HONOLULU — Over 160 high school students interested in health care from 40 Hawai‘i public schools tested their knowledge in human anatomy and physiology using interactive smart tables in the first-ever Hawai‘i Anatomage Tournament held Tuesday at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine.
The tournament is a team-based competition that focuses on knowledge of anatomical structures using Anatomage Tables. The technology is a touch-sensitive, life-sized 3D anatomy visualization system used in medical education, research and virtual dissection that allows users to explore real human cadavers digitally, providing an interactive and detailed understanding of the human body.
Student teams competed in a series of rounds where groups with the highest scores advanced from the preliminary rounds to the Top 16, Top 8, Top 4 and finals.
In addition to the main competition, the medical school hosted a “Medical Escape Room” workshop for students, including an opportunity for students 16 years and older to visit a cadaver lab.
“The commitment to the field of anatomy and health services from our students today is impressive,” Superintendent Keith Hayashi said. “What’s also impressive is the collaboration between the public sector, the private sector and secondary and post-secondary education to design, organize and execute today’s event for the benefit of our students — a true ne‘epapa (working together in unison) effort.”
Teams from Kalāheo High School and Pearl City High School earned top honors by placing first and second, respectively, and advancing to the Anatomage National Tournament. Both teams will travel to Santa Clara this May to compete at the national level, representing Hawaiʻi after their standout performances.
“It just means so much to me. I have put so many hours into studying for this competition and coming in early before school and staying after school,” Kalāheo senior Darwynn Ayling said. “To be able to prove that my hard work went into something is really important to me.”
“I’m proud to be able to represent Hawai‘i, especially because we’re such a small state, on such a big stage. It’s a little nerve wracking but other than that, I’m pretty excited for it,” Pearl City High School freshman Emily Cunningham said.
The event was organized in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education, Anatomage, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s John A. Burns School of Medicine, with generous support from The Queen’s Medical Center, Hawai‘i Medical Service Association, Diagnostic Laboratory Services, Kaiser Permanente, Hawai‘i Pacific Health, and the City & County of Honolulu Emergency Services Department.
