Elizabethtown College recently dedicated the new Anatomy and Physiology (A&P) Classroom and Laboratory with a ceremony on Nov. 7. The collaborative active-learning space, located in the Lyet Wing of the Masters Center for Science, Mathematics and Engineering, occupies the College’s in-demand, health-related programs that enroll more than 500 students each year. View photos from the dedication ceremony.

“This space will allow us to give more students the opportunity to learn anatomy at a depth and breadth unparalleled at most undergraduate institutions,” Elizabethtown College Associate Professor of Biology Anya Goldina said. “This enhanced experience provides students a robust preparation and a competitive edge as they move toward the next steps in their careers.”

Elizabethtown College President Betty Rider and alumnus Robert O. Kerr, M.D. ’64, H’23 at Nov. 7 dedication ceremony

The space was funded in part through a $1.375 million grant from Pennsylvania’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) for Health-Related Learning Spaces. The new space was also made possible thanks to 16 generous donors who raised more than $1.5 million.

The project converted 672 square feet of corridor and research offices for a total space renovation of 3,667 square feet. Featuring two classrooms specifically designed for teaching Anatomy and Physiology, the space is separated by a removable wall that also serves as a whiteboard. The wall allows for increased instructional flexibility and can be used for either two 24-student classes or one class for 48 students. The classrooms also feature advanced technology that includes multiple screens and cameras that can be interconnected to allow for enhanced viewing across a connected space. 

One of the laboratory rooms can accommodate two cadavers and the other can accommodate four. Each of the rooms is fitted with downdraft dissecting tables which allow a well-ventilated environment to conduct dissections. Each dissection station is equipped with overhead surgical lighting, high-definition cameras, and screens that can project dissected structures to the entire laboratory class.

The space also features a temperature-controlled cold storage room and a separate storage room for dry specimens. An adjoining scrub room is equipped with washing stations and lockers, similar to what would be found in a clinical laboratory setting. The entire laboratory is ADA-compliant, including touch-sensitive faucets and adjustable height tables and chairs.

“The new Anatomy and Physiology space has been designed to create an environment that is adaptable to our curricular needs and the changing needs of students,” Goldina said. “We are incredibly proud of this space and are excited about the impact it will have on our students. This classroom will continue to prepare our students to reach their professional goals for decades to come.”

This renovation project serves as a key initiative in supporting the increased number of students who will be taking courses in these labs through the College’s in-demand health profession programs, including the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program, which launched in 2022 to meet the needs of 21st-century learners in a rapidly growing field. The program offers two pathways – a B.S./M.S. program and a standalone master’s program which offers small class sizes that allow students to build strong mentoring relationships with faculty. Discover more about Etown’s PA program at etown.edu.