Elsevier Introduces First 3D Human Anatomy Model in Different Skin Tones
Complete Anatomy 2023 is officially available in The App Store from Apple, Windows, and Google Play.
Elsevier is rolling out the newest edition of its 3D anatomy teaching platform, Complete Anatomy 2023, which will feature the most expansive set of skin tone selections ever available in global health education.
The release of Complete Anatomy 2023 comes on the heels of the company’s release last year of the world’s most advanced 3D full female anatomy model, breaking a centuries-long pattern of male-dominated teaching models.
For hundreds of years, light-skinned bodies have dominated anatomy learning, underscoring the lack of racial representation in global teaching materials. A 2018 study in the Journal of Medical Education and Curricular Development found that less than 5% of images in general medical texts included dark skin tones. The team at 3D4Medical from Elsevier developed a broad spectrum of skin tones and facial features so students around the world can learn from a model that more closely represents them and the patient populations they will serve.
“As a world leader in health education, we are committed to advancing inclusion in healthcare and creating an inclusive learning experience for all students and clinicians. Complete Anatomy 2023 reflects years of work to ensure the highest standard for racial diversity in medical teaching and training materials,” says Jan Herzhoff, President of Elsevier Health, in a news release. "This is the latest milestone on Elsevier’s journey to making sure everyone feels represented in medical education resources and providing more racially equitable learning opportunities to help improve patient outcomes.”
Irene Walsh, Director of Product, Content and Design at 3D4Medical from Elsevier adds, “The urgent need to actively introduce broader representation into learning resources for future healthcare professionals is well-documented. As a global product, Complete Anatomy is invested in leading the way to offer diverse materials for students, educators, and clinicians to help create an inclusive approach to their learning and teaching. We want to be part of the solution and aim to deliver world-class anatomical accuracy and virtual dissection capabilities with inclusivity at the heart of everything we do.”
Dr. Fatimah Jackson is a professor of Biological Anatomy at Howard University in Washington, DC. “The striking absence of different skin tones and different physical traits in the medical field is something universities and health educators of all kinds are finally taking notice of,” Jackson says. “For so long, students and faculty of color have had to learn and teach in what has, in ways, been an unfamiliar setting. This is a pivotal step taken by 3D4Medical from Elsevier to address a prevalent bias in the healthcare field. It’s a move that will hopefully put us on course to creating a more representative and inclusive environment for all those that dedicate themselves to the health and service of others.”