Five Years of Success and a Healthy Outlook
Museum of Health and Medical Science Celebrates 5th Anniversary

The Museum of Health & Medical Science, the "museum with everything under your skin," recently celebrated five years of success and a growing will to inspire a change in the way people value their health.

Since opening its doors to the public March 16,1996, more than 700,000 people have stopped to rest on the giant teeth at the entrance to The Amazing Body Pavilion before wandering down the esophagus and into the digestive system - where schoolchildren and families have come together to learn about the wonders of the human body.

The museum established itself with the vision of providing innovative and fun ways to teach and promote good health and disease prevention, which includes remaining on the leading edge of exhibit technology.

"The Museum of Health & Medical Science is the premier place to learn about the science of medicine, health and the human body, wellness, disease prevention, and healthy living," says museum Executive Director Randy Ray. "Our hope is that we can truly impact the community by creating and showcasing first-rate exhibits and educational programs that communicate the importance of health and wellness to schoolchildren, families and seniors."

Within the past year, the museum has received a full checkup, which meant adding more interactive and engaging exhibits, while performing cosmetic surgery on those already in place.

"We've upgraded the mechanics of many of our exhibits," says Director of Exhibits Amanda Danning. "We've also begun work on our newest permanent exhibit, "Wellville," which offers a resource for all ages to explore the relationship between their environment and their health."

Parents of young children will enjoy the fun, educational "garden" which nurtures healthy growth. Adolescents can explore career opportunities in health-related fields, and senior adults can research their own health needs in the resource library. "Wellville" is scheduled for completion early this fall.

The museum is fulfilling its promise to provide innovative, inspiring exhibits with plans to bring in several nationally renowned traveling exhibits, including "A Show of Hands" this summer. This "hands on" exhibit, developed by the Louisville Science Center, gives visitors a chance to experience the importance and uniqueness of the human hand, ranging from its form and function, to hand tricks, to miraculous new technologies which make it possible to reattach severed hands. Ever slam dunk with a mechanical arm that is more than eight feet tall? "A Show of Hands" makes its debut at the Museum of Health & Medical Science June 8.

This summer should prove to be even more exciting, when the Museum of Health & Medical Science becomes one of only a few museums in the country to host "Zap! Surgery: Beyond the Cutting Edge." "Zap! Surgery," a 6,000 square foot exhibit developed by the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, Penn., will present different forms of energy, and demonstrate how they are used in today's less-invasive surgical technologies. The exhibit will spotlight the latest surgical advancements, including laser and gamma ray technology, and new ways light and sound are used during surgery. Visitors will also have a chance to ride in the "ZapCam" motion simulator through the human body and play a life-sized game of "Operation."

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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