In Light of COVID-19 Crisis: Proposed Guidelines for the ‘New Norm’ of Anatomy Teaching

Abstract

The recent COVID-19 has impacted all the human activities around the globe, and medical education was no exception. During this time, e-learning and technology-enhanced learning has gained more attention. Since the crisis shows evidence of lasting for more than expected, it is necessary to prepare guidelines that accommodate and adapt to the situation, especially in anatomy teaching, in which replacing working in the lab by virtual cadavers is still a field of active debate among anatomists. Thus the aim of this guide is not to appraise the educational modalities; instead, we embrace all of them and provide a brief description of each one with proposed guidelines and useful tips. This guide will shed light on the administrative, educational and infection control measures to be taken, including all teaching modalities in anatomy: students' learning by performing a dissection, and learning based on prosected cadavers, bones, plastinated specimens, plastic models and students' learning using virtual cadavers/specimens. Thus, it does not only serve the educationists, but its scope extends to all the personnel whether they are administrative staff, technicians, workers, or anatomy teachers, this guide also serves medical students undergoing anatomy teaching. The guide comprises two levels; the first one is concerned about teaching anatomy at the level of demonstrating the anatomical structures, while the second level is concerned about the assessment issues.