Med students and the importance of confronting death | READER COMMENTARY

I was very moved by the recent article, “‘This is a person’: For Baltimore medical students, dissection triggers deep emotion” (Jan. 4). As a 1974 graduate of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, I will never forget my first day of classes in 1970.

After some introductory lectures, our entire class was escorted to the “Gross Anatomy Lab,” where 40 cadavers awaited our arrival. I was 21-years-old and had never seen a dead human being before that day. The noxious odor of formaldehyde heightened my angst.

The rest of that day is a blur as my psyche was so traumatized. Upon arriving home later that day, I told my wife that I wasn’t sure I could deal with what I’d seen. Somehow, I and each of my classmates managed to cope, owing a huge debt of gratitude to those nameless people who contributed so much to our education.

— David L. Zisow, Pikesville

Add your voice: Respond to this piece or other Sun content by submitting your own letter.