Amanda Hunter

With a passion for anatomy, Amanda has spent her career investigating embalming and long term preservation techniques applied to human cadavers for the use of teaching Gross Anatomy to clinicians and aspiring anatomists.

Background

Amanda studied BSc (Hons) Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee, sparking her interest in the anatomical sciences. After graduating, she was appointed as an Anatomy Technician and Prosector at the University of Dundee. It was here that Amanda’s interest in the preservation of human cadavers was ignited.

As a technician, Amanda spent her time making prosections for the purpose of teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students undertaking Gross Anatomy modules. As well as prosecting, she was involved in the daily running of the mortuary and dissection room, including the enforcement of health and safety procedures, Thiel embalming and cadaver maintenance.  
Following her role as a technician, Amanda was awarded a Greenhouse PhD scholarship to undertake her research entitled Thiel Plastination: Improving the aesthetics and flexibility of traditional plastinated specimens, which she submitted in 2018. During this time Amanda was also an Anatomy Demonstrator and spent a short time lecturing undergraduate medical and dental students.

Research interests

• Cadaveric Preservation 
• Thiel Embalming
• Medical Education
• Plastination
• Clinical Anatomy
• Teaching of Gross Anatomy
• Medical Devices
• Surgical Training Utilising Thiel Cadavers

Amanda's research interests are focused around the use of human cadavers in the teaching of Gross and Clinical Anatomy.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons) Forensic Anthropology, 2012,  University of Dundee
• PhD in Anatomy, 2018, University of Dundee (Ongoing)

Memberships, editorial boards

• Anatomical Society, Member since 2013

Selected recent publications

• Hunter, A., Eisma, R. and Lamb, C. (2014). Thiel Embalming Fluid—A New Way to Revive Formalin- Fixed Cadaveric Specimens. Clinical Anatomy. 27 (853-855)

Recent presentations and conferences

• Annual RPG Student Symposium, University of Dundee, 2017.  Presentation title: “Surface Plastination: The development of a method to improve the aesthetics and flexibility of traditional plastinated specimens”.  Awarded Best Oral Presentation.
• Anatomical Society Winter Conference, University of Dundee, 2017. Presentation title: "Plastinating Thiel Embalmed Human Cadaveric Specimens – Using Alternative Dehydration Solvents to Aid in the Preservation of Colour and Flexibility"