How the silent mentor program improves our surgical level and safety and nourishes our spiritual life

Abstract

We briefly share our experience of using the silent mentor program in the Medical Simulation Center (MSC) of Tzu Chi University (TCU), Hualien, Taiwan, to improve our minimally invasive surgical level and patient’s safety. The silent mentor program, established in 2000 by the Department of Anatomy of TCU, is a pioneering clinical skill training program based on unembalmed bodies. This program provides three valuable advantages for surgery. The first is the comprehensive understanding of the deep or rarely observed but crucial structures of the human body, which is normally difficult to achieve in living humans. The second is gaining the first experience of a novel procedure or surgery on silent mentors rather than on living humans, which is essential for young surgeons to begin their careers. The third is evaluating the safety and feasibility of a novel surgical method. In addition to surgical techniques, the most valuable point of the program is the humane ceremonies conducted for silent mentors to nourish our soul. After the workshop, all the incision wounds on every silent mentor were carefully checked and sutured in the same manner as in closing surgical wounds in a patient. Subsequently, encoffining, cremation, and thanksgiving ceremonies were solemnly held, in the hope that the medical students or trainees would imperceptibly understand their responsibility to society and the silent mentor’s expectations. The Asia-Pacific Association for Gynecologic Endoscopy and Minimally Invasive Therapy, or the Taiwan Association for Minimally Gynecology Therapy, or both can consider initiating a regular silent mentor program in the MSC of TCU. It is not only intended to improve the skills of surgeons but also to allow them to participate in the interactive ceremony and thus refresh their humanitarian knowledge.

The Impact of a Gross Anatomy Curriculum With Donor Family Interaction: Thematic Analysis of Student Letters to Silent Mentors

“…Despite the popularity of the SMP, there have been limited and/or partial reports on it. 15,[18][19][20][21] Here we studied the student letters to silent mentors and analyzed the influence of the SMP on medical students' humanistic literacy.…”

Cultivation of humanistic values in medical education through anatomy pedagogy and gratitude ceremony for body donors

“…As a forerunner to the ongoing humanistic approach to teaching, Tzu Chi University’s curriculum emphasizes empathy and respect for the body donors. Tzu Chi University students honor donors as “Silent mentors” [ 28 , 36 ]. These “silent mentors” act as special teachers that help guide the students as they explore the human body.…”

Donation of body for anatomical dissection in Sri Lanka: a review

“…Cadavers are regarded as "great teachers" (2) and / or "first patients" (3) on different perspectives, and dissection of which enable students to comprehend the complex, threedimensional human anatomy which is mandatory for their future role as a medical practitioner. In addition, cadavers also contribute to clinical training, for example in surgical simulation training (4).…”

“…personal, medical, social history, etc.) prior to the official commencement of the course (4,23,26,27). Occasionally, the students may even have the opportunity to meet living donors who are at a terminally ill stage (26).…”