Considering the Donor Program:
Anatomy, the study of the human body, is one of the first and most important courses in the education of physicians. In most medical schools the study of anatomy is taught in the first year and serves as the foundation for courses in pathology, physiology, and surgery.  The generous gift of one’s body for medical education assists in maintaining the Division of Human Anatomy’s teaching program and enhances its commitment to teaching excellence.

Respect for the Dead:
Dignity and respect for those who have donated their bodies is maintained at all times. The indispensable contribution that participants in the Willed Body Program have made is fully recognized. The laboratory is situated in a restricted area and only medical students, faculty, staff, or students of health-related professions are authorized to use the facility.

Final Disposition of Remains:
After use in our teaching program, generally lasting one to three years, the bodies are individually cremated and the cremated remains are buried in the University burial plot in East Lawn Memory Gardens in Okemos, Michigan.

Memorial Plaques: Individual memorial plaques may be purchased by the donor’s family for the Memorial wall at East Lawn Memory Gardens. To purchase a plaque, please contact East Lawn Memory Gardens at (517) 349-9180. Costs for memorial plaques are the responsibility of the donor’s family.

If the family requests the return of the cremated remains for private burial, they are responsible for making the arrangements and for the costs involved. For burial through the Willed Body Program, an annual interment service is held annually for those individuals who have been cremated that year. The individual urns are placed in a vault and interred together. Family members who choose to be notified of this service are invited to attend. Interment expenses are assumed by the Willed Body Program.

Cornea and Organ Donation:
The Willed Body Program only accepts whole bodies for medical education because organ donation renders the body unsuitable for our teaching program. However, the Willed Body Program will accept bodies following eye removal for the purpose of cornea transplant provided all other criteria are met. The Willed Body Program does not conduct eye re removals. Arrangements for eye removal should be made by the
family & the procedure performed prior to the body being transported to the University.