MSU-Meridian PA faculty bring anatomy to life for high schoolers

Published 2:56 pm Tuesday, March 10, 2026

By MSU-Meridian Report

Taylor Morris, left, works with Keirston Miller during a recent Southeast Lauderdale High School tour of MSU-Meridian's healthcare programs. The two students were among 50 area high schoolers who received a short course in Anatomage, an advanced, interactive 3D platform used to explore human anatomy in detail using digitized cadavers. Photo by Marianne Todd

MERIDIAN, Miss.—Mississippi State University-Meridian physician assistant faculty recently brought anatomy to life for Southeast Lauderdale High School students using life-sized high-resolution digital representations of real human bodies.

The tour was one of three scheduled for this spring that will introduce approximately 50 high schoolers to Anatomage, an interactive 3D platform used to explore human anatomy in detail using digitized cadavers, and inform them of the innovative healthcare programs offered at the university’s downtown Meridian campus.

“Part of the MSU-Meridian PA initiative is to engage our community and to educate future providers,” said Pamela Vayda, department head and program director. “We want to get them excited about what’s happening here.”

Students also took part in hands-on interactive activities with current PA students, explored other programs within the School of Health Professions and learned about MSU-Meridian’s Master of Science in Nursing program.

These lessons are crucial to high school students’ current curriculum. The recent event focused on the body’s lymphatic system, while an upcoming tour with Lamar High School students will explore the cardiovascular system and those at Enterprise High School will experience a comprehensive look at human anatomy.

“It is our hope that other high schools in our region will become excited about this,” Vayda said. “We’re looking to expand these tours and immerse these students so they can see the programs and technology we have available.”

Reagan Couch, a Southeast Lauderdale High School junior, said she found the Anatomage experience fascinating.

“It’s very detailed. I can tell they put a lot of effort into making this easily accessible, and I appreciate the people who gave their bodies to do this,” Couch said. “It’s very educational.”

Southeast Lauderdale High School Anatomy and Physiology teacher Dunnam Shirley said the experience makes abstract classroom concepts come alive.

“Students can see how the structures we talked about in class are connected and interrelated to the body,” he said. “Most of my students know they want to do something with nursing or health education, but they’re not sure what is out there. This helps them see opportunities that are beyond high school.”

For more information on MSU-Meridian’s Master of Physician Assistant Studies, visit www.meridian.msstatate.edu/pa.