The heart is one of the hardest working muscles in the human body. Have you ever seen one up close or held one in your hand? Well, now you can.

Memorial University is hosting a public exhibition, titled Body Works, using some of the magnificent collection of anatomical specimens prepared by Dr. Shakti Chandra, a professor of anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine. She created the specimens for teaching during a sabbatical year in 2010-11 in Germany with Dr. Gunther von Hagens Dr. Hagens is the inventor of the unique plastination technique and creator of the Body Worlds exhibition that travels internationally. 

This exhibition is taking place on Saturday, May 2, from 1-5 p.m. in the atrium of the Faculty of Medicine’s new building that is adjacent to the Health Sciences Centre and located on the east side of Clinch Crescent.

Dr. Chandra became a physician after studying at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi and has been teaching anatomy at Memorial University for more than 40 years. She is excited to provide another teaching opportunity helping others learn about some of the mysteries of the body.

“Teaching, researching, dissecting and making videos gives me great satisfaction because I feel that my teaching contributes to the making of future physicians,” she said. “I strive to go a step ahead and make a difference in their lives.”

Dr. Chandra has been recognized for outstanding teaching. She received the Excellence in Teaching medal from Memorial’s student union and has twice been named Teacher of the Year, an honour chosen by first-year medical students.

“Students are inspired by Dr. Shakti Chandra’s teaching and her passion for teaching about the fascinating complexities of the human body,” said Dr. James Rourke, dean, Faculty of Medicine. “Before a student can become a physician, they need to understand the human body so that they can build a strong foundation of knowledge.”

The May 2 exhibition is an opportunity to view real bones and organs that have been plastinated and appreciate the connectedness of the human body. It will also be possible to see an artificial joint, lungs that are healthy and a smoker’s lungs, a heart with a coronary bypass, a liver that is cirrhotic and a normal liver. Whole bodies will also be displayed.

The event is free and open to the public. Admission is complimentary; however, contributions to support the anatomy public programming through a charitable gift are welcome.

Come meet Dr. Shakti Chandra, discover the world of plastination and learn about your own body, inside and out.

For more information about Dr. Chandra's work, please visit here.