Milford High School gets new learning tool

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Milford High School got a new machine for its science department that allows students to look at the anatomy of a human body from a different view and work with technology that they might experience in the medical field.

The Anatomage table allows students to look at a 3D version of a virtual cadaver. Jacob Leuenberger, MHS science teacher, said they have four virtual cadavers loaded on the machine that are real people who donated their bodies to science.

“Basically what they did is they peeled away millimeter by millimeter, and every time they did that, they would take pictures of the cadaver,” he said. “Eventually, they compiled all that data and compiled different parts to make an interactive, virtual cadaver.”

MHS got the Anatomage in mid-November of 2022. Leuenberger said MHS has been thinking about getting one for over two years.

“Literally the first conversation I had with Mr. (Kevin) Wingard (Milford Superintendent), he introduced himself and said ‘What do you think about a virtual dissection table?’” he said. “I had never contemplated having something like this in my room because they are not cheap.”

Leuenberger said MHS was able to buy the table because of an anonymous donator. He said the table cost somewhere between $60,000-$80,000.

Mitch Kubicek, director of learning at Milford Public Schools, said the school was very fortunate to get it because of the donation.

“It came with very little cost to the school district,” he said. “It’s one of the great advantages of living in a community that really values education and opportunity for students.”

Leuenberger said virtual cadavers are a great option for smaller schools that don’t have a cadaver lab.

“Even some smaller colleges like SCC use these in lieu of a cadaver lab,” he said. “It’s cheaper in the long run and there are many different options and you can explore many different things.”

Leuenberger said he can use the table for many different things during class.

“We were working with the muscle system and I put different pins in different muscles that coordinated with numbers that they have on a worksheet,” he said. “So they got to use that to practice identifying those different muscles.”

Kubicek said the table is a great way for students to get experience with equipment that they might see in the workforce.

“Some hospitals and colleges have these devices, so it’s nice for kids to get exposed to some of the tools they might be using,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for kids to explore.”

As far as updates for the system, Leuenberger said part of the package that came with the table provides MHS with updates and any new additions.

“They actually provided us with updates right after our training,” he said. “They came out with a new one that changed a few things that I had to learn, but it wasn’t too bad.”

Overall, Leuenberger said the students seem excited about the table.

“We haven’t had a huge opportunity yet to use it,” he said. “One of my goals this summer is to completely revamp my anatomy course. A big part of that will be to integrate using this as much as possible.”

Kubicek also said he’s thankful for the table.

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids that we didn’t have prior to the donation,” he said. “I’m also thankful that Mr. Leuenberger is willing to take it on and learn a new system.”