A generous donation from the Doffing Foundation will give Hastings High School students a high-tech opportunity to explore careers in medicine and human anatomy well before college.
At the Hastings School Board meeting on Thursday, May 22, district officials announced the foundation's gift of an Anatomage Table — an advanced digital dissection and anatomy table that is typically found in college classrooms or medical schools.
Superintendent Dr. Tammy Champa expressed the district’s gratitude and enthusiasm for what the donation means for students.
“Every year, the Doffing Foundation makes grants available, and we are so incredibly grateful for their continued support,” said Dr. Champa. “This is truly cutting-edge technology that opens up new learning opportunities our students would otherwise not have access to.”
Dr. Champa noted that when district staff first encountered the Anatomage Table at the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) conference, they were immediately impressed.
“I still get excited just talking about it,” she said. “When we asked the salesperson which high schools in Minnesota had one, the answer was — very few. Minnetonka is considering it. Otherwise, you’re talking about colleges like the University of Minnesota. This puts Hastings students in rare company.”
The Anatomage Table is essentially a life-sized, interactive screen that allows students to virtually explore human anatomy. It includes lifelike 3D scans of cadavers that can be digitally “dissected” — removing layers of muscle, bones, and organs to explore the intricacies of the human body. It supports learning in biology, physiology, and advanced health sciences.
The donation directly supports the district’s goal of expanding career and technical education (CTE), particularly in health sciences, which has seen growing student interest.
Jeff Carlson, financial advisor for the Doffing Foundation, attended the meeting and shared the foundation’s perspective on the gift.
“First of all, we’re thrilled to help provide opportunities like this,” said Carlson. “The Doffing Foundation has always been about investing in young people and their futures. When the request came in for this technology — and we saw the impact it could make — it was an easy decision.”
Carlson emphasized the alignment between the foundation’s mission and the district’s vision for CTE programming. “There’s such a strong interest in medical careers among students today, and this gives them a chance to get real exposure early on.”
Dr. Champa said the table will be housed at the high school and incorporated into classes for students pursuing pathways in health careers. It will also be used during visits from middle school students exploring their future academic options.
“This really creates a pipeline of opportunity,” she said. “We can inspire students in eighth grade and carry that spark all the way through high school with hands-on learning. It also gives them an edge when applying to colleges or health science programs.”
Board members echoed their excitement during the meeting, noting how rare it is for high schools.