Some years ago, a person whose name will never be known to me decided to give a gift to a medical student. The student would be me. The gift would be all of her bones. And now years later, these bones, including the skull, is sitting in my room. So I can study them. Anytime I want.

On Monday, I will be sitting next to the body of a person who once lived and breathed and led a life that I will never know about, and whose children and family may still be alive. I will make the first cut into that body. And then. Front to back. Top to bottom. Through it all.

What a priviledge. There really is nothing like the study of medicine, is there.