Welcome back to Body Banter after summer break! This month, Dr. Christine Palmay shares her perspective as a family physician passionate about preventative care, particularly immunizations. She explains how RSV, a highly contagious respiratory virus, impacts both infants and older adults, and discusses the recent advances in protection, including monoclonal antibodies for children and vaccines for older populations. Dr. Palmay emphasizes that good medicine is about prevention, urging patients to view vaccines as part of a broader investment in health, vitality, and time with loved ones. She also shares her holistic approach to healthcare, reminding listeners that staying well depends not only on science and vaccines but also on everyday basics like movement, connection, and self-care.

This time on Body Banter, Sarina M shares her powerful and personal experience living with long COVID following two severe infections. She describes the wide-ranging impacts on her body—from respiratory struggles and chronic fatigue to muscle pain and visual disturbances—as well as the emotional toll of navigating an invisible illness. Sarina emphasizes the importance of being believed and supported by healthcare professionals, highlighting the need for empathy and patient-centered care. Despite the challenges, she speaks with resilience about recovery, self-compassion, and rebuilding her relationship with her body.

In this episode, Martine Dunnwald shares her journey from studying pharmacy and cell biology in France to becoming a skin biologist and educator in the US. She describes how a chance research collaboration sparked her interest in craniofacial biology and how her resilience during funding challenges led her to discover a passion for teaching anatomy. Martine emphasizes the value of foundational anatomical sciences and interdisciplinary collaboration in both research and education. Her approach blends science, art, and music, reflecting a deep appreciation for the human body—especially the often-overlooked skin.

This week on Body Banter, Janet Philp shares her unconventional path into the field of anatomy, driven by a passion for accurate anatomical education. She discusses her research on the history of body donation, including the notorious Burke and Hare case, and examines how access to dissection is regulated. Janet also explores her innovative use of felted anatomical models, which make learning more interactive and accessible for both students and the public. Her work highlights the importance of rethinking how anatomy is taught, who has access to it, and how creative approaches can enhance understanding.

Welcome to the fifth season of Body Banter! In our opening episode, Professor Claire Smith shares her journey into anatomy, driven by personal health experiences and a fascination with body donation. She explores the complex motivations behind donation, including altruism and a desire to contribute to medical education. A key discussion revolves around "My Dead Body," a documentary featuring the dissection of Toni, a body donor who wished to educate the public about cancer, sparking both praise and controversy. Claire also reflects on ethical questions surrounding donor consent, anonymity, and how anatomical education is evolving to be more transparent and inclusive.

In our final episode of 2024, Dr. Christopher Smith takes us through his unique path from exercise science and fine arts to his role as a postdoctoral fellow at the American Museum of Natural History. Combining his artistic training with scientific research, Chris explores the evolution of the inner ear and its role in balance and spatial awareness. He shares how his interdisciplinary approach, blending creativity with analytical precision, opens new doors for understanding anatomy and its functions. Chris’s journey underscores the transformative power of merging art and science to uncover insights into human evolution.

In this episode Dr. Valerie O'Loughlin shares her unconventional journey into the fields of anatomy and embryology, from studying biological anthropology to becoming a tenured professor of anatomy. She reflects on how early challenges with understanding embryology sparked her passion for creating accessible and innovative learning tools to help students grasp complex concepts. Valerie highlights the importance of inclusivity in teaching, emphasizing the use of non-gendered language and communicating science in ways that everyone can understand. Her commitment to mentorship and advancing educational research in anatomy has made a lasting impact on both her students and the field.

Join us this episode as Dr. Jon Cornwall shares his journey from physiotherapy to academia, where he developed a strong focus on anatomy and ethics. His interest in the ethical implications of dissection grew while conducting research on back muscles, leading him to question the use and treatment of body donors. Jon emphasizes the importance of cultural sensitivity and ethical considerations in anatomical education, particularly regarding diverse practices around death and the treatment of human remains. He advocates for expanding global networks and improving ethical standards in anatomy education worldwide.

Welcome back from summer break! This week on Body Banter, Dr. Theo Smith shares insights on integrating diversity, equity, and inclusion into anatomy education. As Director of DEI at Touro University, Theo discusses the importance of representing LGBTQIA+ identities in medical curricula, particularly in topics like pelvic anatomy and queer health. His personal journey of coming out and advocating for queer medical students influenced his research and teaching, emphasizing the need for inclusive and respectful patient care. Theo's work challenges traditional anatomical education to better reflect the diverse experiences of all patients.

In this episode of Body Banter, Dr. Adam Taylor joins us to talk about his research on science communication and the general population's understanding of basic anatomy knowledge—or lack thereof. Adam shares how he collaborated with a citizen science group to collect survey data from over 80,000 participants worldwide, and how his research became "Buzzfeed famous". We talk about the importance of health literacy for understanding the "scientific kit" that is our own body, how this has implications for being able to communicate with healthcare professionals and advocate for our own health, and what the next steps are to improve global health literacy as educators and communicators.