Bartley named Outstanding Student in Gross Anatomy
The Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy has named Brooke Bartley, MD, ’24, as the winner of the Outstanding Student in Gross Anatomy 2024 Award.
The award honors Bartley for her excellent performance in the Gross Anatomy course during her first year, as well as her generous effort in supporting her fellow students as a Gross Anatomy pedagogue during her second year of training at McGovern Medical School.
Bartley said she was initially drawn to the intricacies of anatomy because she recognized its fundamental role in shaping her understanding of medicine. She was inspired by her anatomy professor, Han Zhang, MD, professor in the Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, and how he was able to pick up any structure and tell the students not only what it was but how it worked and what could go wrong if it didn’t.
“His passion for the subject was palpable and contagious,” Bartley said
Bartley’s first impression of the anatomy lab was the smell, which she said sometimes still haunts her to this day. Despite her initial apprehension about wielding a scalpel, she was driven to study the body parts as well as the dissecting techniques to ensure she was showing the utmost respect for the donors and their bodies.
She recalled her first day dissecting the chest when Zhang came to her and told her, “You know, you should consider being a surgeon.” Bartley said she was hooked after that moment.
As she delved deeper into anatomy, Bartley marveled at how, for the first time in medical school, the theoretical knowledge from textbooks seamlessly intertwined with the practical application in the lab. Memorizing and understanding the intricacies of the human body structures was not easy, but Bartley made it through by reading the textbooks to understand how the structures connected and then drilling Anki cards, even when the pictures were not always ‘kosher’ for public viewing.
Since the beginning days in anatomy, Bartley said she knew she wanted to be a pedagogue. She explained that she always had a passion for teaching and trying to make difficult things easier for the next group, and she knew that if she had a chance, whoever she was able to teach would succeed in anatomy.
“My favorite memories are of the first years and watching them go through the same experiences I did the year before,” Bartley said. “I taught them the wildest mnemonics to help them memorize the muscles of the arm, and although I cannot remember them all now, I hope they were helpful. They were not the only ones that benefited from the experiences. I was learning and growing also.”
Bartley said that she was inspired by the dedication of the first-year students, and whenever she ran a review session, not only did her team show up, but nearly 50 other students came as well to ensure they succeeded on their first anatomy exam.
Although she did not end up choosing to become a surgeon like Zhang had suggested, her time as an anatomy student and later as a mentor profoundly influenced her perspective on medicine. Bartley said that understanding the interconnection of anatomical structures instilled a deeper appreciation for the complexity of medical practice and the ramifications of interventions.
“I am immensely grateful for the guidance and mentorship I received from the exceptional faculty during my time as an anatomy student,” Bartley said. “Moreover, the opportunity to pay it forward by mentoring other future doctors has been a privilege that I will hold dear as I watch them continue to progress through medical school.”
Bartley will be completing her preliminary internal medicine year at Texas Health Presbyterian in Dallas, and she plans to further pursue her passion for dermatology following that.