Anatomical Gifts Program

The University of South Alabama Anatomical Gifts Program plays an integral role in the education of health professionals and medical students, residents, and physicians. Donations made to the program will further the students' education by introducing them to human anatomy. Residents and practicing physicians use the donations for medical education and training to develop improved procedures. Upon reading this material, we hope you will have the knowledge to decide to be part of the Anatomical Gifts Program.

Bodies are used to train health professionals and medical students in anatomy and practicing physicians in new medical procedures. Medical students, graduate students, physician assistants, and physical therapists use the bodies to learn human anatomy in greater detail than learning from a textbook alone. Residents in surgical specialties also receive training that is more specific when they study bodies.

Bodies donated to the program are treated with utmost care and respect. They are introduced to the class as their first patients. The students behave professionally and are grateful to the donors for furthering their healthcare careers.

After the studies are complete, the body will be cremated and, if requested by the donor at the time of donation, returned to the donor's directed recipient. If the donor does not direct the return of cremains or if the directed recipients of the cremains fail to respond to the University within two (2) years of the University’s first attempt to contact them, the cremains will be interred in the Pine Crest Cemetery West during a future burial. There are no official ceremonies held at the time of internment; however, the process is conducted with dignity and complete respect. The Anatomical Gifts Program holds a memorial periodically to honor the lives of donors. It also gives students and faculty the opportunity to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the families of the donors.