Objectives: Although many studies have been conducted worldwide to investigate the positive and negative experiences of the cadaver room, there is no documented research in medical schools delivering the new innovative medical education (NIME) curriculum which involves teaching students who already receive a bachelor degree in any natural science including health sciences and having at least two years of work experience. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of cadaver dissection both physically and emotionally on NIME students. Methods: A survey was done on 82 first and second-year NIME students using standard structured questionnaire. The students were evaluated according to gender, religion and ethnicity. Results: Students experienced multiple symptoms in the dissection room. The most prevalent physical symptoms were nausea (32%), palpitation (20.7%) and sweating (17.1%). In addition to these, sadness (41.5%), fear (34.1%) and worry (29.3%) were mostly reported emotional experiences. Females were more significantly nervous than males (p=0.03). Students of Oromo ethnicity reported a significantly higher degree of fainting (p=0.03), dizziness (p=0.02), and palpitation (p=0.02) than other ethnic students. Sweating and breathlessness were significantly decreased in year two compared to year one students (p<0.05). The smell of the cadaver was the most stressing aspect of the cadaver room. Females had nightmares more significantly than males in the post-dissection period (p=0.04). Conclusion: Students experience a variety of physical and emotional symptoms during dissection. These can affect the performance of the students. this study provides data for these symptoms in NIME students, and their relation to gender, religion and ethnicity.