Give the Ultimate Gift
The ultimate gift anyone can give is the gift of an anatomical donation. Body donations allow students from many different areas of study; from doctors, to dentists, to funeral directors, the opportunity to learn on a much higher level. Donated bodies can be used for teaching surgical techniques and operations to improve medical studies. Your consideration to donate your body after death can enhance the quality of life for others and help support medical research and educational endeavors.
When you or your loved one decides to give an anatomical gift, you can still have a viewing, visitation or service at a funeral home of your choice.
Pre-Register With a Medical School
We recommend that you pre-register with a medical school in your area.
Each school has different policies and procedures, which are explained in their registration packet. Acceptance or rejection of a donated body is a decision the medical school makes at the time of donation. Under the law, the institution has the right to reject any body donation for any reason.
Most medical schools are in great need of donated bodies. Unlike organ and tissue donation, there are no upper age limits for donating your body for anatomical study. The school will make every effort to accept the donation unless there are medical contraindications.
North Carolina Body Donation Programs
The following are links to colleges in North Carolina that offer body donation programs. If you would like information about a school from another state, please contact us and we can help you get any information you need.
Duke University School of Medicine
https://medschool.duke.edu/about-us/anatomical-gifts-program/commonly-asked-questions
East Carolina University – Brody School of Medicine
http://www.ecu.edu/anatomy/donations.cfm
Wake Forest School of Medicine
https://school.wakehealth.edu/Education-and-Training/Continuing-Professional-Education/Center-for-Applied-and-Experiential-Learning/Whole-Body-Donation-Program
UNC School of Medicine
https://www.med.unc.edu/ome/academicaffairs/body-donation-lab-support/body-donation/