LEROY, ILL. What some people would see as a cadaver in a body bag in an office, a small but growing number of McLean County, Ill., doctors and educators see as an out-of-the-classroom opportunity to inspire and educate high school students interested in medicine.

When you can merge people with a skill set and kids who have a desire to learn, thats powerful, said Gary Tipsord, LeRoy schools superintendent.

McLean County Medical Society led by its secretary, Dr. Tom Pliura is sponsoring a Human Anatomy Cadaver Dissection Lab for advanced-level high school students interested in careers in medicine. Pliura an emergency medicine physician and lawyer hopes to begin after-school labs this month at his LeRoy law office.

Several area physicians want to assist at the labs. Tipsord has contacted superintendents of other McLean County school districts.

Tipsord and Pliura expect teachers and students in advanced anatomy and biology classes to be interested.

Not every kid is cut out for this, Pliura admitted in his office this week.

Labs which will cost no money but offer no credit will be limited to students who have the interest, maturity and intelligence to work on dissection.

No one else is doing this in Illinois for high school students, Pliura said.

Physician-high school student interaction often is job shadowing and thats fine, Pliura said.

But how much real benefit is that? he asked. Im trying to do something a little different.

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Medical Society in Illinois county to lead cadaver dissection lab for high school students