CHHS Commissions New Corbett Anatomy Lab

When Veterans Hall was constructed four years ago, UNC Wilmington left 2,815 square feet of unfinished shell space for a future anatomy laboratory. Now this space is fully outfitted thanks to the generosity of Dr. J. Richard “Dick” Corbett, the Cape Fear Memorial Foundation and the South East Area Health Education Center. Chancellor Aswani Volety, College of Health and Human Services Dean Jack C. Watson, members of the Corbett family and community leaders celebrated the completion with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Feb. 21.

The Dr. J. Richard “Dick” Corbett Anatomy Laboratory joins Veterans Hall’s suite of interprofessional teaching clinics, problem-based learning spaces and state-of-the-art equipment to create transformative learning experiences, advance knowledge and serve UNCW’s local and global communities.

“This lab is groundbreaking for the region, helping the College of Health and Human Services enhance health and quality of life in southeastern North Carolina and beyond,” Watson said. “It gives the College the ability to offer cutting-edge teaching, research and service to its students and community partners.”

This laboratory will provide the unique advantage of:

• providing hands-on opportunities for learning about the human body to students in both current degree programs within CHHS and future degree programs, like physical therapy and physician assistant; 
• developing an understanding of how all bodies are different;
• and experiencing the effects of diseases within the human body.

“As a result of the construction of the Dr. J. Richard “Dick” Corbett Anatomy Laboratory, students will be better trained when they graduate,” said Watson. “In addition, the College will continue its strong focus on community engagement by making this space available for continuing education and pipeline programming. Such opportunities will help expand the reach of the laboratory and truly help to enhance health and quality of life in southeastern NC and beyond.” 

The importance of philanthropy surrounding this laboratory helped move the College of Health and Human Services forward. This gift, a part of Like No Other: The Campaign for UNCW, will have a lasting impact on the education of UNCW students entering healthcare fields in ways that expand learning from textbooks or new technology.