Macdonald's Anatomy
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Cara Macdonald has developed a Dual-Enrollment Anatomy & Physiology course that is “Something to Talk About.”
One detail that viewers of the popular television show Grey’s Anatomy often overlook is that each episode is named after a popular song. From “A Hard Day’s Night” to “Kung Fu Fighting,” episode titles capture the theme of episodes in a creative manner that makes them instantly relevant and familiar to audiences. Attention to small details like this is one reason the show has been one of ABC’s biggest hits of the past two decades.
While Cara Macdonald doesn’t title her lesson plans after popular songs, she prepares each class with a level of detail and creativity that is on par with an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. For the past two years, she has been building a curriculum for her Dual-Enrollment Anatomy & Physiology class that has made the challenging curriculum familiar and relevant to students. Each class is carefully orchestrated to deliver content as well as engage students in hands-on learning. The result of Mrs. Macdonald’s efforts is “Something to Talk About.”
We sat down with Professor Macdonald to learn more about her course.
Tell us about what inspired you to teach Dual-Enrollment Anatomy & Physiology to high school students.
One day, as I waited for my car to be serviced, a man approached me. He noticed me scribbling notes as I looked through my textbook in preparation for an upcoming lecture and wanted to know at what age I thought someone should start learning anatomy and physiology. He said his son was in high school and wondered if he was old enough. His question surprised me and sticks with me today because it highlights how exclusive this subject seems to be. In my eyes, it’s never too early to learn about our bodies and everyone should have a basic understanding of how the body works.
How did you first become interested in the study of human anatomy yourself?
A hip injury my sophomore year of high school landed me in physical therapy for several weeks. It was then that I realized how much I enjoyed learning about the body. And, it was that experience that led me to earn my Master of Physical Therapy degree at West Virginia University in 2001. One thing that remained constant over the 17 years I practiced as a physical therapist was my enthusiasm for learning about the body and sharing my knowledge with my patients.
When did you develop the course for MSA?
Last year, I decided to incorporate my passion for learning and teaching about the human body with my love for the Miller School Community by offering an anatomy and physiology course here. Piedmont Virginia Community College (PVCC) collaborated with MSA to ensure the course met the requirements for dual enrollment status and I think it’s pretty amazing I get to do something I love in a place I love.
What are your goals for the course and for your students?
To make anatomy and physiology accessible to everyone and to show how amazing the human body is. I’ll continue to work with the students who are ‘brave’ enough to take my class and encourage them to spread the word. Let’s open the books, explore the models, investigate the specimens, and free them from the exclusive clutches of the medical elite.
