FAQs
PCOM Body Donor Program

The Humanity Gifts Registry (HGR) is a nonprofit agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania concerned primarily with the receipt and distribution of bodies donated to all medical and dental schools in the state for teaching purposes. The Registry, formerly called the Anatomical Board, has been in existence since 1883.

Yes. The need for whole body donations is great and will be further increased by the demand for more doctors, dentists, nurses and other health care practitioners.

For more information, please read “Body Donation and its Relevance in Anatomy Learning – A Review” (PDF) by Rajkumari Ajita.

In Pennsylvania all donations must be made to the Humanity Gift Registry of Pennsylvania. We cannot accept donations directly to PCOM.

If you wish to have your body benefit the human anatomy program at PCOM you must make your request with the Humanity Gift Registry. When completing the donor registration form please write-in “I would like to designate Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for this donation.”

Part of working with HGR ensures that a donor’s identity remains anonymous. Donors’ identities remain strictly confidential.

At PCOM, we have a number of programs that will benefit from your donation. Programs that will benefit include, but are not limited to:

• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• Biomedical Sciences
• Physician Assistant
• Clinical Psychology
• Forensic Medicine
• University of the Sciences Physical Therapy program
• Widener University Physical Therapy program

Along with different academic programs, there are also many academic related clubs on campus who wish to further their education such as Surgery Club, Neurosurgery Club, Emergency Medicine Club, etc. We also host many outreach workshops which benefit surrounding high school and college students wishing to pursue a career in medicine.

HGR pays $100 toward the cost of transporting a body from the place of death, by a licensed funeral director, to a medical teaching institution. If transportation costs exceed $100, those costs are fall on to the responsibility of the next of kin or the estate.

Costs associated with embalming and cremation are covered by PCOM.

In most cases, cremation will occur within one year following anatomical study. However, sometimes anatomical study will extend beyond a year. In that case, it could take up to two years from the time of donation until cremation.

Upon completion of studies, remains will be transported to Ivy Hill Cemetery where they will be cremated and the ashes interred in an established cemetery in Philadelphia. If a family wishes to have ashes returned for a private burial, special arrangements can be made.

HGR will be notified by PCOM once ashes are available to be returned to families. The Registry will then notify the next of kin in writing. There are two ways the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine can return remains: 

• Next of kin may come directly to the College and pick up remains.
• If next of kin cannot get to the college, due to geographical location or any other reason, ashes may be sent through the United States Postal Service at no charge. A USPS tracking number will be provided to the email or phone number provided on the consent form. A member of our college will also be tracking the package to ensure it arrives safely.

No, bodies donated to PCOM through the HGR are only used for whole body education and research. If you wish to donate tissue or organs for transplants, please contact Gift of Life or Science Care.

At the beginning and end of each human anatomy course, faculty and students hold a moment of silence in order to remember and thank each individual who generously donated their body.

There is also a Celebration of Remembrance Ceremony, held once per year by the Humanity Gift Registry. Family members and friends are invited to this ceremony to remember and celebrate the life of their loved ones. Students who benefited from these donations will also attend and participate in the ceremony.