Before starting her first dissection, Katie Hopkins took the time to observe every feature of the hand she was about to work on.

Realizing that she would be the last person to see the donor’s fingerprints, the somatic bodywork and movement specialist with Align and Spiral in Charlotte was overcome with melancholy.

She soon understood, though, that cremation would eventually change everything. She made her first incision, carefully keeping that in mind while balancing her nerves.

“As I stepped outdoors when it was time for my break, enjoying a welcome change of pace from the formaldehyde-scented lab, I was thankful to the donor for teaching me the beauty of letting go,” Hopkins said.

Experience Anatomy is bringing the study of the human body to Charlotte through cadaver dissection workshops. The bioskills lab serves as a venue for surgical training, medical education and research. It also aims to enhance understanding of the human body in ways that textbooks alone cannot achieve for all levels of learners…

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