The lights have been turned off, the hallways are empty, the chants of coffee conversations have gone silent, and the button machine has been packed until next year.
As I sit quietly on a bench at the University of Toronto, still in awe from my visit to the Grant’s Museum, I reflect on the past five days and smile.
I smile at all the wonderful memories generated during Anatomy Connected 2024. I smile because over 1,100 happy researchers, educators, trainees, faculty, vendors, and exhibitors came together, shared their work, and all belonged to the same community. I smile, inspired by the stories, the new scientific discoveries, the creativity to teach the human body, and the investigations of our past to build a better future.
I smile as I think of the beautiful artwork showcased by outstanding members who decided to reveal their artistic talents. I smile as I think of our colleagues from the Association of Medical Illustrators who have so much in common with us, with whom we are destined to collaborate again and are kins in spirit.
I smile at the idea that 25 high schoolers had a chance to experience science in a way they will always remember, appreciating it is possible for them to belong and one day become one of these 1,000 attendees.
I smile as I cherish the diversity of those 1,100 attendees who demonstrated a strong sense of belonging and came together as one large community of Anatomical Sciences.
I am proud and honored to lead an association that organized such a stimulating and inclusive conference. I am filled with inspiration and conviction that we are all fueled by scientific curiosity and discoveries.
I also think about all of you who could not join us in Toronto. We missed you, and we know you belong to the family. The abstracts of the meeting will be published in The Anatomical Record and Anatomical Sciences Education in the upcoming months. Mark your calendar for March 28, 2025, as we will gather in Portland, Oregon, for another great meeting—until then, I’ll keep smiling!
Best,
Martine Dunnwald, PharmD, Ph.D., FAAA
AAA President
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA