The “voice of graduation” and Gross Anatomy I instructor who taught thousands of Palmer students retires after 48 years.
On a winter morning that would once have been filled by lecture prep and grading, Craig Mekow is finally working through a stack of novels that’s been piling up for decades. An 800-page mystery will soon be followed by a John Grisham paperback. Retirement, after all, requires adjustment, especially for someone who spent 48 years orienting his life around the academic calendar.
Mekow retired from Palmer College of Chiropractic last fall, closing a chapter that began in 1977. He came to Palmer almost by accident, spotting a position in the Chronicle of Higher Education and delivering a lecture (on the humerus) that led to a job offer from Douglas Baker, D.C. (`70), who at the time was chair of the Anatomy Program.
“I knew little about chiropractic back then,” Mekow admits. “But I ended up in the right place. Palmer became home, and it shaped my life’s work.”
Over nearly five decades, Mekow taught in the Life Sciences Department, chaired both anatomy and life sciences, served as a faculty senator, and worked under eight of Palmer’s last 10 chancellors and presidents. He may be best known for instructing Gross Anatomy I, a requirement for every first-year student.
Perhaps nothing captures Mekow’s legacy more vividly than his famous 3”×5” notecards, which every student attending the College in Davenport filled out. The tens of thousands of cards hold handwritten notes about every student he taught, including many current Palmer leaders. “It was a simple way to create connection in a big class,” explains Mekow. “We have students from all over the world, and I always wanted Palmer to feel like home for them too. When they feel like they belong, they learn better and are more likely to succeed.”
Even alumni and family of graduates who don’t know Mekow personally might recognize his voice. For 20 years, he was known as “the voice of graduation,” reading names at commencement ceremonies — 173 of them in total.
As an administrator, Mekow put faculty first and embraced change, even when it meant learning alongside his students. “When I started teaching, it was chalkboards and acetate overheads,” he says. “Over time, computers, digital platforms, and advanced lab technologies reshaped anatomy education. I saw a lot of change over the years.”
Despite all that change, for generations of Palmer students, Mekow was a constant. He describes his time at Palmer simply: “I could say it’s been the greatest honor of my life, but really it’s been my life.”
Starting a new legacy
Anthony Yarbrough, D.C. (`21) (below), always knew he wanted to teach. After graduating from Palmer College of Chiropractic, Dr. Yarbrough worked at a private clinic before returning to the College as a faculty member. He’ll now be carrying on the legacy of Craig Mekow as the instructor for Gross Anatomy I. “This is the anatomy chiropractors use every day of their lives,” Dr. Yarbrough says. “I love getting to be part of such a formative time for students.”
Dr. Yarbrough credits Mekow with setting the standard for the course. “He cared deeply about student success and preparation,” Dr. Yarbrough says. “Every morning before lecture, he prepared — even after decades of teaching. I’m sure he had the material memorized, but he has pride in the work and dedication to the students that he never stopped improving. That made an impression on me.”
While carrying forward Mekow’s emphasis on connection and engagement, Dr. Yarbrough brings a clinician’s lens to the classroom. He integrates patient stories, clinical scenarios, and digital tools like Complete Anatomy to help students visualize structures and understand real-world application. He also focuses intentionally on helping first-trimester students build community.
“Craig and I talk often, and he always texts me around the exam dates,” Dr. Yarbrough laughs. “He touched so many lives in his work. If I have a career half as long and half as impactful as his, it will be a blessing.”
