Who Are Anatomists?
An anatomist broadly describes someone who studies, researches, or teaches in the anatomical sciences, including the study of extinct species, such as dinosaurs and Neanderthals. They help us understand how things are formed and constructed, which has enormous impact. However, not everyone who studies, applies, or researches anatomy calls themselves ‘anatomists.’
What Anatomists Do
Anatomists work with students and researchers to better understand humans and animals, in order to teach the next generation of doctors, nurses, physical therapists, dentists, and veterinarians. Their research into cell and molecular anatomy means that conditions such as cleft palate, congenital heart defects, neurological disorders, and cancer biology are better understood – and can be treated.
Where Anatomists Work
Anatomists work in universities, research institutions, and private industry. They teach anatomy in medical, dental, and veterinary schools, as well as at large undergraduate universities. They run their own research labs at organizations and universities, and they work together in teams of scientists, postdoctoral researchers, and students to uncover discoveries that lead to better understanding of our biology.