The Department of Nursing at St. Joseph’s University, New York just received an upgrade. Touted for its expert faculty, well-rounded curriculum and practical, hands-on learning format, the University’s nursing program this past summer secured a $250,000 grant from the George I. Alden Trust to purchase state-of-the-art Anatomage tables for the Brooklyn and Long Island campuses.
An Anatomage table utilizes the latest in immersive 3-D technology to simulate the entire human body and all its functions, with the ability to simulate heart attacks and aneurysms, among other medical emergencies. The table can also perform CT scans and real-time ECG tracing and provide analysis of muscle contractions during movement and vascular blood flow.
Various 3-D cadavers are available for display and analysis, including male, female, geriatric and pregnant models. All models are rendered from real bodies donated for research, and as such are 100 percent accurate in terms of anatomy and physiology.
In addition to eliminating the need for physical cadavers and their associated costs, an Anatomage table on campus helps usher students into a new digital age of interactive learning at SJNY. According to Athanasia Giannakas-Lafaro, DNP, AGNP-C, RN, OCN, executive director of nursing at the University, the Anatomage table will change the way professors connect their curriculum to clinical practice.
“This innovative technology allows students to interact with three-dimensional anatomical models, visualize complex structures and processes, and explore the human body in an immersive and meaningful way,” she shared.
Dr. Giannakas-Lafaro also discussed the technology’s practical uses in the classroom, stating, “Faculty can use the technology to demonstrate clinical processes, reinforce concepts introduced in the classroom, and help students make connections between anatomy, physiology, disease processes, and patient care.”
The tables add to an already impressive list of strengths within the University’s nursing program, including its 87 percent NCLEX pass rate, 85 percent program completion rate and 95 percent employment rate. It also reinforces the Department of Nursing’s commitment to offering practical and effective educational experiences that prepare students for the careers that awaits them.
“The Anatomage Table represents more than a technological advancement; it is a bridge between the classroom and the bedside. By bringing anatomy and clinical concepts to life, we are helping students see the bigger picture, strengthen their knowledge and enter clinical practice with greater confidence,” Dr. Giannakas-Lafaro concluded.
