The human body is the most precious source of knowledge in all of medical science. Amidst medicine's dazzling array of technology, nothing can equal the human body in giving students of medicine their fundamental knowledge of anatomy. Thus, the donation of one's body to medicine literally becomes the gift of life.

The study of anatomy provides an understanding of body structures, how they function and how they relate to each other. Such understanding is the physician's most important tool. All medical learning and research stems from this understanding.

Throughout the centuries, anatomical study of the human body has led to many major advances in medicine. For example, a surgical team at a New York medical school saved a teenage girl from severe deformity because the physicians were able to perfect a new technique on a human cadaver before operating on the girl.

At another medical school, researchers have compiled an atlas for radiologists to interpret CAT scans based on extensive study of cross sections of the human body. This atlas plays a vital role in the early detection of breast cancer and other diseases.

Human cadavers donated to medical schools have also been of enormous value in research related to diabetes and heart disease.

Many people view the donation of their body to medicine as a way of continuing to serve humanity even after they die. Others see it also as a way of relieving their surviving family members of the financial burden of funerals. In addition to permitting the use of one's body for medical education and research, anatomical donations permit both skin and eye transplants to be made, and such donations may also be made by those who are unable to make organ donations due to age.

The Associated Medical Schools of New York, through its Anatomical Committee, serves as a clearinghouse for information on anatomical donations and receives pledges for donations.

Any individual over 18 years old may donate his or her body to a medical, dental or other health professions school for the purpose of research and education. The next of kin of a recently deceased person may also make such a donation.

Since an anatomical donation is a gift to the institution, donors or their families never receive money for making a donation pledge.

Donors may select a particular institution to receive their gift. However, many permit the Associated Medical Schools to make that determination to provide an equal distribution of donations.

Donors may specify final disposition, which will, in all cases, be honored by the institution, that receives the anatomical gift. Most schools will assume the cost of final disposition unless the donor asks that their remains be returned to families for funeral ceremonies.

Donors are free to change their minds at any time.

How to Pledge

Donation Form

Those interested in pledging a donation may contact a school directly (a list of contacts is available here.) Associated Medical Schools of New York will also forward your request for further information. Please let us know if you have a preference for:

* Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
* University of Buffalo State University of New York
* SUNY Health Science Center at Stony Brook
* Joan and Sanford I. Weill Medical College of Cornell University
* New York Chiropractic College

AMSNY will then forward your name to the school selected. The school, in turn, will send you a donor card and any additional information needed. The card is to be carried on your person, and the information sent from the school will explain the procedure that will be followed in the event of your death.

Each anatomical donation helps to ensure the future of high quality medical care and innovative research. The gratitude expressed by the medical profession to each donor cannot be over emphasized.

To obtain further information, please contact:
Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMSNY)
10 Rockefeller Plaza, Suite 1120
New York, New York 10020
(212) 218 - 4610