Abstract
The use of body donors in education and research is a valuable way to teach fundamental anatomy, clinical anatomy, anatomical variations, and anatomical relationships; to advance anatomical research; and to develop ethics and professionalism in health-care professionals. The majority of donors are obtained through university- or state-run body donor programs although some educational programs obtain bodies from for-profit body brokers or as unclaimed bodies. To establish and operate a body donor program, there are six components that should be considered. These are (1) regulatory and governance obligations, (2) ethical obligations, (3) budgetary considerations, (4) facility and hardware requirements, (5) standard operating procedures, and (6) local community involvement. As an example, the South Florida Body Donation Program, a division of the State of Florida Anatomical Board, follows each of these components and emphasizes the respectful and dignified treatment of the donors. This begins with the initial contact with the donors, through the preparation and use of the donors in medical education, to the honoring of the donors in a memorial service, and, finally, to the disposition of the remains of the donors. Each of these steps is described to aid in the establishment or modification of a body donor program.