Outsourcing Anatomists: A Model for Expanding Educational Outreach and Providing Supplemental Revenue to Anatomy Departments

Abstract

The need for qualified anatomy instructors is rapidly expanding across the educational spectrum, from high school anatomy and physiology classes, to college preprofessional programs, to newly established health professional schools. In response to this growing demand for anatomical expertise, the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology of Indiana University (IU) School of Medicine established the IU Center for Anatomical Sciences Education (IU-CASE) to leverage its ample faculty resources in the pursuit of additional teaching opportunities outside the MD curriculum, thereby expanding the scope of the department’s teaching mission to include students who may not otherwise have the chance to learn anatomy. Utilizing anatomy faculty from across the medical school’s nine-campus system, IU-CASE provides fee-based educational services to other schools and programs in Indiana. Current clients include Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, IU School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, IU School of Medicine at Muncie, Purdue University Department of Biology, and Indianapolis-area high schools. Now in its first year of operation, IU-CASE promises to earn significant supplemental revenue for the department, which can be used to offset salary inequities, provide bonus pay for teaching-intensive faculty, and support departmental programs.