HHS Physiology and Anatomy students took a trip downtown to the University of Minnesota Tuesday, May 20. The students were given the chance to spend the school day experiencing what work goes on in a college laboratory.

Dr. Paul Laizzo, Professor of Surgery and Integrative Biology and Physiology, has been working with large mammal heart models since 1997. Dr. Laizzo and his coworkers created the Visible Heart laboratory in collaboration with Medtronic, Inc. The Visible Heart lab ranges with research from cellular and tissue studies, to organ investigations.

Mike Harris, Science, teaches the CIS class and organized the trip for the Physiology and Anatomy students.

“The students got to be apart of an experimental procedure at the University of Minnesota. The purpose is to preserve hearts with certain chemical injections so if a person here in Minnesota needed a heart, one could be harvested from someone in California and still be available for a transplant,” Harris said.

The Visible Heart lab was not an experience the Physiology and Anatomy students would find in their own lab at HHS.

“We got to witness a pig surgery and dissection which was really cool because people from Medtronic come in and test their medical devices on the research the lab produces,” said Alex Mord, senior.

The University of Minnesota’s Visible Heart lab was a completely different experience working with animal organs than the students are use to. In class the Physiology and Anatomy students dissect and study cats, but this time it was a live beating heart.

“I got the chance to feel the beating heart of the pig with my bare hand. Reaching in and feeling the heart pumping, was the craziest thing I’ve ever felt,” said Mord.

Katie Basil, senior, is attending the University of Minnesota in the Fall 2014. The lab had a huge impact on Basil and may have even inspired her future plans at the University of Minnesota.

“It really made me now want to pursue a career in medicine, specifically Biomedical Engineering. It was one of the coolest things I have ever experienced and would be such an interesting job and lifestyle to work in,” Basil said.

Along with the interesting research learned during the lab procedures, the students learned a bit about the historical background of the building the Visible Heart lab is located in.

“The first successful heart transplant was done right upstairs from where we visited, so it was really cool to be in such a historical place for medicine,” Basil said.

The Visible Heart lab was a great way for the Physiology and Anatomy students to get a taste of what their future could have in store.

“I was planning on going into some type of chiropractic practice, but the Visible Heart lab really sparked my interests. I definitely want to explore more careers now,” Mord said.