First-year students from the Department of Long-Term Care at Asia University, accompanied by their anatomy lab instructor, visited China Medical University for the “Silent Mentor Humanistic Care and Anatomy Education” program on October 31 and November 28 this year. The instructor noted that long-term care education is not only about disease, but also about life and living. Every action in long-term care—from turning a patient in bed and assisting them to stand, to reablement training—requires a sound understanding of the human body. “To become long-term care professionals who can truly care for people, students must first understand the body, and then understand life and dignity,” the instructor emphasized.

Before entering the classroom, students stood in silence before the memorial wall, gazing at the photographs and stories of the silent mentors. Many said they were deeply moved, and came to better understand that each donor represents the fulfillment and blessing of an entire family.

Inside the anatomy classroom, China Medical University arranged six instructors to lead small-group teaching with professional guidance throughout. From the skeletal structure, nerves, and muscle layers to the positions of organs, everything was demonstrated and explained with rigorous care. Learning in front of the most authentic teaching materials, students described every step and every glance as both awe-inspiring and profoundly real.

At the close of the visit, all instructors and students paid their respects with three solemn bows to the silent mentors. As the Book of Songs (Shijing, “Yong Feng”) says: “Their countenance remains unchanged; their virtue never fades.” Though the silent mentors rest in peace, their benevolence endures—an everlasting light within long-term care education. The instructor also encouraged the students that today’s emotions and reverence will become empathy and professional ethics in their future caregiving work.

This visit not only deepened students’ knowledge of anatomy, but also helped them grasp the value of life through the silent mentors’ selfless gifts. The department will continue to promote courses that integrate humanistic care with professional training, enabling every long-term care student to step into the service field with humility and compassion, and to carry forward the silent mentors’ spirit in every act of care.