PLTW Class visits SLU and St Louis City Medical Examiner
CHS Biomedical Students Explore Medicine and Forensic Science
Clearwater High School students in the Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Principles of Biomedical Science course recently connected classroom learning to real-world experiences during a field trip to Saint Louis University (SLU) and the St. Louis City Medical Examiner’s Office.
At SLU, students attended a medical autopsy presentation by Dr. Tatiana Bihun, participated in a forensic blood spatter lab, and explored human anatomy in a cadaver lab. These experiences gave students opportunities to ask questions, examine anatomical structures firsthand, and explore connections among biomedical science, medicine, and forensic investigation.
For many students, the cadaver lab was a highlight of the day.
“My favorite part of the trip was the cadaver lab,” Adrian shared. “I enjoyed being able to look inside a real human body and see and touch the structures that are also inside my own body. I feel like I learned better because it was very hands-on, and I could see for myself what everything looks like.”
Jenna also valued the opportunity to learn directly from a medical student. “My favorite part was the cadaver lab. I liked the hands-on experience and being able to touch the anatomical structures,” she said. “Having an actual medical student there to explain things and answer questions about their own experiences made it stand out. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many people and was very eye-opening.”
Alaina highlighted the forensic investigation activity, sharing, “My favorite experience from the day was the blood spatter lab.” She reflected on learning how bloodstain patterns—including patterns altered by wiping—can provide clues that help investigators understand what may have happened. Alaina was especially interested in how the appearance of bloodstains can help tell the story of an event. The experience also helped Alaina clarify her career interests. “Before the trip, I was already planning on going into forensics, but I realized I would much rather work with evidence and work in a lab,” she explained.
The trip continued with a tour of the St. Louis City Medical Examiner’s Office led by Clearwater High School alumna Perla Mendiola. Learning from a CHS graduate made this visit especially meaningful and provided students with a connection between their own education and future career possibilities.
“My favorite part of the trip was when we went to the St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office,” Peyton shared. “I enjoyed seeing someone we already know and meeting new people at work while learning about each part of the job and how things work.” Peyton explained that asking questions and learning more about the work opened up an unexpected career interest. “At first, I didn’t think I would want to do anything with the dead, but after asking questions and learning more, it seems pretty cool.”
Thank you to Clearwater High School for supporting this educational field trip. We also extend our appreciation to Dr. Bihun, the SLU staff and medical students, CHS alumna Perla Mendiola, and the St. Louis City Medical Examiner’s Office for welcoming our students and providing valuable learning opportunities. Experiences like these help students deepen their understanding of the human body, explore careers, and see where their interest in science can lead.
