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Exploring the Impact of High School Anatomy Education on Students' Healthcare Career Interests

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Title: Exploring the Impact of High School Anatomy Education on Students' Healthcare Career Interests
Language: English
Authors: Jessica Scheer, Bailey Smith (ORCID 0009-0005-0291-5524), Abbey Rieber, Lucas Goetz (ORCID 0009-0005-3896-8978), Brynn Palmer, Tanner Smith (ORCID 0009-0004-8710-5637), Maddie Melanson (ORCID 0009-0002-6821-9976), Molly Lien (ORCID 0009-0002-9909-4256), Jason Kemnitz
Source: Anatomical Sciences Education. 2026 19(4):543-550.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
High Schools
Descriptors: Secondary School Science, Science Education, Anatomy, High School Students, Student Interests, Vocational Interests, Allied Health Occupations, Career Choice, Rural Areas, Pathology
Geographic Terms: South Dakota
DOI: 10.1002/ase.70181
ISSN: 1935-9772
1935-9780
Abstract: Rural regions face disproportionately high healthcare workforce shortages, driven in part by limited exposure to health sciences and minimal awareness of healthcare career pathways. This study evaluated whether introduction to anatomy and pathology content, delivered by medical students, could increase rural high school students' interest in these subjects and in pursuing healthcare careers. A one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental study was conducted with rural South Dakota high school students enrolled in mandatory biology courses. Weekly lessons covering anatomy, pathology, and related physician specialties were delivered live by medical students in-person, hybrid, or online. Students could request topics of personal interest. Unpaired pre- and postsurveys measured changes in anatomy and pathology interest, healthcare career interest, and postgraduation plans. Of 168 presurvey respondents, 155 completed the postsurvey. Reported prior anatomy exposure significantly increased from 33% to 50% (χ[superscript 2] = 8.84, p = 0.0029). Average anatomy and pathology interest increased slightly (6.43 to 6.52, p = 0.74), while healthcare career interest rose minimally from 44% to 46% (p = 0.84). Postgraduation plans showed no significant change (χ[superscript 2] = 0.339, p = 0.844). Qualitative feedback reflected strong engagement, enthusiasm for hands-on activities, and perceived personal relevance. Although the program significantly increased reported anatomy exposure and generated strong engagement, measurable changes in subject-specific or career interest were minimal. An anatomy and pathology-focused intervention is unlikely to influence workforce trends on its own but may serve as a feasible, well-received foundation for more sustained or broadened rural healthcare pipeline initiatives.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1502849
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: Exploring the Impact of High School Anatomy Education on Students' Healthcare Career Interests
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  Data: English
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Scheer%22">Jessica Scheer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Bailey+Smith%22">Bailey Smith</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0291-5524">0009-0005-0291-5524</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abbey+Rieber%22">Abbey Rieber</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Lucas+Goetz%22">Lucas Goetz</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3896-8978">0009-0005-3896-8978</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Brynn+Palmer%22">Brynn Palmer</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tanner+Smith%22">Tanner Smith</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8710-5637">0009-0004-8710-5637</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Maddie+Melanson%22">Maddie Melanson</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6821-9976">0009-0002-6821-9976</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Molly+Lien%22">Molly Lien</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0002-9909-4256">0009-0002-9909-4256</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jason+Kemnitz%22">Jason Kemnitz</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Anatomical+Sciences+Education%22"><i>Anatomical Sciences Education</i></searchLink>. 2026 19(4):543-550.
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  Data: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 8
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Science%22">Secondary School Science</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Education%22">Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Anatomy%22">Anatomy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22High+School+Students%22">High School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Interests%22">Student Interests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Vocational+Interests%22">Vocational Interests</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Allied+Health+Occupations%22">Allied Health Occupations</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Career+Choice%22">Career Choice</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Pathology%22">Pathology</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Dakota%22">South Dakota</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1002/ase.70181
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  Data: 1935-9772<br />1935-9780
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Rural regions face disproportionately high healthcare workforce shortages, driven in part by limited exposure to health sciences and minimal awareness of healthcare career pathways. This study evaluated whether introduction to anatomy and pathology content, delivered by medical students, could increase rural high school students' interest in these subjects and in pursuing healthcare careers. A one-group pretest-posttest pre-experimental study was conducted with rural South Dakota high school students enrolled in mandatory biology courses. Weekly lessons covering anatomy, pathology, and related physician specialties were delivered live by medical students in-person, hybrid, or online. Students could request topics of personal interest. Unpaired pre- and postsurveys measured changes in anatomy and pathology interest, healthcare career interest, and postgraduation plans. Of 168 presurvey respondents, 155 completed the postsurvey. Reported prior anatomy exposure significantly increased from 33% to 50% (χ[superscript 2] = 8.84, p = 0.0029). Average anatomy and pathology interest increased slightly (6.43 to 6.52, p = 0.74), while healthcare career interest rose minimally from 44% to 46% (p = 0.84). Postgraduation plans showed no significant change (χ[superscript 2] = 0.339, p = 0.844). Qualitative feedback reflected strong engagement, enthusiasm for hands-on activities, and perceived personal relevance. Although the program significantly increased reported anatomy exposure and generated strong engagement, measurable changes in subject-specific or career interest were minimal. An anatomy and pathology-focused intervention is unlikely to influence workforce trends on its own but may serve as a feasible, well-received foundation for more sustained or broadened rural healthcare pipeline initiatives.
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  Data: EJ1502849
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        Value: 10.1002/ase.70181
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      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 8
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    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Science
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Science Education
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      – SubjectFull: Anatomy
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      – SubjectFull: High School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Student Interests
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      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Occupations
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      – SubjectFull: Career Choice
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      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
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      – SubjectFull: Pathology
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: South Dakota
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