As an associate professor at the Department of Biomedicine at Aarhus University, Helle Hasager Damkier is passionate about providing the next generation of doctors with a solid foundation in macroscopic anatomy - an essential part of their education and future careers.

"I love witnessing students' discovery of the subject - and seeing the light in their eyes when they finally crack the code to learning the difficult parts," says Helle Hasager Damkier about teaching macroscopic anatomy.

"I love witnessing students' discovery of the subject"

The subject focuses on the structure of the human body and is a core discipline for medical students. Preparing for it can be both demanding and time-consuming. That is why course leader Helle Hasager Damkier continuously strives to improve her teaching methods and explore new ways of instruction.

"Anatomy is indispensable for all doctors. Patients and society expect doctors to know how the body is structured, whether they work in an emergency room or in specialized fields," she emphasizes.

As an educator, Helle Hasager Damkier continuously adapts to students' needs by incorporating feedback and addressing questions that arise during the course.

"If something isn’t working, I learn from it and adjust. It’s an ongoing process that never stops."

Our subject can quickly become overwhelming and difficult, but I strive to highlight the most essential aspects and create a safe and empathetic learning environment - where it is completely legitimate to ask questions about things that are hard to understand."

Helle Hasager Damkier’s greatest motivation is the sense of contributing to society by educating future generations of doctors and guiding them through the subject.

"Teaching makes sense to me because I help ensure that newly trained doctors are well-equipped to care for patients"

"I am a trained doctor, and sometimes I feel like I should be on the front lines of the healthcare system. But teaching makes sense to me because I help ensure that newly trained doctors are well-equipped to care for patients," she says.

Having faced challenges with macroscopic anatomy herself as a student, she understands and supports students who find the subject difficult.

"I didn’t pass my anatomy exam on the first attempt, but that became a turning point in my life. Today, I use that experience to help students get through the subject," she explains.