studies of human anatomy.聽

Following the service all in attendance gathered outside to release butterflies in memory of the silent teachers.聽All then returned to the McBride Gathering Space for refreshments and conversations.

Raindrops and teardrops fell peacefully and memorably throughout a service that will be long remembered and appreciated by all.

On Wednesday, Aug. 31, Crucial Conversations was offered for the fourth consecutive year.

This year, Dianne Person, director of the Anatomical Gift Program along with Tracey Thurnes, associate professor of physician assistant studies and director of Accelerated Pathways Program, Antoinette Polito, associate professor of physician assistant studies and Jacqueline Debrew, associate professor of nursing and RN/BSN coordinator, planned a blended session to include second-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies students and Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing students.

The programs hosted 37 second-year Master of Physician Assistant Studies students, 14 Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing students, and 26 community volunteers. All gathered in McKinnon at the Moseley Center for the fourth session of Crucial Conversations event.

The session opened with keynote speaker, Risa Hanau, a licensed social worker, and clinical and community educator, who, in the delivery of her keynote, invited participants to engage in conversations relative to anticipated difficult health care and personal conversations. Hanau encouraged having these types of conversations sooner than later, indicating that later can often be too late. 鈥淲hat I know is that our health care system and society does not put value on what we are doing today, and that is being who we are.鈥�

The interactive event partnered students with community volunteers to design a supportive space for holding difficult conversations. 久久热 and community volunteers used design thinking practices to help better prepare for the crucial end-of-life conversations they will have as health care practitioners and patients, fostering humility, empathy, compassion, and respect.

The goal is to foster opportunities for mutual and reciprocal learning that ensure everyone 鈥� students, and community volunteers 鈥� leaves the workshop equipped to have crucial conversations with their health care professionals and their families.

The session provided skills to give voice, connection and meaning to health care providers, patients, and their families as they explore difficult and challenging conversations in health care. The interactivity was designed to achieve this and will be accomplished collaboratively. Participants鈥� experiences, vulnerabilities, and willingness to share creatively determine mutually beneficial outcomes.

鈥淐rucial Conversations allowed me to reflect on my areas discomfort,” Physician Assistant Studies Program student Anna Bilse G’22 said. “By recognizing my areas of discomfort, I will be able to grow as a physician assistant who is considerate and empathetic to the discomfort and hesitancies my patients and their loved ones may be experiencing when discussing advanced care planning and end of life. Through the mutual recognition that these crucial conversations in health care are difficult and likely uncomfortable, we will be able to increase patient-provider trust, allowing for increased advocacy for our patients and their wishes.

“It was meaningful for students from the department of nursing to join the PA students and have the chance to practice difficult conversations with the volunteers from Twin Lakes and the Village of Brookwood,” said Associate Professor in the Department of Nursing Jacqueline Debrew. “It was especially meaningful because some of the nursing students, by chance, were paired with retired nurses.聽The community volunteers embraced the students and openly shared their stories and seemed eager to get to know the students and contribute to their educational journeys. This was the perfect culmination to the nursing students鈥� course on end-of-life care in nursing.”

“Risa Hanau was an informative speaker,” said ABSN student Brian Williamson G’22. “She exposed death, to me, in a way that it can be easier to embrace. She made it clear that being prepared for the end of life is so valuable to both the patient and the family. Exploring advanced directives and the experiences we had with the community members and the PA students was a great way to end our Crucial Conversation course in the ABSN program.鈥�

鈥淚llness and injury can befall anyone at any time and聽some of the聽resulting conditions are聽very challenging,” said community volunteer and retired registered nurse, Ann Kelly. “Nothing can replace a ‘crucial conversation’ when medical decisions need to be made. Thank you, Elon School of Health Sciences, for gifting community volunteers with an opportunity to engage with students in your various programs about this聽important topic. 聽Everyone聽benefits and I am grateful.鈥�

The session will be held again in 2024 and will continue as a co-learning course in School of Health Sciences curriculum. 鈥淭hought I had it all wrapped up, but this opened up new pathways to explore,” said one community volunteer.

For event information contact Kelly Roberts by email: kelly@alamancechamber.com or by phone: 336-228-1338.

For information about the Anatomical Gift Program, you may contact Dianne Person by email: dperson@elon.edu or by phone: 336-278-6564

The tour was scheduled in response to a request from many LIFE@Elon members to hear more about the role that anatomic donors play in the lives of Elon students. The sessions included a brief informational presentation about the curricula of Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs, a  tour of the lab facilities and a question-and-answer session with the anatomy professors of both departments. 

The main informational session was followed by a luncheon that included questions, answers and a discussion with first-year Doctor of Physical Therapy students and first-year students in the Physician Assistant Studies Program.

For additional information about LIFE@Elon, please contact Kathryn Bennett, LIFE@Elon Coordinator, by email at kbennett9@elon.edu or by phone at (336) 278-7431 or for information about the Anatomical Gift Program, contact Person by email at dperson@elon.edu or by phone at (336) 278-6564

The event will be held Monday, Nov. 13 from noon to 1:15 p.m. at Hospice of Randolph County, Education Building, 416 Vision Drive in Asheboro. 

For additional information please contact Jessica Crisp, program facilitator by email at jessica.crisp@hospiceofrandolph.org or by phone at (336) 672-9300.

This is a closed session for Cone Health, Community Outreach, Alamance Regional professionals.

For information on Elon’s Anatomical Gift Program please contact Person by email: dperson@elon.edu or by phone: 336-278-6564

The event will be held at 2 p.m. at Cedar Ridge Retirement Residence, 2680 S. Mebane St., Burlington, N.C. 

For additional information and interest in attending, please call Person at (336)-278-6564