The “Virtual Cadaver”: Transforming Medical Education in Central South Dakota

Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - During the Monday night Watertown School Board meeting on March 9, 2026, Lake Area Technical College (LATC) President Tiffany Sanderson presented a transformative proposal to acquire a high-tech “virtual cadaver” for the college's nursing satellite program in Pierre.

Bridging the Education Gap in Central South Dakota

The centerpiece of the presentation was the request for authority to purchase a Nursing Anatomy Table for $105,390. President Sanderson highlighted that this state-of-the-art equipment is specifically destined for the Pierre campus to address significant logistical hurdles faced by students in that region.

Currently, nursing and dual-credit students based in Pierre must travel over 200 miles to Watertown several times per semester to complete required anatomy labs. By placing this table in Pierre, LATC can offer full anatomy courses locally starting next year. President Sanderson emphasized that this move would “reduce transportation costs for those students by a great deal”.

The “Virtual Cadaver” Technology

The table serves as a high-fidelity digital alternative to traditional biological study. It allows students to interact with a 3D human body, peel back layers of tissue, and study internal structures with professional-grade arrangement and realism.

·         Realistic Performance: The board expressed immediate excitement over the technology’s fidelity.

·         Electronic Dissection: One board member remarked, “It’s incredible; virtually looking at a cadaver electronically”.

·         Educational Parity: The digital interface is sophisticated enough to mimic the experience of a physical cadaver lab, providing students in satellite locations the same depth of training available on the main campus.

Funding and Board Approval

President Sanderson confirmed that the FY26 Federal Perkins Grant would fully fund the $105,390 purchase, ensuring the upgrade would carry no direct cost to local taxpayers. The board approved the purchase unanimously as part of the LATC property action items.