CU Plastinated Organ Library

About the Program

WELCOME stands for WEllness, Learning, and Career Orientation MEntorship. It is an educational outreach program for underserved middle and high school students that provides opportunities to learn about neuroplasticity, human anatomy, and careers in STEM and healthcare. We collaborate with schools and organizations in Aurora, Denver, and the surrounding communities.
One unique aspect of the program is the chance for students to explore and dissect real human organs.

Our Modern Human Anatomy (MHA) graduate students are involved in all of these events, which showcases our program's dedication to outreach and community service.
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Here are a few details about the program:

Group size

Typically 15 - 35 students per event, but we can also accommodate smaller or larger groups.

Length

It varies. Events can be 1 to 4 hours long.

Location

The events take place on the University of Colorado Anschutz.

Cost

The WELCOME Program is free.

Season

February - April, June, July, and October - November.

A few examples of the hands-on activities include:

Human Organ Slicing

Hold and dissect individual human organs like the heart or brain!

A student using the virtual reality headset.

Healthy vs Unhealthy Organs

Compare the wet and plastinated organs and determine which one is healthy or unhealthy.

Career Panels

Listen to the advice and insights of AMC students, staff, and faculty.

Virtual Reality (VR)

Explore and dissect the human body using VR.

Outreach Partners

Since 2015, WELCOME has served 3,617 middle and high school students through partnerships with 44 schools and organizations across the Denver metro area and beyond.
Examples of our outreach partners include:

Ascent Classical Academy
Aurora Science & Tech High School
Colorado Uplift
CU Pre-Health Scholars Program
DPS Xplore Program
Eureka! Program at Girls Inc.
Green Valley Ranch High School
York International School
...and many more!

A map of Colorado with multiple red pins indicating the location of schools and organizations that WELCOME has partnered with.

The map shows the location of schools served by the WELCOME Program during the 2025-2026 academic year.

Funding

We are grateful to the following organizations for their generous funding and support:

MaggieGeorge Foundation
Timmerhaus Fund Ambassadors
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Meet the Team

Picture of the outreach program director.

Maureen Stabio, PhD
WELCOME Program Director
Associate Professor, CU School of Medicine
maureen.stabio@cuanschutz.edu

Erika Alor, MS
WELCOME Program Manager
erika.alor@cuanschutz.edu

MHA Graduate Students and AMC Anatomy Lab Staff

Our events would not be possible without our dedicated graduate students and anatomy lab staff who help us set up and teach each session. Their expertise and enthusiasm are what make the experience engaging and fun for our participants. Thank you!

Get Involved

To have your class or group to participate in the WELCOME Program, complete the interest form below.

WELCOME Interest Form

Have questions about WELCOME? Email Erika Alor.