Memorial honors generosity of medical science donors
Reflection and gratitude filled McCombs Auditorium March 2 as the EVMS Donor Memorial Ceremony honored the selfless generosity of individuals who committed their mortal remains to medical education.
Guests paid tribute to these donors, recognizing their invaluable contribution to the advancement of healthcare knowledge. Alfred Abuhamad, MD, President and Provost of EVMS and Dean of the School of Medicine, offered welcome remarks.
“Each donor showed a commitment to our next generation of learners — and patients. In doing so, these donors became some of our students’ first and most important teachers. Students, as you move forward in your own careers, I hope you carry the lessons you have learned from this experience — lessons about the human body and the human capacity for generosity — particularly as those lessons relate to how we serve those who come after us.”
The annual ceremony was organized by EVMS Pathology and Anatomy, EVMS Student Affairs and the student-led Human Values in Medicine Committee.
“As a student, learning from the donors has made me feel more confident treating future patients,” says Nadia Zia, MD Class of 2026 and a member of the Human Values in Medicine Committee. “Words cannot describe how grateful we are that these individuals made the selfless decision to become our first teachers.”
Natascha Heise, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pathology and Anatomy, spoke on behalf of the anatomy program.
“[Our donors’] decision to donate their body is a gift that transcends the individual, benefiting countless students, patients and families by advancing medical research and education. Their contribution is a reminder of the interconnectedness of all human life and the power of giving for the greater good.”
During the ceremony, two representatives of donor families shared reflections. Alyssa Cole Mixon, DO, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UVA’s School of Medicine, read from an article she penned for DO magazine after her father’s death in 2023. The essay, “A Message to Future Doctors,” sheds light on her tight bond with her father and the pride she feels in his decision to help others even after his death.
“It feels unreal to exist in a world where my father does not, but I believe his essence, the elemental forms that make up the human body, will remain in our galaxy for an infinite amount of time,” Dr. Mixon writes. “The first law of thermodynamics states energy is neither created nor destroyed, which means his energy is all around us. Perhaps this energy may one day be converted into the Forget-Me-Not flowers planted every year during body donor remembrance ceremonies at medical schools around the world.”
The event also featured remarks from Student Government President Atif Niaz, MD Class of 2025, as well as performances by Taylor Miller, PathA Class of 2025; Nick Walsh, MD Class of 2024; Tim Putnam, MD Class of 2026; Sabrina Mowery, Maury High School Class of 2024; and musical selections from the Key Tones and Neural Groove. A reception followed in the rotunda of the Edward E. Brickell Medical Sciences Library.
Pictured above: During the ceremony, a photo slideshow featured EVMS students sharing their gratitude for donors.