Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Students pumped up to dissect pig hearts
School program gives 30 a hands-on lesson
FORT LAUDERDALE — They thought they were visiting Florida Medical Center to hear another boring lecture. So when 30 high school students entered the hospital auditorium and eyed a collection of thick, slimy pig hearts, ready for them to touch, probe and cut up, their own hearts began to flutter.
The students, from Boyd Anderson High School’s health and wellness program, were about to learn the anatomy of the heart from some experts, including Dr. Neil Galindez, a cardiothoracic surgeon at the hospital, as well as operating room nurses, a medical sales representative and their teacher, Justin Crespo, an emergency medical technician.
Each hosted a table of six students for an in-depth look at the arteries, veins, valves and muscles of the pig heart, which is more than twice the size of a human heart.
“This was one of the most profound days in the entire school year,” Crespo said after the dissection. “It puts all their lessons together into something tangible. They can’t stop looking at these hearts.”
Stephanie Redman, magnet coordinator for the health and wellness program, said she called the hospital to see if the staff had any programs that could offer students hands-on experiences. Hospital staffers said they occasionally have access to the hearts through Medtronic, which sells medical devices.
Medtronic field representative Mikel Mancini ordered the hearts, from which Medtronic makes replacement valves for human beings. He said pig heart valves have been transplanted to humans for at least 30 years. He said the organs come from specialized slaughterhouses that save the hearts but use the rest of the animal for foods, such as bacon, sausage and pork chops.
Galindez questioned the students, suited up in yellow surgeon’s garb and gloves, about the parts of the heart as if they were medical residents on rotation. He pointed to Rogina Johnson, a senior from Oak-
land Park, and asked her to identify the heart’s chambers.
“I didn’t know what to say,” said Johnson, 17, after the questioning. “This is something I need to get used to, because I want to be a nurse.”
Student Kenecia Matthews said the health program, which offers classes in sports medicine, nutrition, mental health and health administration, had promised to let them dissect frogs a few years ago, but the croakers never materialized.
“I wasn’t afraid of it,” said Suan Suban, 17, a senior from Lauderdale Lakes. “I liked the feeling of cutting it open. It makes me want to work in an emergency room.”
Galindez said he was impressed by the students’ seriousness and remarkable anatomical insight.
“Hopefully they will pursue careers in science or health,” he said.