Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

O'Dowd Hall, Room 428
586 Pioneer Drive
Rochester, MI 48309
(location map)
(248) 370-3634

OUWB Body Donation Program

Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine faculty, students and staff are grateful for your interest in the Body Donation Program (BDP). The opportunity to learn about the human body in the advancement of learning for students at all stages of their academic and professional careers is indispensable. This gift strengthens the education of medical students, postgraduate physicians and students of related disciplines.

Transcript

[Music]

the most special moments have actually

not been

anatomical they are more moments of

tenderness compassion and peace it is

the student who subconsciously placed

their hand over their donor's hand as a

sign of comfort while their other team

members were performing a procedure with

the donor it is the one student in the

winter semester who has returned the

anatomy lab facility for some other

purpose and breaks out into a smile when

they past their donor or places their

hand lovingly on their donor for a split

second as they walk by as a student it's

hard to imagine how your body donors

help you shape your lives after medical

school but as some have mentioned

already they do I'm going to take a

little bit of an unconventional approach

today to show you an interpretation of

human movement the way that I see it

think about the pictures that each body

is creating on their own and then I want

you to think about the picture that the

whole group group is creating it's

always been my dream to bring my two

passions together my love for movement

and science so I thank the families of

the donors and the donors themselves for

giving their life to

science the first time I held the human

heart excitement

honor and fear left circumplex artery

right coronary artery these are the two

arteries that almost took my D dad for

me this heart was the fuel I needed it

powered my heart my heart for medicine

for Cardiology I thank the woman whose

heart I held she is a heartfelt Legacy I

can't even express to you how much we

learn from our donors and how important

it is for us to be able to see more than

just the external Anatomy but what is

going on on the

inside each and every one of those

donors was either a mother or a father

father or a son or a daughter who had

dreams and

aspirations and are more than

the the structure that you see in front

you the most intimate gift of someone's

own body a gift of knowledge and a gift

we will all forever remember I found

myself particularly emotional when we

were able to hold our donor's Hearts

what a GI that was holding something

that kept someone living for their whole

life the same thing that keeps Us Alive

each day I thought about it

beating what I think is kind of an

untold story not only about the heart

but about these donors is what they

bring for us they bring us to be leaders

they bring us to be teachers they bring

us closer to our

passions to our donors and their friends

thank you so very much we could not be

the healthc Care Professionals we are or

the Health Care Professionals we aspire

to be without you

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can donate?

Any person of sound mind who is at least 18 years of age.
(Self-Donation: Application is initiated and completed by the donor.)

Are donations accepted when an autopsy is performed?

When a coroner requests an autopsy, a pre-registered donation will be accepted. In the event that the donor cannot be used for educational or research purposes after the coroner’s autopsy, the donor will be sent for cremation. Donations are not accepted when an autopsy is requested by a party other than the coroner.

Is it possible to donate my body and also register as an organ donor?

Removal of the organs at the time of death would make whole-body donation impractical. However, it is possible to donate eyes. Arrangements for eye donations should be made at the same time as your application for body donation.

May I change my mind about body donation?

Certainly, you can cancel at any time by a phone call or letter to the BDP.

What happens at the time of death?

The individual or institution responsible for your body should contact OUWB at (248) 370-3457 for instructions. Arrangements will be coordinated for the pick up and transportation of your body to facilitate preparations for use by OUWB.

Can my remains be viewed at the OUWB BDP facility?

No, the BDP facility is a restricted area and is not intended for family viewing. Arrangements for a viewing must be made in advance with the funeral home of your choice prior to transporting your body to the BDP. The funeral home must contact the BDP office (248) 370-3457 for specific instructions regarding the required preparation of your body.

How are donated bodies used?

Body donations are used for education and/or research at Oakland University and other educational and health care institutions. Kindly be aware that other academic institutions are required to adhere to the same standards of care, respect and integrity when utlizing donations. OUWB will receive the remains when the host institution has completed their use. When making a donation, the donor, their survivors and/or responsible parties cannot specify the intended use(s) for the body or designate specific persons or entities that will utilize it.

Will my family receive a report of medical findings, cause of death or details of the specific studies?

No. We do not provide any reports of pathological findings, cause of death, or details of specific studies.

What happens once the studies of the body are completed?

Following the completion of the use of the body, the BDP will coordinate the cremation of the remains. Be aware, the whole process may take up to three years. After cremation, there are two options:

The representative designated by the donor will be notified by email/mail that the cremated remains (cremains) may be picked up at the BDP office, or can be mailed via USPS Priority Mail. Please note that the entire cremains will be mailed to only one designated recipient. The BDP will not divide the cremains.
In the absence of a designated representative, the BDP will arrange for the cremains to be interred at the OUWB Mausoleum at Mt. Avon Cemetery in downtown Rochester.

What happens to my donation if I relocate from the Southeast Michigan area, or if death occurs out of state?

If you pass away in a city located in lower Michigan, arrangements can be made to transport your body to the BDP. We cannot manage transportation from out of state, so if you or your family/estate wish to transfer your donation to another program/medical school in the city where you pass away, please contact the BDP, and we will be happy to assist in this process.

Is there an annual memorial ceremony?

Yes. An annual memorial ceremony is held, bringing together students, clinicians, and researchers who have benefitted from the donated bodies. All donors who passed away in the previous calendar year will be honored at this special occasion. Family members, or other representatives, noted on the donation form, will be invited to attend this meaningful event. More on the memorial ceremony, including videos of past events, can be found here.

What are the current regulations for body donation in Michigan?

For more information on current regulations for body donation in Michigan, please click here to view the applicable portion of the state's Public Health Code.

Will my body automatically be accepted into the Body Donation Program once I sign and return the donor registration form?

No. The decision to accept or reject the donation is always made at the time of death. Therefore, it would be advisable to have an alternative plan in the event we are unable to accept the donation.

Forms

Please fill out the Body Donor Registration Form.

News

Contact

Christina Drakos, Body Donation Program Coordinator

Phone: (248) 370-3457
Email: [email protected]
Mail: Christina Drakos
Body Donation Program Coordinator
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
586 Pioneer Drive
O’Dowd Hall, Rm. 455
Rochester, MI 48309-4482

Annual Anatomy Memorial Ceremony

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