ATSU Ignites Student Excitement with HoloAnatomy

A.T. Still University - School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona

Founded in 1892 as the world's first osteopathic medical school, A.T. Still University (ATSU) has consistently prioritized innovative learning to cultivate highly skilled professionals. The School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA) exemplifies this commitment, embracing revolutionary teaching techniques to prepare the next generation of osteopathic physicians.

Quest for Interactive Anatomy

While numerous technologies offer anatomical visualizations, a key gap was identified by Anna Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Anatomy, and John Olson, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy: Students need the freedom to directly engage with accurate, detailed anatomical structures, navigating around them rather than being passive observers. For SOMA, empowering students to interact with anatomy in three dimensions was imperative.

HoloAnatomy Immersive Learning

The search for immersive, interactive anatomy instruction led SOMA to the HoloAnatomy learning platform. In addition to core software capabilities, the team sought a solution with robust support to ensure the new technology could be seamlessly incorporated into curricula. SOMA collaborated closely with Ilumis to deploy HoloAnatomy, training faculty and gearing up for student instruction. Direct feedback channels and continual guidance—both for technical deployment and classroom application—were pivotal to successful implementation.

”When students first experience HoloAnatomy, you can feel the electricity in the room.”

—Anna Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Anatomy, SOMA

Higher Student Engagement

One of the most exciting outcomes of deploying HoloAnatomy for SOMA was the sudden increase in student excitement, which led to deeper classroom collaboration. Research has established a direct link between heightened engagement and enhanced learning; as students dive into the collective exploration of 3D anatomy, they share discoveries and insights, seamlessly connecting foundational knowledge to clinical scenarios.

Beyond the Cadaver

While cadavers serve an essential role in anatomy education, they come with inherent limitations, including prohibitive costs and environmental concerns. When dissecting a heavy human body, students must peel back layers of muscle to explore deeper; every cut is irreversible. HoloAnatomy has provided an alternative at SOMA, allowing students to shift to immersive, collaborative experiences using interactive holograms. The environment is energetic and celebratory as students delve into anatomical details surpassing what cadavers, plastic models, and textbooks offer.

“HoloAnatomy is like the Google Maps of the human body.”

—Anna Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Anatomy, SOMA

Deeper Anatomical Understanding

Integrating HoloAnatomy into their hybrid lab curriculum allows students to experience a three-dimensional, “Google Maps”–like human body exploration that complements traditional learning methods. This immersive visualization aids students in grasping complex structures—like the branching of arteries and nerves—even before encountering a cadaver. Following conventional textbook studies, students often have a “eureka moment” when they engage with the holographic body. After hands-on sessions in the wet lab, many students revisit HoloAnatomy content to reinforce their understanding further.

Inspired Faculty

Faculty members are equally invigorated by the HoloAnatomy platform’s depth and adaptability. Instructors can easily modify models’ positions, scales, labels, and highlighted structures to align with their curriculum. They can even design exercises that allow students to test and reinforce their burgeoning understanding of the human body.

“We have many competitors that don't offer this, and we are interested in things that make us distinct—especially implementing innovative technologies to enhance the learning experience.”

—Anna Campbell, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Chair of Anatomy, SOMA

Enhancing Interaction with Mobile Integration

Dr. Olson has elevated the HoloAnatomy experience by introducing an interactive mobile companion app developed through Microsoft PowerApps. As students explore HoloAnatomy, they can simultaneously consume app content and respond to questions directly from their phones. This real-time interaction allows for a seamless blend of the digital and physical worlds, with collected data being invaluable for subsequent analysis and follow-up.

Positive Energy

Dr. Campbell reflected on the introduction of HoloAnatomy and the wave of enthusiasm it generated among both faculty and students. As students embarked on their journey to become osteopathic physicians, encountering HoloAnatomy for the first time gave them a “butterfly feeling.” They recognized they were working with cutting-edge technology, leading many to share their excitement on social media. Capitalizing on this energy, instructors have effectively used it to help students better grasp the interconnected complexity inherent in human anatomy.

“It gets better with time, and there are few things that get better with time—besides wine.”

– John Olson, Ph.D., Professor of Anatomy, SOMA

Read the interview with Dr. Campbell & Dr. Olsen